Wednesday, April 11, 9:30-10:45 a.m.

Difficult economic times always raise questions about the place of instrumental learning both within the curriculum itself and, more generally, as a component of the overall college. Changes in the paradigm of knowledge raise questions about the model of liberal arts learning. How best do we communicate about the enduring value of a liberal education? Is it a changing concept? We hope to explore the real tradeoffs we all must make between the development of an educational model that prepares graduates for life versus one that prepares them for careers. Since we all must do both, we would be well served to make sure that our thinking reflects deeply-help educational values and contemporary societal needs. Can we imagine a renewed, expanded, and perhaps transformed contribution from the liberal arts in the global educational environment?

Wendy L. Hill
Provost and Dean of the Faculty, Lafayette College

Wendy L. Hill has served as Lafayette’s provost and dean of the faculty since July 1, 2007. In this role, she has helped lead the efforts to implement the College’s strategic plan, The Plan for Lafayette, adopted in 2007, which places the academic program at its core and calls for significant new academic resources and curricular initiatives. A member of the Lafayette faculty since 1989, she holds the William C ’67 and Pamela H. Rappolt chair in neuroscience. [more]

Philip E. Lewis
Vice President, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

Philip E. Lewis is vice president of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and professor emeritus at Cornell University. He served as dean of Cornell’s College of Arts and Sciences from 1995 to 2003. From 2004 until his retirement from Cornell in 2007, he was director of the university’s Program in French Studies. [more]

David W. Oxtoby
President, Pomona College

David W. Oxtoby became the ninth president of Pomona College in July 2003. An internationally-known physical chemist, he previously served as dean of the Division of Physical Sciences at the University of Chicago, where he was William Rainey Harper Distinguished Service Professor. At Pomona, he is also professor of chemistry and annually teaches a course in environmental chemistry. [more]