From the President

Bennington College was founded by a group of people who believed against all odds that they could make the impossible possible. They recognized a need in the world—a need for a college that valued art as central to learning and creating; for a place that offered a more robust intellectual life for young women; and for a liberal arts degree that wove together classroom and experiential learning. There was no such college at the time and no evidence that such a place could thrive. And yet, within a few years Bennington had exceeded its founder’s grand vision.

That is what we are celebrating with this issue: the Bennington students, alumni, faculty, and friends who turn bold ideas into real things in the world. Bennington College began as an abstraction. It was brought to life by a dedicated group of early donors, the parents of courageous women who wanted more and believed this big idea was worth the investment. Such pioneering supporters can be found throughout the pages of this magazine—in the philanthropic gifts, grants, and public advocacy that made so many of these projects possible.

Every time we support something entirely new—whether it’s a scientific theory that contradicts old ways of thinking, a screenplay that defies conventions, or radical political and social reforms—we empower the impossible.

That’s the ethos that underpins all teaching and learning here at Bennington: that intellectual rigor, endurance, and permission to fail fortifies our students to create new and better things. With the freedom to imagine beyond the old rules of what’s possible, the Bennington community is helping to solve some of the world’s most urgent problems. Alumni are bringing us together in innovative ways and uplifting the world with challenging art. This issue is a celebration of that tradition, and of the generous visionaries who support it.

Around the globe and right here on campus, Bennington students, faculty, and alumni are always at work recognizing needs in the world, spotting the questions that demand answers. We relish the opportunity to do the impossible. It is as true today as it was in 1932: the world needs Bennington College.

Thank you for all that you do,

Isabel Roche
Interim President