Amherst Voices: Josh Bell ’02

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Screenshot from the tv show Aporia.

“What would you do if you could bring a loved one back with the push of a button?” Josh Bell ’02 on the Well Go USA TV series Aporia, written and directed by Jared Moshé ’01

Amherst Voices: Maken Onjerika ’10

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A bedside lamp illuminates a book.

“In 2024, I implore us to read more fiction, in order to see ourselves in others and to see others in ourselves.” Makena Onjerika ’10, on the importance of fiction in “Reading Lights.”

Amherst Voices: Sandy Rosenberg ’72

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Sandy Rosenberg walks a hallway of a high school flanked by two students.

“You can make a big difference at the state level. The states are the laboratories of democracy.”  Sandy Rosenberg ’72, the longest-serving member of the Maryland House of Delegates, on why he hasn't run for Congress.

Amherst Voices: Natasha Threthewey

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Natasha Trethewey

“I was already a fan of hers, and knew I would love to meet a poet I really admire—then I loved soaking in all of her wisdom.”  Willow Delp ’26, on taking a Litfest craft class with Natasha Trethewey, the 19th United States Poet Laureate 

Amherst Voices: Aparna Nancherla ’05E

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A collage of book covers.

“Constantly questioning why everything is the way it is and why any of us are here can be the seedy underbelly of figuring out what is funny about life.” Comedian and actor Aparna Nancherla ’05E  from Unreliable Narrator: Me, Myself, and Imposter Syndrome.  She will be speaking at this year's Litfest.

Amherst Voices: Natasha Tretheway

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A line up of book covers by authors speaking at LitFest 2024.

“What matters is the transformative power of metaphor and the stories we tell ourselves about the arc and meaning of our lives.” Poet Natasha Trethewey, from Memorial Drive: A Daughter's Memoir.  She will be speaking at this year's Litfest.

Amherst Voices: Alaina Daniels ’09

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Illustration of a face looking at the top of Johnson Chapel by Adam McCauley

 “I always thought of ADHD as the inability to pay attention. Now I understand it means you can’t control what you’re paying attention to.” Alaina Daniels ’09, one of a dozen alums who share their stories in You Can’t Have ADHD. You Went to Amherst.

Amherst Voices: Nicholas Horton

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A handwritten Parsons Paper Co.’s payroll register.

“This is what truly lies at the heart of statistics—to always think of the human element behind our quantitative work.” As part of Professor Nicholas Horton's class, Stats 210: “Mining the History of Holyoke,” students combed through the Parsons Paper Co.’s payroll register for data.

Amherst Voices: Gerald Penny ’77

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Painting of Gerald Penny by William Utermohlen.

“When change came to his Black community, he said, ‘I want to be in that number.’ ” Gerald Penny ’77, in his application to Amherst. Penny’s life and tragic death, 50 years ago, were recently commemorated on campus.

Amherst Voices: Ilan Stavans

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An illustration of a line of people walking to a building carrying books by Marc Rosenthal.

“Immigrant stories make us see particular corners of the world in a more nuanced and challenging way.” Ilan Stavans, the Lewis-Sebring Professor of Humanities and Latin American and Latino Culture, on the kinds of books he seeks for Restless Books, his new publishing company in downtown Amherst.

Amherst Voices: Wes Dripps

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Two students stand in front of a truck on a field at Book and Plow farm.

“Preparing students to tackle sustainability challenges—and find viable solutions—is becoming an increasingly important component of the Amherst curriculum.” Wes Dripps, director of the Office of Sustainability, on the creative ways faculty are integrating sustainability into their courses

Amherst Voices: Ana Devlin Gauthier

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A panoramic view of the town of Amherst in winter.

“Engagement is an act of care for the community.” Ana Devlin Gauthier, learning and development facilitator, Human Resources, on why she chose to get involved as a district representative for the town of Amherst.

Amherst Voices: Geoffrey Giller ’10

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Illustration by Jam Dong of a two-lane road with wildlife and and trees.

“Roads affect wildlife, the natural world and humans at nearly every conceivable scale.” Geoffrey Giller ’10, in his review of a new book by Ben Goldfarb ’09 in Amherst magazine.

Amherst Voices: Tess Taylor ’00

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Illustration of vegetables growing above and below ground by Helena Pallarés

“Gardens and poems are places we go to excavate ourselves.” Poet Tess Taylor ’00,  writing in the Fall issue of Amherst magazine.

Congratulations, Mammoths!

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The Amherst men's soccer team congratulate St. Olaf on their NCAA Division III win.

Congratulations to the men’s soccer team on an outstanding season, collecting the national runner-up trophy for the third time in the last four seasons at the NCAA Division III Championship game. Game Recap. (Photo credit: Dan Hunter: d3photography.com)

Go Mammoths!

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Men's soccer team celebrate their semi final victory.

Congratulations to the men's soccer team on their win over Washington & Lee in the NCAA Division III semi-final! They'll face St. Olaf for the final on Sunday, Dec. 3 at noon. Game Recap. (Photo credit: Dan Hunter: d3photography.com)

Congratulations, Coach Paradis!

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Christine Parradis

“I do believe we are all bridges--as we link the past with the future through the span of our careers.” Longtime women's lacrosse coach Christine Paradis, speaking at the Nov. 16 ceremony marking her induction into the Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Amherst Voices: Heid E. Erdrich

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“The future of Native art is being revealed.” Heid E. Erdrich, guest curator for “Boundless,” a Mead Art Museum exhibit, in the new Amherst magazine.

Amherst Voices: Roxane Main ’25

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“I’m trying to find a new way to help my community by finding a bridge between Western education and Indigenous values.” Roxane Main ’25 the first Amherst student to win a Udall Scholarship to address environmental challenges affecting Native nations.

Amherst Celebrates

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Congratulations to the men’s and women’s soccer teams for capturing their second consecutive NESCAC championship wins! Go Mammoths!

Amherst Voices: President Michael A. Elliott ’92

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“ I can assure you that you will write subpar essays─I surely did. And on the other side of that experience will not be failure, but something else: learning.” President Michael A. Elliott ’92, offering words of wisdom about college life to current students.

Amherst Voice: Ash Smith ’18

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“It matters to me that my work is meaningful and has some kind of impact.” Ash Smith ’18, who is doing research for BREHA, Amherst’s new Black Feminist Reproductive Justice, Equity & HIV/AIDS Activism Collective.

Amherst Voice: Luke Herzog ’24

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“Theater is the most collaborative art form. When you put on a play, it's really putting together a team.” Luke Herzog ’24, winner of the John Cauble Award for Outstanding Short Play at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. 

Amherst Voices: Gabriel Echarte ’23

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“Through teaching, I am reinforcing my commitment to an open and free world.”  Gabriel Echarte ’23 on being awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship.

Amherst Voices: Matthew McGann

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The first year class gathered in Johnson Chapel.

“ I, for one, know 100 percent that they will make a difference in this world.” Matthew McGann, dean of admission and financial aid, speaking of the incoming class of 488 students.

Amherst Voices: Edmund Phelps ’55

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An illustration with a chart indicating  various years.

“I had at long last used my creativity to build a new theory of a nation’s happiness.” Nobel laureate in economics Edmund Phelps ’55, H’85 in his new memoir.

Amherst Remembers

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Close up of 9/11 memorial showing alumni Brock Joel Safronoff

“Today, we mourn, remember, and honor the lives lost on this day 22 years ago, including those of three Amherst alumni—Frederick C. Rimmele III ’90, Brock Safronoff ’97 and Maurita Tam ’ 01.” Read “9/11/01: A Dispatch from Campus.”

Amherst Voices: Laura Jarrett

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“I credit Amherst enormously for framing how I look at issues of racial justice and sexism, all of the things I care about deeply, and the things I end up covering on CNN every day.” News anchor Laura Jarrett ’07 from the Black Women of Amherst College podcast series.

Amherst Voices: John Cho

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“You learn to say, ‘It’s imperfect, but it works.’ People don’t come for perfection... Perfection is you placing yourself at center.” Actor John Cho in a talk in Amherst’s Johnson Chapel

Amherst Voices: Bruce Becker ’80

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Quote by arhitect Bruce Becker about the Hotel Marcel

“It’s like walking into Mad Men.” Architect Bruce Becker ’80 on his award-winning, environmentally innovative hotel, The Marcel.

Amherst Voices: Leo Kamin ’25

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Quote about Haoran Tong by Leo Kamin

“His time at Amherst is a testament to Tong’s belief that home is a verb, not a noun.” Leo Kamin ’25 on Haoran Tong ’23, in “The Pride of Amherst.”

Amherst Voices: President Michael A. Elliott

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the Amherst College seal with a quote by President Elliott

“We remain resolute in our commitment to recruit and support a diverse community of scholars within the bounds of the law.” President Michael Elliott responds to the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding race-conscious admissions practices.

Amherst Voices: Ilan Stavans

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Quote by Ilan Stavans

“In un placete de La Mancha of which nombre no quiero remembrearme, vivía, not so long ago, uno de esos gentlemen who always tienen una lanza in the rack, una buckler antigua, a skinny caballo y un greyhound para el chase.” Professor Ilan Stavans, in his Spanglish translation of Don Quixote, from the new issue of Amherst magazine.

Amherst Voices: Niki Russ Federman ’99

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Quote by Niki Russ Federman

”I think I was drawn to it on some subconscious level, finding my own entryway to think about food on a more intellectual level.” Niki Russ Federman ’99, co-owner of the New York landmark Russ & Daughters, on her favorite Amherst class.

Amherst Voices: Philip Palmer

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Black and white group portrait of librarians at Amherst College in 1900 including Belle da Costa Greene.

“The Amherst photograph is the most exciting discovery we’ve made while preparing for the exhibit.” Philip Palmer, curatorial lead for an exhibit on Belle da Costa Greene at New York’s Morgan Library.

Amherst Voices: Jonathan Putnam ’88

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Mangos ripening on a tree.

“We planted thousands and thousands of mango trees. One of my proudest moments was going back years later and seeing how high they’d grown.” Jonathan Putnam ’88 in the new Amherst magazine.

Amherst Announces

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Announcement about Peter Pouncey

Amherst College mourns the loss of former President Peter Pouncey, who died on May 30. He served from 1984 to 1994 and is remembered for guiding the College through a time of transition into greater stability and diversity.  Read the story.

Amherst Announces

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Sheree Ohen joins Amherst College as Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer

Amherst College Names Sheree M. Ohen New Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer. Read the Press release.

Amherst Voices: Marc Schulz ‘84

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Five people gathered around a table smiling and talking.

“It can start with a simple text: ‘I am thinking about you.’” Marc Schulz ‘84, on lessons about human happiness, in an interview in the new issue of Amherst magazine.

Amherst Voices: Lee Spector

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Graphic of a phone with ChatGPT showing.

“The meaningful part of education is about the transformation of you and your capabilities.” Lee Spector, the Class of 1993 Professor of Computer Science, speaking at a panel on ChatGPT.

Amherst Voices: Matt McGann

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Exterior of the supreme court building

“It is not a time to be shy about values.” Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Matthew McGann, in an interview about race-conscious admissions in higher education

Amherst Voices: Jack Betts ’24E

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Quote by Jack Betts about name, image, and likeness.

“I capitalized on a market that had zero history of finding success.” Jack Betts ’24E, on marketing his name, image and likeness as a Division III athlete.

Amherst Voices: Darryl Harper ’90

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Several musicians playing together on a stage.

“There are not many live-music venues like this anywhere.” Darryl Harper ’90, professor and jazz clarinetist, on a new addition to the Town of Amherst.