After nearly 12 years of leadership, Val Smith, Swarthmore College’s 15th president, will conclude her tenure on June 30, 2027. She will continue leading Swarthmore Forward and supporting a smooth transition in the months ahead. www.swarthmore.edu/news-events/...

Swarthmore has been named a top producer of U.S. Fulbright students for the 11th time in 12 years. Congrats to Emma Gabriel ’25 and Brandon Xu ’25, who received grants with the College’s endorsement 👏 www.swarthmore.edu/news-events/...

Wishing our community a season filled with joy, rest, and renewal ✨

From syrup on pancakes to sand at the beach, Assistant Professor Cacey Bester studies the hidden physics in everyday materials. She works alongside students in her SwatGrains Lab to uncover how the world flows, shifts, and transforms. www.swarthmore.edu/news-events/...

Garnet Weekend 2025 is almost here! 🍂 Join us October 24–25 for Swarthmore’s homecoming and family weekend — a celebration for alumni, families, students, and friends. ➡️ Don’t miss it — register today! www.swarthmore.edu/garnet-weeke...

Roy ’70 and Linda Shanker have pledged an extraordinary $42 million to Swarthmore College. In recognition of their generosity, the role of Swarthmore’s president is now named the Roy J. and Linda G. Shanker Presidential Chair. www.swarthmore.edu/news-events/...

Martin Hall is back, and it’s nothing like you remember. After more than two years of construction, the building has been reborn as a bright and airy hub designed to spark connections between technology and the humanities. www.swarthmore.edu/news-events/...

A bright beginning. 🕯️✨ First Collection brought new students together in the Scott Amphitheater for an evening of tradition, community, and candlelight.

Boxes in, memories to come. So glad you're here, Class of 2029!

From campus labs to organizations overseas, Swarthmore students spent the summer immersing themselves in hands-on research and internships that extended learning well beyond the classroom. 🌍✨

👀 Sneak peek inside the reimagined Martin Hall! After a major transformation, the building opens this semester as a hub for curiosity, creativity, and innovation—now home to Film & Media Studies, Computer Science, and the Media Center.

🏅Introducing the Garnet Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2025! Six standout alums, spanning five decades, will be inducted Friday, Oct. 24 to kick off Garnet Weekend. Congrats to Jill Belding Greenleaf ’99, Pat Carney ’87, Tim Coss ’55, Kenyetta Givans ’12, Jay Peichel ’89 & Sonya Reynolds ’07!

Welcome, summer! ☀️

Congratulations to the nine students selected as President’s Sustainability Research Fellows for 2025–26! Through this yearlong program, students work closely with faculty and staff mentors to tackle pressing sustainability challenges on campus.

An expert on Black American religion, Chireau ensured the accuracy of religion and spirituality in the film, especially regarding Hoodoo, Christianity, rootwork, and conjure.

Spring snapshots 🌸

As a 2024–2025 Fulbright U.S. Scholar, Smith is researching sodium-ion batteries at the University of Wollongong, focusing on sustainable, scalable energy storage solutions. www.swarthmore.edu/news-events/...

We’re proud to honor Joseph Altuzarra ’05, Kimberly Wright Cassidy ’85, Maurice Eldridge ’61, and Shamil Idriss ’94 with honorary degrees at this year’s Commencement. Learn more about their inspiring work.

Van Hollen's visit to El Salvador underscored a broader Democratic effort to spotlight Garcia's case, placing his detention at the center of their efforts to challenge the administration’s approach to immigration.