When President Barack Obama visited Hamilton College on April 3 as part of the Sacerdote Great Names Series, the crowd came for the moment — but what stuck were the words.

In an article published recently in the journal International Mathematical Forum, Robert Kantrowitz ’82, the Marjorie and Robert W. McEwen Professor of Mathematics, took a new look at a classical optimization problem that dates back to Heron of Alexandria (10–75 AD).

Naval Lappalainen ’25 and Xavier McMahon ’27 have been awarded Critical Language Scholarships (CLS) to study Russian this summer. Lappalainen, a double major in history and Russian Studies, from Wilmington, Del., will study in Kyrgyzstan, and McMahon, a double major in world politics and Russian studies from Louisville, Kentucky, will be based in Daugavpils, Latvia.

Kyoko Omori, associate professor of East Asian Languages and Literatures – Japanese, gave an invited talk on April 22 at Studio X, the XR lab at the University of Rochester.

Associate Professor of Classics Jesse Weiner recently presented in Vancouver, B.C., and Tacoma, Wash. He also completed his second year as organizer/co-organizer of the Carl A. Rubino Hamilton at the Other Side public lecture series.

Sabina Feder ’25 and Brianna “Bri” Padilla ’25 both received Hamilton’s prestigious Bristol Fellowship, which sponsors projects “based on strong personal interest and commitment” and that “exhibit a spirit of inquisitiveness and a seriousness of purpose.”

Dan Chambliss, the Eugene M. Tobin Distinguished Professor of Sociology Emeritus, recently presented in events hosted by Bard and Le Moyne, and at the MSS Annual meeting in Chicago.

In an email to the Hamilton community on April 24, President Steven Tepper announced the appointment of Miriam Merrill as chief of staff and secretary to the Board of Trustees, effective July 1.

The Arbor Day Foundation recognized Hamilton College as a 2024 Tree Campus for its dedication to enhancing community well-being through tree education, investment, and community engagement.

Professor of Jewish Studies Heidi Ravven recently presented at Arizona State University (ASU) and St Anne’s College, Oxford.