September 9, 2026

It promises to be a busy term with a new president, the college celebrating the 50th anniversary of VAPA (a public reception is planned for November 3—check the calendar event for details), and, for me at last, another iteration of the Life after Bennington course.

My thanks to Paul Cello '92, Seth DeCroce '98, Krystle Niemela '24, Abby Geoghegan '09, Mariam Shah '14, and Erika Lygren '16 for agreeing to be this term’s alumni presenters. 

If you’re interested in presenting for the Spring term (which runs April 21 to June 2), let me know! This term’s format is a Wednesday afternoon class with a break for alumni to tour campus (if you’re here in person) and then dinner with students and/or staff and faculty. If you can travel to campus, I can likely find you a room on campus.

Creating this course has been a highlight of my first two years back at Bennington. I really enjoy watching students hear alumni journeys and start picturing themselves as alumni. And, for alumni, hearing what current students are studying and doing at Bennington gives them the feels.

The interaction between students and alumni is a cornerstone of this new alumni program that I, along with help of other alumni and my colleagues here on campus, am building.

Speaking of which, the first two alumni chapter organizing meetings are happening—virtually—on September 22 for alumni in New York City and Los Angeles. If you’re curious and/or interested, let me know and I’ll add you to the invite.

Beyond Los Angeles and New York City, the newly formed Alumni Association is looking to build chapters in the following regions and cities in the next year or two:

• Boston
• Washington, DC
• San Francisco / Bay Area
• Portland, OR
• Seattle
• Local to campus (VT, NY, MA)

At a minimum, we’ll need a core group of alumni in each of those places to be part of a host committee as we map out a welcome/listening tour with President Danielle Egan. I’m excited for you all to meet her.

Please email me if you’re interested, and I can answer any questions you may have about the timing and potential volunteer workload. We have interested alumni in each of the regions listed above, so the time/work commitment will be relatively light.

I’ve helped alumni plan a total of more than 20 formal and informal get-togethers since arriving two years ago, and we’re just getting started.

In August, I had the pleasure of hanging with alumni in the Hudson Valley of New York at a gathering hosted by John Deckoff '89 at his home in Red Hook, NY. Then, I had a breakfast get-together with a handful of alumni who took part in this year’s pilot Summer Workshops in painting, writing, and AI. 

We want to do a lot more next summer, and we want alumni input on what kind of programs you’d like to see the College offer. Got ideas? I’m sure you do! Fill out this short survey.

Stay Connected (with Bennington & Each Other)

My office and the new Alumni Association continue to ask alumni to update their contact information or confirm the accuracy of information on file. This is essential to ensure we can connect you with other alumni in your region and hear about what's going on in the broader Bennington community. Please update your contact information, current employment, and job title using this form.

If you’d like to connect with other alumni professionally, we invite you to join the Bennington Alumni LinkedIn Group. Current students are also being invited to join this group to connect with alumni about mentoring, as well as Field Work Term and job opportunities.

If you have any suggestions on what you’d like to see in an online directory as we work on building a new platform this Fall, please email me.

If you are an artist who would like to share upcoming performances, readings, or gallery openings with the alumni community, email Alumni Relations so we can add it to the monthly Alumni Newsletter.Finally, if you’re ever in the neighborhood, let me know, and I’d be happy to treat you to lunch in the Dining Hall and spend time with you on our beautiful campus.

Onward,

Shay Totten ’91
Director of Alumni and Constituent Engagement