Greetings from Interim President Jennifer Chrisler

Dear Hampshire College Community,

It’s an honor to send you my first official message as interim president.

In my time here, I’ve relished our work together to secure an independent future for Hampshire, and as I step into this new role, I’m eager to keep the College moving forward. A big part of that momentum will be ensuring that Hampshire is front and center in the eyes of the world as the beacon of progressive, experimenting education it’s been for the past 55 years. I will take every opportunity to use my voice to tell the world about the incredible things that happen here, and how we continue to deliver on our founding principles.

I came to Hampshire energized to be a part of such an iconic institution at such a crucial time. Higher education needs Hampshire’s example, and the world needs Hampshire people. Our commitment to continual reinvention can–and must–provoke the kind of necessary change the industry needs but rarely makes.

My appreciation for the power of what we do here has only deepened after six years of witnessing firsthand the way Hampshire shapes fearless thinkers and doers. You push notions of pedagogy and your own scholarship into surprising and inspiring places. You combine activism and education to creatively challenge and rethink systems, whether it’s biology research manifesting as a horse sculpture emerging from a wall, a study of food scarcity shining a light on food issues on our own campus, or the profound impact of the Decolonization and Reciprocity Working Group.

Personally, my time at Hampshire allowed me my own interdisciplinary integration, bringing together my early experience working in politics, my time leading in the LGBTQ advocacy movement, and my belief in the transformative power of education. The fact that being at Hampshire lets us be our whole selves at work makes me grateful to show up every day.

I love that I’ve gotten to know so many Hampshire people, and it is a gift that now I’ll have the chance to get to know even more of you, and to add a new dimension to the relationships I already have.

I have no illusions that this will be easy, but one of the driving forces of my career has been my love of a challenge. Solving complicated problems lights me up–I’m sure that’s part of why I feel so at home here. My commitment to the people and purpose of Hampshire College is what galvanizes me and what grounds me.

With gratitude and excitement,

Jenn

Interim President, Hampshire College