News and announcements from Skidmore College

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Weekly Highlights

News: Honors Convocation, Academic Festival, Skidmore Reflections

Human Resources: Retirement and Recognition Ceremony

‌Faculty-Staff Achievements: Lucas LaFreniere, Don McCormack, Sonia Silva, Chris Vecsey

‌Announcements: Fiscal year-end reminders, Stoles and Cords, Isaac Julien, Summer Bulletin schedule, Give+Go, Skidmore Shop deals

Athletics News: Women's tennis victory

Upcoming Events: Behind-The-Scenes Tour of the Tang, Senior Thesis Art Exhibition Opening Reception, Senior Week

Skidmore News

Brian Labra Vergara ’24 during Honors Convocation 2024

A tradition for more than six decades, Honors Convocation brought the Skidmore community together in recognition of students’ exceptional academic achievements, leadership, service, and creativity.

Wesley Almanzar ’27 and Davin Arzu ’27 perform during Academic Festival 2024.

Skidmore’s Academic Festival, which follows the end of classes, offers an opportunity for students to showcase their work, gain feedback from others in a supportive environment, and reflect on the next steps in their journeys.

Anesu Mukombiwa ’24 takes a selfie with two friends.

Just days before Commencement, Anesu Mukombiwa ’24, a Davis United World College Scholar from Harare, Zimbabwe, reflects on the unforgettable, indelible memories she made during her Skidmore years and the people who brought her love, excitement, and adventure along the way.

Human Resources

‌Position openings

‌Human Resources invites interested Skidmore employees to submit application materials for the openings listed below:  

  • Director of Leadership Activities — Campus Life

‌To apply, please access the Okta portal. Click on the tile for “Oracle HCM,” click “Me,” and then click on “Current Jobs.” You can access current open positions for external applicants here.

 

‌Professional development, events, training, and other opportunities ‌

  • ‌Retirement and Recognition Ceremony: noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 21, Case Center Lawn

 

‌For more information, including registration details and a full listing of opportunities, visit the Professional Development and Training website.

‌‌‌Retirement plan service provider updates

Join TIAA representatives and learn about the service provider transition taking place in May. Schedule an individual investment advice session online or by calling 800-732-8353. A TIAA financial consultant will be on site through June 13. Visit the benefits website for more information.

‌MVP programming

‌MVP Living Well Programs is offering programming surrounding mental health throughout the month of May. These are free (or discounted) offerings that are open to all Skidmore employees.

Faculty-Staff Achievements

Lucas LaFreniere, assistant professor of psychology, published a scientific article in an academic journal. Read more>> 

‌Don McCormack, dean of special programs emeritus, will be honored for his contributions to the arts and jazz scene in Saratoga Springs. Read more>> 

‌Sonia Silva, associate professor of anthropology, has had an essay published in a collective volume. Read more>> 

‌Chris Vecsey, associate professor and director of the Neuroscience Program, published a research article in an academic journal. Read more>>

Announcements

Fiscal year-end reminders

Please review these detailed guidelines ahead of the end of the fiscal year on May 31. Employees are encouraged to submit expense reimbursements, invoices for payment, and related items before this date. As a reminder, all transactions are handled through Oracle Cloud. 

‌Stoles and Cords Ceremony ‌

‌The Stoles and Cords Ceremony celebrates student identities and experiences ahead of Commencement. Affinity-based ceremonies are affirming and serve to make space for students to honor all the pieces of their identity that helped them grow while at college. The event will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. on May 14, at Arthur Zankel Music Center. More information will be provided via email. 

‌Isaac Julien at the Tang 

‌The Skidmore community is invited to a special event with exhibiting artist and filmmaker Isaac Julien at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 10, at the Tang Teaching Museum. Julien’s work is on view in the Isaac Julien: Lessons of the Hour exhibition, a monumental 10-screen film installation about the life and legacy of Frederick Douglass. 

‌Summer Bulletin publication schedule 

‌From May 22 through Aug. 21, the Bulletin will be distributed to faculty and staff only. It will also be posted online. Submissions to the Faculty-Staff Achievements section will not be accepted over the summer and will be accepted again in the fall. The Bulletin will not be published the weeks of May 29, June 19, and July 3. SWB will resume distribution to students on Aug. 28. Submit announcements and events by completing the online form. The deadline for all submissions is noon on Monday. Please email swb@istanbulbuklet.com if you have questions. 

‌New York State Summer Writers Institute public readings 

‌The New York State Summer Writers Institute will offer evening readings by an extraordinary line-up of writers this June and July. The month-long schedule will include readings by Joyce Carol Oates, Paul Harding, Cristina Garcia, Richard Blanco, and Vinson Cunningham, among others. Contact Maria McColl for more information. 

‌Summer Jazz Concert Series 

‌The Summer Jazz Institute announces its 2024 Concert Series. Renewed funding by the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York State Council on the Arts will help sponsor nine free concerts, including Grammy Award-winning Panamanian pianist and composer Danilo Pérez, rising alto saxophonist star Alexa Tarantino, and others. Contact Maria McColl for more information.

Employee discount at SPAC

As part of Skidmore’s partnership with Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), all employees are eligible to receive a 20% discount on ticket purchases to Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival (June 29-30), New York City Ballet (July 9-13), and Philadelphia Orchestra (July 31-Aug. 3) performances. Use the promotion code SKIDMORE when purchasing your tickets online at spac.org. Note: This discount cannot be applied to Live Nation concerts or other performances. 

‌Tang faculty preview

‌The Tang Teaching Museum will hold a preview of 2024-25 exhibitions and programs at noon on Wednesday, May 15. The preview is intended for faculty who have previously worked with the Tang and those interested in learning new approaches for integrating exhibitions into their curricula. A buffet lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to Kelly Ward by May 10. ‌ 

‌Give+Go move-out donation collection‌

Until May 18, students are invited to donate non-perishable food, clothes, and gently used home goods to our local nonprofit partners: Backstretch, Trinity Alliance, and Capital City Rescue Mission. The Sustainability Office calls for Skidmore community volunteers to sign up for donation organization, midweek sorting shifts, and senior move-out day. Read more on the Give+Go website

Stewart's Signature Series ‌

‌This summer’s Stewart’s Signature Series includes Summer Jazz Institute concerts and New York State Summer Writers Institute readings. The lineup features the Danilo Pérez Trio, Alexa Tarantino Quartet, and readings by Paul Harding, Cristina Garcia, Jenny Offill, and others. Sponsored by Stewart’s Shops and the Dake Family, these premiere events are free for the local community. Contact Maria McColl with questions. 

‌Dining Services 

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

‌MacBook deals ‌

‌Skidmore Shop has one Apple demo left: aspace gray, 16-inch, M1 MacBook Pro with 512GB storage (was $2,349, now $1,500). A MacBook Air is also available at a discount: midnight, 13-inch M2 with 256GB of storage, for only $949. Contact Karen Knoll for details. 

Athletics News

The women's tennis team defeated the Vassar College Brewers, 5-3, to clinch their 13th consecutive Liberty League title. It is the seventh season in a row the two teams have vied for the championship. The win also secured Skidmore's 17th straight NCAA Division III Tournament berth for the Thoroughbreds. Read more about the team's victory on the Skidmore Athletics website.

Events

Thursday, May 9 

‌Final exams end 

‌Thursday, May 9 

‌Noon 

‌Behind-The-Scenes Tour of the Tang 

‌Tang Teaching Museum 

Thursday, May 9 - Saturday, May 18 

Senior Thesis Art Exhibition

‌Tang Teaching Museum 

‌Friday, May 10 

‌6 p.m. 

‌Senior Thesis Art Exhibition Opening Reception

‌Tang Teaching Museum

Saturday, May 11 

‌2 p.m. 

‌Family Saturday: Sun Prints

‌Tang Teaching Museum 

‌Monday, May 13 - Friday, May 17 

‌Senior Week 

‌Saturday, May 18 

‌10:40 a.m. 

‌Commencement Exercises 

‌Saratoga Performing Arts Center

Skidmore College

 815 North Broadway

 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

518-580-5000