Campus News

Alison Bechdel ’81 was named this morning as one of 21 MacArthur Fellows for 2014. She is an amazing, inspirational person and a great supporter of Oberlin. Congratulations, Alison, from all of us at Oberlin! I am looking forward to what will be an exciting and historic Homecoming Weekend celebration beginning this Friday. We have a terrific slate of events including celebrations relating to Latinx Heritage Month, the annual President’s Lecture, with Paula Richman ’74, and a Convocation with “Radiolab” cohosts Jad Abumrad ’95 and Robert Krulwich ’69. We will also celebrate the opening of the Austin E. Knowlton Athletics Complex by playing the first home night game in Oberlin’s football history.

The beginning of the academic year in American higher education invariably seems to be accompanied these days by a growing wave of rankings and stories in the media attempting to judge the quality and value of a college education. As Oberlin’s president, I have written and spoken a lot about the relevance, cost, and value of college education. I have benefited from and believe in studying the distinctive blend of the humanities, sciences, and the arts that is the essence of liberal arts education. And I know Oberlin prepares students to lead meaningful, considered lives, to flourish in multiple careers, and to be informed, engaged citizens of their communities and the world. Simply put, I believe liberal arts education is the best preparation a young person can have for success in life.

Oberlin OnCampus is featuring brief bios of faculty and staff members new to the campus community. New employees who have not completed the New Employee Information form that was included in their human resources packet can still submit information by e-mailing oncampus@oberlin.edu. Others who want to supplement the information they have already provided may do so by e-mail

Oberlin OnCampus is featuring brief bios of faculty and staff members new to the campus community.

New students, returning students, new and returning faculty and staff members, I hope your summer breaks were safe, fulfilling and fun. The beginning of the academic year is always an exciting time in Oberlin. The pace of life quickens. A fresh blend of purpose, promise, and possibilities fills the air as the campus repopulates, and classes, extracurricular activities, and athletics begin anew.

Oberlin OnCampus is featuring brief bios of faculty and staff members new to the campus community.

The award from the Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation will fund internships for high- and moderate-need students in summer 2015.

Kazim Ali, associate professor of creative writing, was recently recognized for his contributions to the cultural life of the state of Ohio.

This summer, neuroscience professors and students at Oberlin collaborated with other neuroscience researchers at colleges in the region in a series of seminars.