Chaired by Brackett B. Denniston ’69, the Kenyon College Board of Trustees convened for its spring 2022 meeting on April 21–22. Following two years of COVID-19 restrictions, this meeting was the first since the start of the pandemic that the full Board was able to gather on campus, and their agenda included visits to numerous sites and time with students and faculty.
On Thursday evening, trustees attended an open house at the Wright Center in Mount Vernon, commemorating its fifth anniversary. Students from the film program, as well as students and community partners supported by the Office of Community Partnerships, shared highlights of their work. Recent winners of the Trustee Teaching Excellence Awards joined the Board for dinner afterwards.
On Friday, the Student Experience Committee met with members of Student Council. Topics ranged from housing, dining and academic resources to ensuring equity in resources for students. In Friday’s full board session, trustees heard from three seniors about their social entrepreneurial start-up, Yakera, launched at Kenyon, which seeks to change how humanitarian aid is delivered around the world. And members of the women’s swimming and diving team along with their coaches joined the Board in the Lowry Center to celebrate their record-breaking Division III national championship win.
In his report to the Board, President Sean Decatur updated the Board on recent labor issues; the outcome of deliberations considering a change to Kenyon’s moniker; early planning for the Bicentennial, which will be celebrated during the 2024 calendar year; the research underway by the Art & Science group to identify opportunities for distinction within Kenyon’s strategic plan; and the launch of a process to develop a roadmap for the College to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040.
Vice President for Advancement Colleen Garland reported on the continued progress of the Our Path Forward to the Bicentennial campaign, which has gained even more momentum since the launch of the Kenyon Access Initiative last fall. The effort seeks to raise $25 million for financial aid — which will be matched by the Schuler Education Foundation for a total of $50 million — with the goal of making a Kenyon education accessible to more high-achieving students whose families have limited resources and those who are ineligible for government aid. In just over six months, Kenyon alumni have committed more than $15 million to this effort.
Vice President for Enrollment and Dean of Admissions Diane Anci reported on the applicant pool for the Class of 2026, which is notably strong. Models indicate that the College is on track to hit its enrollment goals. Thanks to the early success of the Kenyon Access Initiative, the College was able to extend offers of full financial support to more Pell-eligible students, boosting the socioeconomic diversity of the incoming class. Anci also recognized the extraordinary contributions of the Kenyon community, enrollment staff, tour guides and fellows in a yield season that has included 30 programs. She and members of the enrollment division look forward to their move to Lowell House in mid-May, optimistic about the opportunities the new building provides.
The strategic standing committees convened Friday morning:
- The Student Experience Committee heard an update on the program in computing approved by the faculty earlier this academic year. The committee also reviewed the structures in place to support students when they encounter academic challenges and reaffirmed the value of such structures to our educational goals.
- The Campus and Finance Committee discussed the admissions and financial aid planning for this year and beyond, with a focus on both the Kenyon Access Initiative goals and the goals for incremental enrollment growth over the next 10 years. The committee reviewed the status of capital projects and heard an update on carbon-neutrality planning.
- The Kenyon in the World Committee reviewed data on student outcomes; heard updates on high-impact practices and other efforts to support students in preparing students for life after graduation; and discussed the perspectives of prospective students on the programs and qualities they most value in choosing a college, including those related to preparation for career. The committee also heard from a panel of employers, including recruiters from Morningstar, Deloitte, and the law firm Paul Weiss, about what they are looking for in prospective employees.
In other business, the Board:
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Approved the Class of 2022 candidates for graduation and the 2022 slate of honorary degree nominations.
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Approved the promotion to associate professor of, and the award of tenure to, 10 faculty members: Qussay Al-Attabi (Arabic), Anna Aydinyan (Russian), Katie Black (economics), Joy Brennan (religious studies), Anton Dudley (drama), Patrick Ewell (psychology), Erin Leatherman (statistics), Claire Novotny (anthropology), Sarah Petersen (neuroscience) and Austin Porter (art history and American studies).
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Approved the appointment of Melzetta R. Moody ’05 to a four-year term as an alumni trustee; Brian Seldon P’25 to a four-year term as a parent trustee; and the renewal of Brackett B. Denniston ’69 and David W. Horvitz ’74 to six-year terms as trustees-at-large.
- <p">Adopted resolutions of appreciation for outgoing members of the Board of Trustees: Susan Berger ’85, Larae Schraeder ’97, Rick Hoskins P’22, Paul Goldberger P’04 H’05, Deborah Salzberg P’09, Barrett Toan ’69.
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Adopted a memorial resolution in honor of William F. Klein H’16, longtime professor of English, 1968–2016.
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Elected officers of the Kenyon College Board of Trustees: Brackett B. Denniston ’69, chair; Joseph E. Lipscomb ’87, vice chair; Judith Hoff Gilbert ’91, secretary; and Kathryn Brechler Lake, assistant secretary.
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Approved officers of the Kenyon College Corporation: Sean M. Decatur, president; Jeffrey Bowman, provost; Colleen Garland, vice president for advancement; Todd E. Burson, vice president for finance; Justin Nahvi, associate vice president for finance; Shirley F. O’Brien, controller; Ian Smith, vice president for facilities, planning and sustainability; Judith Hoff Gilbert ’91, secretary; and Kathryn Brechler Lake, assistant secretary.
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Approved amendments to the Constitution of Kenyon College.