May 2024 Board of Trustees Meeting Summary
A report on the board meeting held May 2–4, 2024.
Dear members of the Mount Holyoke College community,
Last weekend we celebrated a joyous and vibrant one hundred eighty-seventh Commencement on Pageant Green, as well as the first of our two wonderful Reunions. Our Commencement speaker, Dr. Suchi Saria ’04, and student speaker, Mackenzie Pauline Windus ’24, gave inspiring speeches that reminded us to persist in the face of adversity and to hold onto the moments that matter. A day earlier, Dr. Lina Maria Rivero Cashin ’88 powerfully described how her liberal arts education helped her translate complex scientific concepts into meaningful policies leading to international spaceflight accords. We offer hearty congratulations to our graduates and honorands and thanks to those who supported them throughout their time at Mount Holyoke. Our deep gratitude also goes to the Commencement Committee and all who made our first outdoor ceremony in years such a remarkable success. And thank you to the many alums who came home for Reunion (or soon will) and to all those on campus whose efforts make such a welcoming homecoming possible.
The spring meeting of the Board of Trustees took place on campus from May 2–4, 2024. We were delighted that trustees-elect Mary Ann Deignan ’84 and Hope Giles ’87 joined us in person to participate and Lale Topcuoglu ’99 was able to join virtually.
On Friday, May 3, the Board voted unanimously and enthusiastically to adopt “MHC Forward,” the audacious strategic plan that President Holley, the Strategic Planning Committee and the entire Mount Holyoke community collaborated to create. The plan sets out an exciting vision for the College as a place where bold leaders and boundless learners make a better world.
Building on this vision, the refreshed mission adopted unanimously by the Board in 2023 and our institutional core values of academic excellence, inclusive learning, active engagement and purposeful leadership, the strategic plan features four priority areas that intersect and work together:
- Academic excellence: advancing innovation and inclusive academic excellence
- Student experience: enhancing the student experience on and beyond campus
- Operational leadership: strengthening infrastructure for long-term success and
- Resource stewardship: growing resources responsibly for a thriving future.
“MHC Forward” will build on the College’s strong legacy and reputation and extend our visibility. It will help us attract and retain exceptional students, staff and faculty; sustain and accelerate research and innovation; prepare students for successful careers and lives of purposeful leadership in a global community; create a more sustainable and accessible campus; and heighten alum and strategic partner engagement. The plan was previewed at Reunion I last week, with a full rollout set to begin in the fall. The trustees thank everyone for their work in creating this plan, and join you with great enthusiasm about Mount Holyoke’s future.
At the May meeting, the trustees approved a balanced budget for 2024–2025, with total expenses of $174,370,000. This includes a 3% pay increase for all eligible employees effective July 1. It also includes over $8 million added to the budget to pay for the permanent adjustments made as a result of the comprehensive compensation study the College undertook this year. Mount Holyoke now has a market-driven, transparent compensation structure in place that will allow us to retain and attract top talent. The Board also endorsed President Holley’s vision for a revitalized athletics program that will better support student-athletes, promote school spirit and represent Mount Holyoke to the world.
While on campus, the trustees donned hardhats and reflective vests for an informative tour of the geothermal projects sites in Kendade Hall and Skinner Green. We thank Associate Vice President for Facilities Management Karla Youngblood and representatives from our construction management and consulting partners for a fantastic session. Thank you as well to everyone for your patience in relinquishing Skinner Green this year for Commencement and Reunion activities. Our geothermal project is a key aspect of our campus wide sustainability commitment; we are very pleased with its progress.
As is our tradition, the Board held a farewell dinner thanking and celebrating the trustees who have fulfilled their terms. We deeply appreciate the exemplary service of Carrianna K. Field ’97, Mary Hughes ’74, Joud Mar’i ’19, Natasha Mohanty ’03, Ellen Hyde Pace ’81, Karena Strella ’90 and Louise Wasso ’75. President Holley and the trustees wish to extend deep thanks to Karena for her outstanding service as Chair of the Board and 13 years of Board service. Since 2019, she has been a wise and steady guide during a period of tumult in the world and transition on campus. President Holley, Karena and the trustees are delighted to welcome Sally Durdan ’81 as chair effective July 1, and greatly look forward to continuing the excellent work of the past five years.
The trustees voted to elect Liz Sevigny ’23 Recent Graduate Trustee beginning July 1, 2024, and look forward to welcoming them to the Board.
The trustees noted the resignation of Trish Walsh ’87 from the Board due to her time constraints.
Other formal actions of the Board
The spring meeting of the Board of Trustees also included:
- The awarding of degrees, on May 19, 2024, to 414 seniors and 38 graduate students, and the awarding of certificates for three students.
- The promotion of Nigel Alderman to Professor, Department of English; Sarah Bacon to Professor, Department of Biological Sciences; Kate Ballantine to Professor, Department of Environmental Studies; Ligia Bouton to Professor, Department of Art Studio; W. Donald Cotter to Professor, Department of Chemistry; Nina Emery to Professor, Department of Philosophy; Jessica Maier to Professor, Department of Art History and Architectural Studies; Tianhui Ng to Professor, Department of Music; Andrew G. Reiter to Professor, Department of Politics; Katia Vavova to Professor, Department of Philosophy; Kyae-Sung Park to Five College Senior Lecturer, Department of Asian Studies; and Kevin Surprise to Senior Lecturer, Department of Environmental Studies.
- The awarding of endowed chairs to Shakia Barron, Class of 1929 Virginia Apgar Assistant Professor of Dance; Timothy Chumley, Associate Professor of Mathematics on the John Stewart Kennedy Foundation; Elizabeth K. Markovits, Professor of Politics on the Ford Foundation; Kristen Maye, Clara Willis Phillips Assistant Professor of English; Mary Renda, Emily Dickinson Professor of History; and Geoff S. Sumi, Professor of Classics on the Alumnae Foundation.
- The awarding of faculty emeritus status to Paula Debnar, Professor Emeritus of Classics; Thomas Millette, Professor Emeritus of Geography; and Eva Paus, Professor Emeritus of Economics.
- The adjustment of the bylaws for more inclusive language and for clarification of some trustee terms of service.
The Board congratulates the faculty members who received promotions, reappointments, endowed chairs and emeritus status and we extend heartfelt thanks to our retiring faculty for the profound impact they have had on generations of students.
Congratulations again to our graduates and to all those celebrating Reunions, and thank you to students, faculty, staff and alums for a successful academic year. We wish you a wonderful summer. At this time of transition, one of the signatories of this letter is marking her final weeks on the Board, another is completing her first year at the College’s helm and the third is preparing for her first year as Board chair. This is fitting: Mount Holyoke’s bright future is built on its strong and enduring legacy, as well as on the engagement of the entire MHC community.
Sincerely,
Karena Strella ’90
Chair, Board of Trustees
Danielle R. Holley
President, Mount Holyoke College
Sally Durdan ’81
Chair-elect, Board of Trustees