Friday, November 9 - Sunday, November 11, 2018
8:30am - 7:00pm Alumni House Reception Center Open

Please stop by for registration, printed programs, messages, information on the Amherst area and light refreshments. Alumni House will close at 7 p.m.

Alumni House, 75 Churchill Street, (413) 542-2065

Friday, November 9, 2018
9:00am - 5:00pm Attend Open Classes

Visit professors and students in the classroom. A list of classes open to visitors is available and printed copies of the list will be available at the Alumni House Reception Center.

Various locations

11:00am - 12:00pm Behind-the-Scenes Tour with Mead Director and Chief Curator David E. Little

Join us to explore our art storage facilities, underground classrooms and more!

Mead Art Museum

12:30 - 1:30pm Planning Your Next Class Reunion

Reunion Chairs and other interested volunteers are encouraged to join Alumni and Parent Programs staff for a conversation on reunion planning best practices and suggested timelines. Bring your questions! Light lunch will be served.

E108, Science Center

1:45 - 2:45pm Introducing the New Science Center

Join Jim Brassord, Chief of Campus Operations, and Jack Cheney, the Samuel A. Hitchcock Professor of Mineralogy and Geology and Associate Dean of the Faculty for a presentation on the new Science Center and its curricular connections.

Lipton Lecture Hall (E110), Science Center

3:00 - 4:00pm Association for Women in Science Alumnae Panel

The Association for Women in Science is hosting its Fourth Annual Alumnae Panel. Come listen to our panelists, who work in healthcare, technology and research, as they offer their perspectives on their industries and advice to those who are considering careers in STEM. Panelists include: Amber Bravo '03, writer and content strategist, head of Design Outreach at Google; Catherine Deibel '02, Associate Professor of Physics at Louisiana State; Lee Penwell '11, Project Manager at Haley & Aldrich, Inc.; Mari Rosen '08, Chemist in Core R&D at the Dow Chemical Company; Maren Vitousek '02, Assistant Professor at Cornell University.

Stirn Auditorium

4:30 - 5:30pm Lipton Lecture Hall Dedication with Special Faculty Lecture

Join us to dedicate and celebrate Lipton Lecture Hall in the new Science Center, named for Richard M. Lipton ’74, P’12,’08 and his family. Following brief introductory remarks in honor of the Liptons, Catherine Sanderson, the Manwell Family Professor of Life Sciences (Psychology), will deliver a lecture titled “They Aren’t as Thin or as Happy as You Think They Are: Exploring Causes and Consequences of Misperceiving Social Norms at Amherst.” Professor Sanderson will describe research conducted in collaboration with Amherst students on factors that lead students to misperceive social norms including those related to eating and exercise, reporting athletic concussions and seeking mental health treatment. She will discuss the consequences of such misperceptions, strategies for correcting them, and the benefits of such approaches for improving psychological and physical well-being on college campuses.

Lipton Lecture Hall (E110), Science Center

5:00 - 6:00pm Resource Center Welcome and Open House

Join the Multicultural Resource Center, Queer Resource Center, Women’s and Gender Center, Center for International Student Engagement, and Office of Campus Diversity and Student Leadership for a fun meet and greet. Mingle with the centers’ directors and learn more about the vibrant community support offered by the Resource Center Team.  After a quick reception in the atrium, venture out into the centers themselves, where open houses will be held for you to learn more about each space’s values and offerings, as well as collaborative diversity and inclusion initiatives on campus. Refreshments will be served.

Atrium, Keefe Campus Center

5:30 - 6:30pm Reception and Tours of the New Science Center

Enjoy a cocktail, a snack and a student-led tour of Amherst's newest building. Learn more about the building project online or attend a session earlier in the afternoon with Jim Brassord, Chief of Campus Operations, and Jack Cheney, the Samuel A. Hitchcock Professor of Mineralogy and Geology and Associate Dean of the Faculty.

Living Room (Main Lobby), Science Center

5:30 - 7:30pm []

The Amherst Student Alumni Reception
Join the editorial staff of The Amherst Student for an evening reception to connect, hear how the paper is doing and enjoy some delicious food courtesy of Pasta E Basta! All Student alums and supporters are welcome. Ends at 7:30 p.m.

The Amherst Student Office, Basement, Morrow Residence Hall (Entrance from Valentine Quad)

6:00 - 8:00pm Amherst College Hillel Shabbat Services and Dinner

Learn about Jewish life and meet student leaders.

Friedmann Room, Keefe Campus Center

6:00 - 7:00pm Watson Fellows Dinner

Winners of the Watson Fellowship are invited to a dinner in their honor hosted by the Office of Fellowships and the Dean of the Faculty. Share stories and photos with Fellows across the decades and celebrate the transformative nature of the Watson experience. RSVP through this form: https://www.amherst.edu/mm/565342 or contact Christine Overstreet, Director of Fellowships, 413-542-2536; coverstreet@amherst.edu. Ends at 7:30 p.m.

Lobby, Converse Hall

6:30 - 7:30pm Health Professions Alumni Panel

Hear from alumni of all ages about their career paths in health professions, and what they've learned along the way, going back to their Amherst education. 

O'Connor Commons, Charles Pratt Dormitory

7:00 - 9:00pm Homecoming Bonfire

The Campus Activities Board Bonfire is a renewed tradition to bring the Amherst College community together in celebration of Homecoming Weekend.

Valentine Quadrangle, Rain Location: The Powerhouse

Saturday, November 10, 2018
7:30 - 8:30am Friends of Amherst Athletics: The Coach's Report, 2018 Season

Join E.J. Mills, Head Football Coach, for a closer look at our team.

Conway Classroom, Alumni Gymnasium

8:00am - 1:30pm Alumni House Reception Center Open

Please stop by for registration, printed programs, messages, information on the Amherst area and light refreshments. Alumni House will close at 1:30 p.m.

Alumni House, 75 Churchill Street, (413) 542-2065

8:00am - 1:00pm Pratt Field Opens for Pedestrians and Drop-Off

There will be no parking on Pratt Field. Vehicles will be permitted access for dropping off supplies at tents. Please see General Information for more details.

Pratt Field

8:30 - 10:30am Class of 1969 Reunion Planning Meeting

Morgan Room, Pontypool Building, 22 Snell Street

8:30 - 9:30am Admission Workshop for High School Students and Their Parents

Alumni and their children are welcome to attend this overview of admission procedures at Amherst, led by Cate Zolkos, Dean of Admission. No registration is required.

Pruyne Lecture Hall, Fayerweather Hall

9:00 - 10:00am Class of 1971 Reunion Planning Meeting

Room 203, Chapin Hall

9:00 - 10:30am Class of 1984 Reunion Planning Meeting

Room 101, Chapin Hall

9:00 - 10:00am Christening of Men's Eight Shell

The sport of rowing gives us the opportunity to recognize outstanding individuals who have stepped across the threshold of our boathouse. It is possible that the sport is well suited to create men and women with exceptional character, or perhaps these exceptional individuals are attracted to the sport. There is no better individual to personify the dedication, endurance and benevolence that defines Amherst rowing than Bradley F. Henke '54. Please join us to celebrate our new men's rowing shell in memory and appreciation of Mr. Henke's dedication to the success of our program. Coffee, cider and donuts will be served.

Main Quadrangle

10:00 - 11:30am Class of 1989 Reunion Planning Meeting

Room 207, Converse Hall

10:00 - 11:00am Planetarium Program: We Are Part of This Universe

For nearly 60 years, the Bassett Planetarium has served the College well. This tool has helped countless individuals better understand their place in the universe. Join Alfred Venne, Planetarium Director, as he uses the vintage Spitz A3P Starball to help re-create the night sky over Amherst. In addition, using a classic Orrery, participants will examine the plane of the solar system, the tilt of the Earth, day/night and seasons. The major takeaway from the planetarium visit may be best summed up by Neil deGrasse Tyson, who once said, "We are part of this universe, we are in this universe, but perhaps more important than both of those facts is that the universe is in us." Please note that seating is limited for this program, and that entrance will not be permitted after 10:10, due to safety concerns.

Bassett Planetarium, Morgan Hall

10:00 - 11:30am Class of 1979 Reunion Planning Meeting

Room 201, Chapin Hall

10:30 - 11:30am Conversation with President Biddy Martin

Johnson Chapel

11:00am - 12:00pm Women's Soccer v. Lesley

NCAA Championships First Round

Hitchcock Field

11:00am - 12:00pm DQ Homecoming Show

The DQ is Amherst's oldest co-ed, secular a cappella group. Come join us for a casual, late morning show. Bagels and coffee will be provided. We look forward to connecting with our alumni!

Ballroom, Morris Pratt Dormitory

11:00am - 12:00pm Men's Soccer v. Bridgewater State

NCAA Championships First Round

Hitchcock Field

11:30am - 3:30pm Alumni-Student Meet-Ups at Pratt Field

Many student groups will be at tents and tables on the east end of Pratt Field, near the pedestrian entrance (Hitchcock Gate). Please stop by to connect with students and other alumni, and say hello! Clubs include: Amherst College Emergency Medical Center (ACEMS), Amherst College Military Association (ACMA), Amherst College Republicans (ACR), Amherst College Rowing Association, Asian Students Association (ASA), Black Student Union (BSU), Club Volleyball, Equestrian Team, Student Health Educators (SHE).

Near Hitchcock Gate, Pratt Field

12:00 - 3:00pm Amherst Football v. Williams

There will be no parking on Pratt Field. Parking is available on the football practice field (entrance on Route 9), in front of Alumni Gymnasium, in the designated area on Snell Street, along Hitchcock Road and Orchard Street, and in any other designated parking space on campus. See General Information for details on tents and tailgating.

Pratt Field

1:00 - 1:30pm Close Looks at the Mead

Stop by the Mead to find new connections among works on view with student museum educators. Part of an ongoing series focusing on different themes each week. Ends at 1:30 p.m.

Mead Art Museum

1:30 - 2:30pm Beneski Museum "Bones and Stones" Tour

Join Alfred Venne, Museum Educator and student docents, for a walk through the Beneski Museum of Natural History, which houses outstanding collections and exhibits that include vertebrate and invertebrate paleontology, minerals and other geologic specimens collected locally and from around the world since 1825. Particularly noteworthy is the world-famous dinosaur track collection. Bring your cameras!

Beneski Earth Sciences Building

2:30 - 4:00pm Amherst Homecoming Food Truck Fest

Following the game, come celebrate and share some great food! This event is sponsored by Alumni and Parent Programs to thank you for your support at Homecoming and throughout the year. Ends at 4 p.m.

Tent next to Smith House, 22 Hitchcock Road

4:00 - 5:30pm Physics and Astronomy Department Reception

Join us for an informal reception for returning alumni/ae and faculty. Ends at 5:30 p.m.

Lower Commons (Near the Winter Garden), Science Center

4:00 - 5:30pm Zumbyes Reception and Sing-Along

The Zumbyes are Amherst’s oldest acapella group! Come hear current and former Zumbyes come together to sing the group’s classics. Anybody is welcome, especially if you are a former member or friend of the Zumbyes!

Canfield Lounge, Kirby Theater

4:30 - 6:30pm [Screening of JFK: The Last Speech - The Story of President Kennedy’s 1963 Speech at Amherst College]

Screening of JFK: The Last Speech - The Story of President Kennedy’s 1963 Speech at Amherst College

In an era of political tension when the value of a liberal arts education is questioned, a message from 1963 has particular resonance. Twenty-seven days before he was assassinated, President Kennedy came to Amherst College to honor the poet Robert Frost in a speech called “the most majestic” of Kennedy’s career. He spoke of the relationship of poetry to power and of a view shared with Frost that power must be exercised, but wisely -- tempered by a moral restraint inspired by the arts and a liberal arts education. And, he spoke of the obligation of those “given a running start in life” to serve the public interest.

JFK: The Last Speech, a new documentary aired on public television this summer, communicates the impact of this message through the stories of Amherst alumni and students and reflections by prominent scholars and political observers. Produced by an award winning filmmaker, this film will ignite public discourse on enduring values and on our shared responsibility for the public interest. It is a call to action to rebuild our civic sphere -- infused with broad sympathy, understanding and compassion. Neil Bicknell ’64 and Paul Dimond ’66 will host this screening, field questions and share opportunities to make JFK’s call a living legacy going forward. All alumni, current students, faculty and staff are invited. The companion book, also titled, JFK: The Last Speech, and the film on DVD will be available for purchase. 

Johnson Chapel

7:00 - 9:00pm Amherst College Chinese Students Association Alumni and Student Connection Dinner

Join the Amherst College Chinese Students Association to connect with current students, share your experiences of studying at and transitioning out of Amherst College, and enjoy some delicious hotpot. RSVP to let us know you plan to attend

Panda East, 103 N. Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01002

7:00 - 8:00pm Choral Society Concert

The program includes music by Shawn Kirchner, Sydney Guillaume, Györgi Ligeti, Ēriks Ešenvalds and Veljo Tormis. It is conducted by Arianne Abela, Director of the Choral Music Program and Lecturer in Music, and Assistant Conductor Ellen Mutter ’18. The program also includes the second performance of commissioned work by singer/songwriter Shara Nova. The concert concludes with traditional Amherst songs. Tickets are $10 for the general public and $5 for senior citizens, students and children 12 and under. Five College student tickets are free. Tickets may be purchased at the door only, beginning one hour before the concert.

Buckley Recital Hall, Arms Music Center

9:00 - 11:00pm Amherst College Jazz Ensemble

ACJE performs under the direction of Carl Clements, Visiting Director of Jazz Performance. The concert is free and open to the public.

Buckley Recital Hall, Arms Music Center

Sunday, November 11, 2018
11:00am - 12:30pm Women of Color Homecoming Brunch

Amherst College women of color alumnae and students are invited to join us during Homecoming weekend for the Women of Color Brunch, an event organized by students and staff to celebrate our community. All women of color, both cisgender and transgender, as well as our nonbinary siblings, are welcome to attend. This year's program will focus on forging connections, providing an opportunity for casual conversation and networking. Featuring keynote speaker Nalini Jones '93, author of What You Call Winter and a recipient of an National Endowment for the Arts fellowship, Pushcart Prize and O. Henry Prize. Learn more and register for the brunch.

Lewis-Sebring Commons, Valentine Hall