As I write these words, I am approaching the end of my first week as Middlebury’s 17th president.
The welcome from faculty, staff, and students has been extraordinary! And I have heard from many of you—alumni, parents, and friends of Middlebury—whose commitment to our institution is one of its great strengths.
I couldn’t have imagined a warmer reception by the Middlebury community.
My husband, Shalom Goldman, and I, along with our cat and two Great Pyrenees, are gradually getting settled in. We spent our first weekend in Middlebury—the July 4th weekend—experiencing just some of what the town and its surrounding communities have to offer, from the farmer’s market (taste the mango-blueberry jam!) to the start of the annual Festival on the Green. In fact I began writing this column at a downtown tea shop that featured Haiku poetry on the walls. At the table next to mine, two Japanese learners from the Language Schools were enjoying a spirited and, judging from their laughter, humorous conversation in their new language.
In short, it was the kind of experience that longtime faculty and staff, including my predecessor and friend Ron Liebowitz, have been describing to me—but that one must live to appreciate.
My first day in the office was an ideal introduction to the institution, starting with an energetic senior staff meeting where we spoke about how we will work together. That meeting was followed by a brief walk through the quad that, by pure happenstance, led to conversations with a recent graduate, two second-year international students, and a prospective student and her father who were visiting the campus from Oregon.
That night I had the pleasure of speaking at the Language Schools Convocation in Mead Chapel. The ebullient spirit of the evening was quite unlike anything I had ever seen. I found it inspiring to see hundreds of newly arrived students from around the world, here in Vermont, who were so obviously enthralled by the learning experience upon which they had embarked. Once again, the advance billing of what summer at Middlebury would be like only hinted at the joy I took from actually being here.
Of course for me the Middlebury magic started long before this auspicious beginning on campus and in town. What I mean by Middlebury magic is the love so many Middlebury alumni hold for their institution. I spoke with several Middlebury alumni before accepting the job and have spoken with many more since then. To this day I have heard only great affection and loyalty for the place that provided them not only with an education but also life-shaping experiences and many lifelong friendships.
One of the advantages of being a newcomer experiencing Middlebury with a fresh eye is that I don’t take what this institution has created for granted. Wherever I look I sense a remarkable connection to this place. I see that our alumni feel welcome whenever they come to campus. I hear from parents who in a short time develop a deep commitment to the College. I talk with Language School students who embrace their status as Middlebury students. In Monterey, I see how faculty, staff, and students at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies are seizing on opportunities to deepen their ties to the entire institution. And I look forward to my first trip to Bread Loaf in the days to come, so I can savor that special place and its rich educational tradition.
I believe our alumni have a significant role to play in shaping the future of their alma mater. I like to think about constructive engagement in terms of the gifts of time, talent, and treasure. We rarely have all three in equal measure, but we give whatever we can summon to the places that have had the deepest effect on us. And Middlebury alumni share generously in order to keep building the institution they love.
I will be traveling extensively this year to meet Middlebury alumni, parents, and friends throughout the country and abroad. Already in my introductions I have heard stories about the professor, the sports coach, the landscape, the summer internship, and even the chance encounter that shaped the direction and purpose of the lives of our graduates. I can’t wait to hear more!
These stories of purpose shape the ethos of Middlebury, and they give us hints of how to build our future together. I look forward to building that future in partnership with you, that extraordinary group of global and local citizens of the extended Middlebury community!
Laurie Patton can be reached at president@middlebury.edu.