New London, Conn.—Building on its environmental research on the Thames River, Connecticut College has developed a sustainable approach to restoring damaged marine ecosystems. A team led by biology professors Maria Rosa and Taegan McMahon has created 3D-printed panels made from biodegradable materials to revitalize oyster and coral reefs.

Traditional PVC panels used for reef restoration can harm the environment and hinder marine life growth. The college’s new panels offer a more eco-friendly and effective alternative.

“This technology has the potential to transform reef restoration,” Rosa said. “By using biodegradable materials and customizable 3D printing, we can create artificial reefs that better mimic natural conditions and accelerate ecosystem recovery.”

The study, published in the Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, compared the 3D-printed panels to PVC panels. Results showed the new panels attracted marine life at equal or higher rates.

Beyond environmental benefits, the 3D-printed panels are cost-effective, making reef restoration more accessible to communities.

New London, Conn. – Connecticut College is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 Presidential Staff Recognition Awards, presented last week at the 11th annual Staff Recognition Awards Breakfast. The awards honor the dedication and excellence of staff members across campus.

Award Recipients:

This year, the selection committee, comprised of staff and faculty, received 156 nominations recognizing 58 individuals. Six staff members were chosen for awards in the following categories:

• Citizenship Award: Lorraine McKinney ’09, Acquisitions & Collection Services Supervisor
• Inspiration Award: Justin Mendillo ’18, Director of Gender & Sexuality Programming
• Rising Star Award: Sean Elliot, Photographer
• Service Excellence Awards: John Nugent, Director of Institutional Research & Planning; Keleigh Wagner, Program Coordinator
• Special Commendation: Jeff Gada, Assistant Director of Media Services & Technology Planning

Celebrating Staff Excellence:

“We are incredibly grateful for the contributions of all our dedicated staff members,” said Les Wong, Interim President of Connecticut College. ”These awards are a chance to recognize the exceptional individuals who make Connecticut College such a special place.”

New London, Conn.—In a surprising twist, scientists have discovered that pathogens can pose a significant threat to new hosts when species are moved. This challenges the long-held belief that pathogens are most harmful to their original hosts.

The study, published in Ecology Letters, focused on a deadly amphibian fungus. While local amphibians are often more susceptible, the study found certain pairings of new hosts and pathogens can be equally devastating.

“This overturns the idea that moving species is relatively harmless,” said Taegan McMahon, a Connecticut College biology professor involved in the study. “We need to carefully consider the potential consequences.”

The findings underscore the need for stricter regulations on moving species to protect biodiversity.

New London, Conn. — Connecticut College is proud to announce the details of its 106th Commencement ceremony, scheduled for Sunday, May 19, 2024. The ceremony will mark the culmination of years of hard work and dedication for the members of the Class of 2024.

This year’s commencement speakers will include Laura Coates, CNN’s chief legal analyst and anchor of Laura Coates Live, who will deliver the keynote address. Coates, renowned for her insightful analysis and engaging commentary, brings expertise to inspire and motivate the graduating class as they embark on their next chapter.

Additionally, the 2024 Senior Class Speaker will be Giana De La Cruz ’24, selected by her peers to represent the graduating class and share reflections on their collective journey at Connecticut College.

The processional will begin at 10:30 a.m., and the official ceremony will start at 11 a.m. on Tempel Green. The ceremony will be streamed live online for family and friends who cannot attend in person.

For more information, please visit the commencement website at https://www.conncoll.edu/commencement/.

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New London, Conn. – Connecticut College is pleased to announce that Giana De La Cruz ’24, a psychology major, economics minor, and Public Health Pathway scholar, has been chosen as the student speaker for the College’s 106th Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 19.

De La Cruz, a resident of Boston, Massachusetts, brings a rich and diverse background to the stage. Born in New York to a Dominican family, she spent her early years in the Dominican Republic before returning to the United States at the age of five.

At Connecticut College, De La Cruz has actively engaged in campus life. She served as head of public relations for the POCA Fashion Show, a mentor in the Genesis program, and the social media program assistant for the Office of Student Engagement. Additionally, she volunteered twice a week at New London High School’s career and college office, guiding students in their post-graduation plans.

De La Cruz’s academic pursuits extended beyond the classroom. During her junior year, she studied abroad at Queen Mary University of London, where she participated in the IES program. This opportunity allowed her to delve into public health systems across the UK, Europe, and the United States through comparative research and analysis. Her research project, presented at the All-College Symposium in November, focused on immigration integration in the UK and the US.

De La Cruz interned at Migrateful during her time in London, further deepening her understanding of social issues. Migrateful empowers immigrants and asylum seekers passionate about cooking by providing them with English language skills, recipe creation training, and public speaking skills. This enables them to become cooking instructors, fostering a sense of community while navigating the challenges of a new country.

Following graduation, De La Cruz will leverage her experience at Connecticut College to manage the Aspire summer Adventure Camp at Massachusetts General Hospital. This program specializes in helping children and young teens on the autism spectrum develop social skills. As she looks to the future, De La Cruz plans to pursue a Master of Social Work and ultimately bridge the gaps in mental health care, particularly for people of color, while ensuring affordability and accessibility.

“Being selected as the student Commencement speaker is an incredible honor,” De La Cruz said. “Reflecting on my time at Conn, I am incredibly grateful for the experiences I’ve shared with my fellow graduates and the entire campus community.  This is an opportunity to celebrate all of us one last time and create a lasting memory of our journey together. My speech is a tribute to our shared experiences and a hopeful look towards the future. It’s dedicated to the dreams of our younger selves and the memories we’ll forever hold dear.”

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New London, Conn. – The Connecticut College Board of Trustees has unanimously appointed Andrea E. Chapdelaine, current president of Hood College, as the 12th president of Connecticut College. She will begin her tenure at Conn on July 1, 2024.

A strategic leader and compassionate community builder, Chapdelaine has more than 30 years of experience in higher education, having served as a professor, dean, provost and, since 2015, president of Hood College in Frederick, Maryland.

In his announcement to the Conn community, Debo P. Adegbile ’91, chair of the College’s Board of Trustees, said, “President-elect Chapdelaine is a proven higher education leader of a diverse student body and an administrator with a passion for and commitment to the mission of liberal arts colleges. She has a track record of success in consensus-building and sound financial stewardship, as well as a clear understanding of both the complexities and possibilities for liberal arts colleges and their students.” 

At Hood, Chapdelaine led two ambitious strategic planning initiatives and bolstered academic programs, increased enrollment and retention, expanded experiential learning opportunities, established new structures and processes for fostering inclusivity and full participation, improved compensation and benefits for faculty and staff, enabled critical investments in campus facilities and strengthened the institution’s financial position. In 2017, she launched Hood’s first comprehensive campaign in more than 25 years, which met 150% of its original goal, and she secured a $54 million gift, the largest in the institution’s history. During her tenure, Hood’s endowment grew by 103%.

Chapdelaine’s selection as Conn’s 12th president is the culmination of a thorough and collaborative nine-month national search. The Presidential Search Committee included 15 faculty, staff, students and trustees, and an additional 34 faculty, staff, student and trustee representatives were invited to interview finalists. The search process, led by the executive search and leadership advisory firm WittKieffer, also included 43 community engagement meetings and numerous surveys, with more than 540 faculty, staff, students, alumni, parents and friends of the College providing input.

In her initial message to the Conn community, Chapdelaine said, “I am thrilled to be joining Connecticut College, an esteemed liberal arts college that educates students to ‘put the liberal arts into action as citizens in a global society,’ a mission that deeply resonates with my own professional endeavors and interests.” 

She added, “My first responsibility as the 12th president is to learn and embrace the College’s core values, points of pride and shared aspirations, and then work with the entire College community to articulate a collective vision of an exciting future grounded in Conn’s rich history.”

Chapdelaine and her husband, David Tetreault, recently celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary. They have two grown sons, Daniel and Benjamin, and a beloved dog, Kodachrome or “Koda.”

Chapdelaine will succeed Interim President Leslie E. Wong, who took over from President Emerita Katherine Bergeron, who served as Conn’s 11th president from 2014-2023.

Chapdelaine will make her first official visit to campus on April 24.