Skidmore Scope Magazine Annual Edition for 2017

15 SKIDMORE COLLEGE S K I D M O R E S C O P E 2 0 1 7 Biochemists with business acumen, linguists with sociopolitical exper- tise, artists who blaze new trails in digital media . . . the world’s press- ing needs call for cross-competen- cies. Finding solutions in energy, climate, medicine, justice, and geo- politics requires critical thinking skills in both analysis and synthe- sis. Building those abilities in stu- dents is at the heart of Skidmore’s 2015–25 strategic plan—and of the Creating Our Future campaign now under way to support it. Creating Our Future, with a goal of more than $200 million, will al- low construction of the Center for Integrated Sciences, as well as new Tang Museum programs, expan- sion of financial aid, and more in- ternships, collaborative research, and other high-impact learning opportunities. These strategic priorities directly underpin the carefully and creatively integra- Integrative education to shape the future tive approach to liberal learning that makes Skidmore Skidmore. As a key author of the strategic plan, President Philip Glotzbach knows the stakes are high: “A liber- ally educated human being is one who can enter fully into the central debates of our time,” he has said, and “Skidmore has something quite important to add to our national conversation.” The same commit- ment is felt by the campaign’s na- tional co-chairs, Skidmore trustees Nancy Hamilton ’77 and Thomas Wilmot Jr. ’99. Ditto for legions of volunteers including alumni from all eras, trustees, parents, Skidmore employees, and other benefactors. All eyes are now on the public cam- paign kickoff to be held November 15 at GothamHall in New York City. For now, Scope presents a few avenues by which flexible, compre- hensive Skidmore minds are fos- tered and applied. >>