The movements I have worked with so far include Hampshire, Marlboro, Guilford, Mills, and Marlboro. Several of these colleges were listed in the book, Colleges That Change Lives and one was a women's college.
In January of 2019, like many fellow alumni, I dropped everything to help save Hampshire College. After an intense period, we were able to change the direction of the college. As a result, it has a concrete turnaround plan, remains independent, has re-envisioned the curriculum and new student experience, has strong leadership and record-breaking fundraising. I also helped organize several events with the college before and after the crisis, participated in re-envisioning, and help with the local alumni group.
Late in 2019, alumni trying to save Marlboro College reached out to folks involved in saving Hampshire. I worked closely with them and ended up becoming one of the movement leaders. Pledges were raised and there was a very large letter writing campaign to the Attorney General and newspapers. Unfortunately, the college ended up closing, selling the campus, and giving its endowment to Emerson College which now has a Marlboro Institute.
After that, I was contacted by the founder of Save Guilford and began advising on how to create the structures that had worked at Hampshire and Sweet Briar. as well as how to avoid pitfalls. The college's Board of Trustees did agree to pause cuts but the final results remain unclear.
