November 21, 2023

I am thrilled to share this edition of the newly designed Bennington alumni magazine, the first since 2021. The team here at Bennington created it so that we can share news from campus and, in particular, respond to your requests for stories about the talented, groundbreaking alumni who achieve our mission “to work toward a world more beautiful, sustainable, democratic and just.”

Thank you to the more than 100 alums who filled out the Bennington magazine survey this summer. We have used your responses to assemble the inspiring alumni-centric stories that you asked for.

Survey responses also indicated both the love for a print magazine and the desire for a more eco-friendly approach. That’s why we are publishing one issue per year digitally only and the other both in print and online. Regardless of the format, we hope you read, enjoy, and share the love of Bennington. 

You also asked for alumni-written stories, so we encourage you to submit responses to the prompt in this issue. We hope it stirs your imagination and are eager to include our favorites in the Spring issue. 

As we revel in highlighting alumni and their inspiring work, we are also intently focused on our mission-driven efforts. The Supreme Court’s decision to end race-based affirmative action underscores the importance of intensifying our focus on making Bennington a richly diverse community. 

We are proud that the Class of 2027 was chosen from our largest applicant pool and is our most diverse ever. Nearly a quarter, 24 percent, of incoming students are domestic students of color. They are also among our most academically talented classes, based on average GPA. 

This kind of excellence requires funding for scholarships, and I want to thank each of you who has contributed to support these magnificent students. If you have not yet given this year, please do so. 

Warmly, 

Laura Walker
President