News and announcements from Skidmore College

Weekly Highlights

Important COVID-19 updates
Skidmore named a top college for financial aid, social mobility, quality of life
Tuition benefit and Tuition Exchange Program session tomorrow
Farmers market theme dinner, ice cream social, L.L. Bean Boot Mobile visit, Social (In)Justice at the U.S.-Mexico Border series, world premiere of “The Unhealed Wound,” Homecoming Weekend, French film festival movie screening, lectures, and other events

Skidmore News

student jumping to reach leaves of tree walking through Skidmore's Case Green.

Skidmore named a top college for great financial aid, social mobility, quality of life

Skidmore College continues to receive recognition as a top liberal arts college in the nation and for offering exceptional financial aid, value, social mobility, quality of life, and innovative experiences to students.

An AI-driven microscope that could transform global healthcare

Skidmore alumnus Alex Carney ’22, who participated in a collaborative engineering program with Dartmouth College, is now chief technical engineer for SmartScope, a project that is using cutting-edge technology to speed up medical diagnoses.

COVID-19 Reminders

As we reach the end of the first month of classes, reported COVID-19 cases on campus continue to rise and Saratoga County is now at a "medium" hospital admission level. The rise in cases is not unexpected and is in line with national trends. In order to best protect yourself and others, please remember the following:

COVID-19 can affect people in very different ways, depending on a variety of factors; acting responsibly and considerately to protect those who are more vulnerable fits with our community’s core values.
If you are sick, mask up and test. Stay home if you can’t mask sufficiently.
If you know you’ve been exposed, mask up and test. (Employees who are concerned about a workplace exposure may obtain a rapid COVID-19 test at the Campus Safety window.)
If you test positive, please let your supervisor or department chair know, email Human Resources and follow CDC isolation and precautions guidelines.
The government is now sending four free COVID-19 tests to each U.S. household. Apply here.
New COVID-19 vaccines are now available at pharmacies and other locations. The CDC has a web page where you can check vaccine appointment availability.

Dining Services

Dining Services will be hosting a farmers market-themed dinner from 5 to 7:30 p.m. today, Wednesday, Sept. 27, in Murray-Aikins Dining Hall. Local partners will accompany the dining hall’s regular stations and hand out samples to guests.

‌

‌Dining Services is again selling its famous homemade bread. Use your Skidmore credentials to order online by Monday, Oct. 16, for a pickup on Friday, Oct. 20.

Please visit the Dining Services website regularly for updates, Spa Specials, hours of operation, and other information.

Faculty-Staff Achievements

Joerg Bibow, professor of economics, published an article in an academic journal. Read more>>

‌

Joseph Cermatori, associate professor of English, published three articles in academic journals and appeared in a podcast. Read more>>

‌

Ben Harwood, lead instructional technologist in LEDS, and Alex Carney '22, delivered a presentation. Read more>>

‌

Stephen Ives, associate professor and associate chair of health and human physiological sciences, and Justin DeBlauw, visiting assistant professor of health and human physiological sciences, published a paper in an academic journal. Read more>>

‌

Bruce Murray has been appointed as director of facilities. Read more>>

‌

Feryaz Ocakli, associate professor of political science and international affairs, was named a U.S. Fulbright Scholar and published an article. Read more>>

‌

Robert ParkeHarrison, professor of art, and Shana ParkeHarrison will present their collaborative works of art in a solo exhibition. Read more>>

‌

A book by Margaret Pearson, professor emerita of history, is now available in multiple languages. Read more>>

‌

Patrick Reilly, assistant professor of economics, and Peter von Allmen, professor and chair of economics, published an article in an academic journal. Read more>>

‌

Michael Swellander, visiting assistant professor of German, won an award. Read more>>

‌

Scott Wood has been appointed assistant director of facilities. Read more>>

We welcome submissions from faculty and staff related to professional accomplishments and scholarly endeavors.

Announcements

Michael T. Casey memorial and celebration of life

A memorial and celebration of life honoring former Collyer Vice President for Advancement Michael T. Casey will take place at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 1, in Helen Filene Ladd Concert Hall, Arthur Zankel Music Center. A reception will follow in the Glotzbach Atrium, Billie Tisch Center for Integrated Sciences. All are welcome.

Homecoming Weekend events

‌Join in the fun this weekend as Skidmore celebrates Homecoming Weekend. Check out one of the alumni games on Saturday and join alumni athletes for lunch at the Food Truck Tailgate in the Williamson Sports Center parking lot from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Ice cream social today

Join the Office of Advancement on the patio outside Burgess Café, Case Center from 1:30 to 3 p.m. today, Wednesday, Sept. 27, to enjoy a delicious treat and mingle with friends and colleagues. Gluten-free and dairy-free options will also be available. All are welcome.

‌L.L. Bean ‘Boot Mobile’ campus visit today

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, Wednesday, Sept. 27, L.L. Bean will bring its touring pop-up shop experience, the “Boot Mobile,” to Skidmore College’s South Park Lawn. Products will be available onsite for sale and will include L.L. Bean iconic pieces, such as boots, flannels, and more.

Tuition benefit and Tuition Exchange Program session

Admissions, Financial Aid, and Human Resources staff will discuss admission and financial aid requirements and offer an overview of the Tuition Exchange Program from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 28, in Emerson Auditorium. The session should be particularly helpful to Skidmore employees with high school age dependents. Please review the Tuition Exchange Annual Report for information on the 2022-23 and 2023-24 academic years.

‌President’s office hours

President Conner will hold office hours from 3 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2. All faculty, staff, and students are invited to request a 10-minute, in-person appointment. To register, please email presoff@skidmore.edu. Requests will be handled in the order they are received, and additional open office hours will be announced throughout the year.

‌

Lunchtime conversation with Gina Pérez on her upcoming book ‘Sanctuary People’

Recent headlines have referenced a “migrant crisis” in New York. Join us as Gina Pérez of Oberlin College relates her new book project on sanctuary movements and multiethnic faith-based organizing among Latinx communities in Ohio to this current climate at noon on Friday, Sept. 29, on the second floor of Murray-Aikins Dining Hall. This event is sponsored by the Office of the Dean of Students and Vice President for Student Affairs as part of the Social (In)Justice at the U.S.-Mexico Border series. Lunch will be provided. RSVP by the end of day today, Wednesday, Sept. 27.

‌

‌Self-service laptop lending

‌Scribner Library now has a new self-service laptop lending program in its lobby. This service is available to all Skidmore students, staff, and faculty.

‌

Expressive arts open studio

‌Join us for stress relief and self-care with art, open and free to all students regardless of skill level, with art supplies provided. The event will take place every Tuesday from 4 to 4:45 p.m. starting Oct. 3, in the Tang Teaching Museum’s Whitman Classroom. Brought to you by the Counseling Center in partnership with the Tang; for more information For more information, visit the Skidmore College Counseling Center on Instagram.

‌

‌Saratoga Book Festival

President Conner, alumna Cleyvis Natera ’99 (“Neruda on the Park”), and English Professor and Salmagundi Editor Bob Boyers will be among this year’s presenters at the Oct. 12-15 2023 Saratoga Book Festival. On Sunday, Oct. 15, a film screening of “The Right to Read” will take place at 1 p.m. in Gannett Auditorium and will be followed by a 3 p.m. discussion between President Conner and local nonprofit and business leader Ed Mitzen.

Celebration of President Emeritus Glotzbach

Join President Conner and members of the Skidmore community in Gannett Auditorium, at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 18, for a panel discussion celebrating the era of Philip A. Glotzbach, Skidmore's seventh president. The panel will be facilitated by Susan Kress, professor of English emerita and former vice president for academic affairs. A reception will follow.

Skidmore Encore faculty lecture series returns

The 43rd annual Skidmore Encore faculty lecture series returns to the Arthur Zankel Music Center. The series is intended for local community members age 55+ and runs Tuesday mornings through Nov. 7. Current Skidmore employees are invited to attend a lecture without prior registration.

Event Management System (EMS) training

One-on-one EMS training is available through the Scheduling Office. Training will include how to reserve campus space and add catering, media services, and event setup to your reservations. Contact Megan Bove with questions or to set up a session with you or your department.

Alumni Welcome Back Initiative

‌Alumni Relations invites all faculty and staff with plans to invite alumni visitors to an event to participate in the Alumni Welcome Back Initiative by filling out a brief form. It is important for Alumni Relations to know about these meaningful connections between alumni and Skidmore employees so that they can best serve Skidmore’s ever-growing alumni population.

Skidmore Shop

Skidmore Shop will be open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, and Saturday, Sept. 30, for Homecoming Weekend.

Skidmore Weekly Bulletin submission procedure and schedule

Please help reduce bulk emails by posting your announcement in Skidmore Weekly Bulletin, which is distributed to all students and employees. Submit announcements and events, academic lectures, and faculty-staff achievements by completing the appropriate online form. The deadline for all submissions is noon on Monday. Please email swb@skidmore.edu if you have questions.

Athletics News

There’s a full Homecoming ’23 slate of events on campus this weekend. The volleyball team will host Clarkson at 5 p.m. Friday in a Liberty League matchup, returning to the court at 11 a.m. on Saturday for its contest with Rochester. The women’s tennis team plays New Paltz at 4 p.m. on Friday. On Saturday, the field hockey team hosts Ithaca in a league contest at 2 p.m.; the women’s soccer team will play Vassar also at 2 p.m. Saturday morning, there will be a variety of alumni games, including men’s and women’s lacrosse, baseball, softball and swimming and diving.