When Hamilton's trustees gathered on March 6-9 for their quarterly board meeting, they participated in a number of activities that illustrate their ongoing commitment to the College, beyond serving on committees and attending meetings. For many it's a way to stay involved, while observing firsthand the current generation of students and their interests.
Like all trustee campus meetings, the most recent serves as a good illustration of the depth and breadth of trustees' extracurricular involvement. The weekend began with Rich Bernstein '80, chief investment strategist at Merrill Lynch, speaking to economics professor Ann Owen's Macroeconomic Theory class. Bernstein has regularly shared his expertise with economics and finance classes on his return trips to the Hill over the past few years.
"What I like about having Rich talk to this class is that he uses the economic concepts that the students are learning about to explain what is happening in financial markets. It helps them understand that even complicated financial market transactions are based on economic principles and helps to motivate them to learn more economics," Owen said.
Noah Carr '10, a student in the class, added, "The real value of having an alumnus like Rich Bernstein and hearing him speak is seeing real world application of skills learned at Hamilton. It is difficult to draw a correlation between the knowledge gained here and a professional career that may utilize it. Personally, Rich Bernstein showed me someone who was once in my same position and was able to use his Hamilton degree to have a successful career," Carr said. "The very fact that he agrees to come back and talk to Hamilton students is a testament to his positive experience here. For a college student at an obvious transitional point in [his] life it is reassuring to see that all the work done here can pay off and lead to an interesting, rewarding life."
The always popular Alumni Colleges offered during Reunions provided the inspiration for a new activity for trustees at this meeting. President Joan Hinde Stewart, who teaches "Seminar on the 18th-Century Novel," with John O'Neill, the Edmund A. LeFevre Professor of English, invited trustees to participate in a session of the class at her home. They did the required reading, Letters from a Peruvian Woman by Françoise de Graffigny, then discussed student Emily Anderer's paper about the book. Trustees joining the seven students and other guests in the class were Steve Anthony '59, Henry Bedford '76, Sean Fitzpatrick '63, Joel Johnson '65 and his wife Beth Johnson, and Susan Skerritt K'77.
Four trustees served as judges for the annual Public Speaking competition, held this year on March 8. Amy Owens Goodfriend '82, Stephen Sadove '73, Fitzpatrick and Johnson were among the 11 judges for the event, which involved listening to 21 speeches and selecting winners in six categories.
A number of trustees, including board chairman Stuart Scott '61, attended the senior class reception, and the board was also represented at the Alternative Spring Break auction.
Meredith Harper Bonham, executive assistant to the president and secretary to the board of trustees, says it's important that trustees remain engaged in campus life, beyond their attendance at meetings. She recently wrote an article on the topic for the Association of Governing Board Professionals newsletter. She described a new initiative in which a specific faculty committee joins several board members for an informal dinner at the Dean of Faculty's home. "The board members appreciate the chance to learn about the faculty's role and the responsibilities of the specific committee, with respect to the overall governance of the College," she wrote.
Similarly a few years ago, the College began asking a few professors if they would be interested in hosting small dinners with faculty and trustees in their home during a board meeting weekend. "It has worked amazingly well," Bonham said. "The dinners promoted an opportunity for people to talk and enjoy good food with no set agenda."
The next board meeting, which will take place on June 6-8, will give trustees the opportunity to interact with Hamilton alumni who will be returning to the campus for Reunion Weekend.
Like all trustee campus meetings, the most recent serves as a good illustration of the depth and breadth of trustees' extracurricular involvement. The weekend began with Rich Bernstein '80, chief investment strategist at Merrill Lynch, speaking to economics professor Ann Owen's Macroeconomic Theory class. Bernstein has regularly shared his expertise with economics and finance classes on his return trips to the Hill over the past few years.
"What I like about having Rich talk to this class is that he uses the economic concepts that the students are learning about to explain what is happening in financial markets. It helps them understand that even complicated financial market transactions are based on economic principles and helps to motivate them to learn more economics," Owen said.
Noah Carr '10, a student in the class, added, "The real value of having an alumnus like Rich Bernstein and hearing him speak is seeing real world application of skills learned at Hamilton. It is difficult to draw a correlation between the knowledge gained here and a professional career that may utilize it. Personally, Rich Bernstein showed me someone who was once in my same position and was able to use his Hamilton degree to have a successful career," Carr said. "The very fact that he agrees to come back and talk to Hamilton students is a testament to his positive experience here. For a college student at an obvious transitional point in [his] life it is reassuring to see that all the work done here can pay off and lead to an interesting, rewarding life."
The always popular Alumni Colleges offered during Reunions provided the inspiration for a new activity for trustees at this meeting. President Joan Hinde Stewart, who teaches "Seminar on the 18th-Century Novel," with John O'Neill, the Edmund A. LeFevre Professor of English, invited trustees to participate in a session of the class at her home. They did the required reading, Letters from a Peruvian Woman by Françoise de Graffigny, then discussed student Emily Anderer's paper about the book. Trustees joining the seven students and other guests in the class were Steve Anthony '59, Henry Bedford '76, Sean Fitzpatrick '63, Joel Johnson '65 and his wife Beth Johnson, and Susan Skerritt K'77.
Four trustees served as judges for the annual Public Speaking competition, held this year on March 8. Amy Owens Goodfriend '82, Stephen Sadove '73, Fitzpatrick and Johnson were among the 11 judges for the event, which involved listening to 21 speeches and selecting winners in six categories.
A number of trustees, including board chairman Stuart Scott '61, attended the senior class reception, and the board was also represented at the Alternative Spring Break auction.
Meredith Harper Bonham, executive assistant to the president and secretary to the board of trustees, says it's important that trustees remain engaged in campus life, beyond their attendance at meetings. She recently wrote an article on the topic for the Association of Governing Board Professionals newsletter. She described a new initiative in which a specific faculty committee joins several board members for an informal dinner at the Dean of Faculty's home. "The board members appreciate the chance to learn about the faculty's role and the responsibilities of the specific committee, with respect to the overall governance of the College," she wrote.
Similarly a few years ago, the College began asking a few professors if they would be interested in hosting small dinners with faculty and trustees in their home during a board meeting weekend. "It has worked amazingly well," Bonham said. "The dinners promoted an opportunity for people to talk and enjoy good food with no set agenda."
The next board meeting, which will take place on June 6-8, will give trustees the opportunity to interact with Hamilton alumni who will be returning to the campus for Reunion Weekend.
