Affirmative action panelists speaking to students, faculty, staff and alumni at Amherst College.

Affirmative Action: Our Past and Our Future: The College hosted three discussions on affirmative action. Session 1:  a conversation with Paul Smith ’76, H’15, P’09, vice president for litigation and strategy at the Campaign Legal Center, and Pat Fitzgerald ’82, H’07, about the history, the debates around and the impact of affirmative action and race-conscious admission; Session 2: a conversation with President Michael A. Elliott ’92 and Matthew McGann, dean of admission and financial aid, about the College’s approach to admissions, staff/faculty hiring, athletics and student life; and Session 3: (pictured above) a conversation on diversity through the generations with Nadia Bissou ’88, Chris Gillyard ’08, Joon Kim ’18 and Andrew Kim ’18, along with current students, reflecting on what the College was like in previous eras and the similarities and differences today.

President Elliott and John I. Williams embrace at the end of naming dedication ceremony at Amherst College.

Williams Lounge Dedication: A celebration of the naming of Williams Lounge took place in Seeley Mudd (room 208) in honor of John I. Williams Jr. ’75. His generous support for Amherst, his many years of dedicated service as a trustee, and his commitment to the College and its Black community have made a meaningful and lasting impact at the College.

Dinosaur exhibits in the Beneski Museum of Natural History at Amherst College.

Beneski Museum of Natural History:  The Beneski Museum hosted a reception to welcome guests to campus. The Beneski houses collections and exhibits that include vertebrate and invertebrate paleontology, minerals and other geologic specimens collected since 1825. Particularly noteworthy is the world-famous dinosaur track collection from the sedimentary rocks of the Connecticut River Valley. It continues to be one of the largest and most studied fossil track collections in the world.

 

A collage of images of people attending a dinner during homecoming at Amherst College.

Amherst Society of Black Alumni Dinner: A  dinner with the Amherst Society of Black Alumni featured presentations by Nadia Biassou ’88; Will Turner ’94, the 2023-25 Wade Fellow; Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer Sheree Ohen (pictured top right); and President Michael A. Elliott ’92.

Audience members listening to President Elliott speak at Homecoming.

A Conversation with the President: President Elliott and Board of Trustees Chair Andrew J. Nussbaum ’85 came together in Johnson Chapel to share observations and reflections about Amherst College.

A collage of photos showing attending asking questions of President Michael Elliott.

Questions from the Crowd: During their conversation, Elliott and Nussbaum ’85 (top left) responded to questions from Homecoming attendees in Johnson Chapel.

Amherst College vs. Williams College football game.

Amherst v. Williams Football Game: The Homecoming football game drew a crowd to Pratt Field on Nov. 11, 2023.

A college of images depicting fans and football players celebrating and cheering.

Amherst v. Williams Football Game: Fans and players celebrated and cheered during the Homecoming game.

A collage of images showing fans at the Homecoing football game and lots of Amherst swag.

Amherst v. Williams Football Game: The stands were full of Amherst College spirit during the game.

A group of Black alumni gather for the Black Alumni tailgate.

Black Alumni Tailgate Party: As part of Black Alumni Weekend,  the Black Student Union and the Amherst Society of Black Alumni hosted a tailgate party during the Amherst v. Williams football game, providing an opportunity for alumni and students to connect.

Fans at a football game cheer for their team.

Amherst v. Williams Football Game: In the final moments of the Homecoming football game, President  Elliott fired up the crowd by leading a cheer.

Football players hug at the end of a game.

Amherst v. Williams Football Game: Teammates congratulated each other on their 21-14 win over Williams.

A large number of people gather in the gym for a coffee and dessert reception.

Post-Game Coffee and Dessert Reception: Homecoming attendees continued the celebration over coffee and desserts after the game.

Alumni from '61, '62 and '22 pose for group photos during the post-game reception.

Post-Game Coffee and Dessert Reception: Alumni from the classes of (left) 1961, 1962 and (right) 2022  attended the post-game reception during Homecoming weekend.

Alumni and students attend a coffee and dessert reception after the football game.

Post-Game Coffee and Dessert Reception: Following the Williams/Amherst football game, alumni and students gathered in Coolidge Cage to continue the celebration with drinks, desserts and live jazz music featuring student performers. 

Asian Affinity groups gathered at receptions during Homecoming.

Asian Students Association Alumni Receptions:  Students from Amherst’s Asian Affinity Groups hosted receptions during Homecoming. The groups represented were (left) the Center for International Student Engagement (CISE), the (right) Asian Students Association (ASA), the Asian Pacific American Action Committee (APAAC), the Chinese Students Association (CSA), the Korean Students Association (KSA), the Middle Eastern and North African Association (MENAA),  and the South Asian Students Association (SASA).

Black faculty speak during the Black Scholars Panel at Amherst College.

The Black Scholarly Tradition at Amherst: Faculty members gathered to discuss their work at Amherst and, specifically, their experience as Black scholars. Panelists included (clockwise) Carol Bailey, professor of Black studies; panel moderator Marc Edwards, assistant professor of biology;  and (left to right) Dwight Carey, assistant professor of art and the history of art; Stefan Bradley, professor of Black studies and history; and Brittney Bailey, assistant professor of statistics.

A circle of of black women celebrating together.

The Charles Drew House Presents: A Black Homecoming Experience: Alumni and students gathered at the Charles Drew Memorial Culture House to pay homage to the Black Homecoming experience. The event included music, dinner and performances by DASAC, Kiiren and the Brooklyn United Drumline.