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A photo of Ruth Bader Ginsburg speaking with President Biddy Martin on stage against a purple background

The Office of Conferences and Special Events (CASE) produces institutional events, including Convocation, Undergraduate Awards Ceremony and Commencement, as well as high-profile speakers that are invited to speak at Amherst College, symposiums, colloquiums, seasonal festivals and summer programs. In addition, CASE processes room reservations for the Alumni House, Johnson Chapel and classrooms during non-academic hours.


Layered lemon cake round, topped with ginger ice cream and a candy nest

Pindar Field Dinners

Conceived by a member of the class of 2013, the Pindar Dinners “encourage students to engage outside of their comfort zones and standard social groups.”

Dinner table place settings

Planning An Event?

Planning a dinner, inviting a lecturer to campus, organizing an extended conference, or arranging something else? Here's more information on whom to contact, how to reserve a space and more.

Conferences & Special Events Staff

Austin Huot, director of conferences and special events, can be reached at ahuot@amherst.edu or 413/542-7666, and handles queries on Commencement, Convocation, major speakers, seasonal festivals and student dinners, as well as Amherst College's room reservation software, Event Management System (EMS). 

Christina LaDue, associate director of conferences and special events oversees summer programs at Amherst College. She can be reached at cmladue@amherst.edu or 413/542-8102.

Rebecca Kennedy, associate director of conferences and special events, can be reached at rbkennedy@amherst.edu or 413/542-5908.

Paula Mieczkowski, room reservations manager, is the contact to book the Alumni House and Johnson Chapel and all campus space for all non-academic hours. She can be reached at pamieczkowski@amherst.edu or 413/542-8269.

Maryjane Placzek, events coordinator, can be reached at mplaczek@amherst.edu, or 413/542-5728.

Alyssa Kelleher, events coordinator, can be reached at akelleher@amherst.edu, or 513/542-2846.