乐播传媒

Dear members of the 乐播传媒 community,

It will come as no surprise when I say that the past year has been a challenging one for higher education. Our sector is facing profound and unprecedented threats at the federal level. Despite the challenges, in all that we do鈥攁s always鈥攚e act according to our mission and in the best interests of our students, faculty, staff, and all who know and love the college.

Indeed, even as new challenges arise and require response, our core mission remains strong. 乐播传媒 remains strong. We had another year full of joys and successes in 2024鈥�25, and I wanted to share some of this good news with you.

Admission and financial aid

Talented students, full of potential, continue to vote with their feet, telling us that 乐播传媒 is the college of choice for them. We had another banner year in admission in 2024鈥�25, with the second-largest applicant pool in the history of the college. We expect to welcome about 500 students in the Class of 2029 and nearly a dozen transfer students in just a few weeks, representing a brilliant spectrum of backgrounds, experiences, and interests. Forty-four percent of incoming first-year students are receiving need-based financial aid amounting to nearly $13 million. As is typical, more detailed information about the entering class and the admission cycle will be released in late August.

Fellowships

乐播传媒 continues to do extraordinarily well with prestigious national fellowships. The Fulbright selection and award process was complicated by federal actions this year, but 乐播传媒鈥攆or 14 straight years a 鈥淭op Producer鈥� of Fulbrights鈥攕till managed to secure awards for eight recent alumni.

Two 乐播传媒 students also received Goldwater Scholarships, the leading honor for undergraduates working in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering, and a third received a Truman Scholarship, another highly competitive award granted to undergraduates with outstanding leadership potential and interest in public service.

Faculty news and accomplishments

乐播传媒 also continues to recruit and attract some of the most talented and dedicated teacher-scholars working today. In 2024鈥�25, we welcomed 13 new faculty from institutions such as Connecticut College, Harvard, Smith, Stanford, and William and Mary. Another 16 will join us for the coming academic year, with similarly impressive credentials.

Ten 乐播传媒 faculty were awarded tenure and/or promotion this year, and two were named to endowed chairs: Amy Bradfield Douglass, the Whitehouse Professor of Psychology, and Ther铆 Alyce Pickens, the Charles A. Dana Professor of English and Africana. 

In academic year 2024鈥�25, 乐播传媒 faculty published 73 journal articles, 10 books, 17 book chapters, and 51 artistic and professional productions while also giving 156 presentations, 55 invited talks, and 3 keynote addresses all around the world. 乐播传媒 senior lecturer Jessica Anthony 鈥�96 also found herself on the longlist for a National Book Award for her novel The Most. The book was included on .

A new major

In March, the 乐播传媒 faculty voted to create a new major in Digital and Computational Studies (DCS), which was previously offered as a minor. This will give 乐播传媒 students, beginning with those in the Class of 2027 (current rising juniors), the opportunity to focus their studies in a field in high demand, all within the unique context of a 乐播传媒 liberal arts education. 

This expansion of our curriculum is essential for the future. Computer science skills are in higher demand than ever, as nearly every industry and profession experiences a digital transformation and contends with new technologies like artificial intelligence. Computer science has moved to the mainstream; its tools are now vital well beyond the tech sector. We鈥檙e pleased to join the vast majority of the nation鈥檚 top-ranked liberal arts colleges in offering a DCS (or similar) major鈥攂ut we also acknowledge the need to move faster to meet (and fund) the areas of study our students find most compelling.

Student success

We began the 2024鈥�25 academic year with an eye on the upcoming presidential election and the democratic process with a thoughtful, expansive slate of 35 programs developed by faculty, staff, and students. Offerings included talks by nationally recognized scholars from across the political spectrum, a film series, and watch parties for debates and election night results. These programs provided valuable opportunities for our entire campus community to learn together and engage in dialogue鈥攄iscussing important issues, exploring shared goals and values, and finding connections across apparent lines of difference.

乐播传媒 students studied off campus in greater numbers in 2024鈥�25 than they had in decades鈥攁bout 60 percent of the Class of 2026 (this past year鈥檚 juniors) took the opportunity to expand their horizons, enrich their perspectives, and explore the world beyond our campus. 

On Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, we celebrated the accomplishments of the Class of 2025 in typically joyful 乐播传媒 fashion at our 159th Commencement. This year鈥檚 graduates are launching careers in medical research in Boston; in banking and finance in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco; in wilderness adventure leadership in Wyoming; in education in Bangladesh; in government in Washington, DC; and much more.  

In addition, many will continue their education in fields such as law, medicine, applied mathematics and statistics, counseling, international relations, nuclear engineering, and more鈥攁ttending leading programs at Columbia, Johns Hopkins, University of Chicago, University of Colorado, and University of Pennsylvania, among others.

In all of this, 乐播传媒鈥� signature Purposeful Work program has prepared these students to understand the full scope of possibilities before them. Through Purposeful Work, students connect with graduate programs and employers as they explore a variety of opportunities and align who they are with what they do. Purposeful Work continues to offer a holistic, developmental, mission-based approach to life and career that works powerfully for 乐播传媒 students. In the past year alone, 238 alumni and families offered job shadow opportunities to more than 400 乐播传媒 students; in summer 2025, 121 students are participating in internship experiences funded by roughly $500,000 from 乐播传媒. 

We also marked a very important milestone for 乐播传媒 in 2025: the 50th anniversary of the Puddle Jump! As always, 乐播传媒 students hurled their costumed selves by the dozens into frigid Lake Andrews in early February, but this year鈥檚 event was highlighted by the presence of three of the tradition鈥檚 founders: Chris Callahan 鈥�78, Scott Copeland 鈥�78, and Lars Llorente 鈥�78. It was a great鈥攁nd frosty!鈥攄ay to be a Bobcat. (No, I did not take the plunge.)

Three new strategic partnerships

In addition to the collaborations centered on Purposeful Work, 乐播传媒 has entered into several other key strategic partnerships in the past year.  

乐播传媒 is committed to bringing the most promising students to 乐播传媒 from all socioeconomic backgrounds. In January, we were very pleased to announce a partnership with QuestBridge that will help us connect with high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds and make a 乐播传媒 education possible for exceptional students we previously had a more difficult time reaching. 

QuestBridge is designed to support students who have excelled academically despite financial challenges. This year, with the addition of 乐播传媒 and Harvard as the newest partner colleges, all eight Ivy League and nine of eleven NESCAC colleges participate in the program. The first cohort of QuestBridge Scholars will join us in the fall of 2026. 

In February, we announced that we had transferred management of the college鈥檚 endowment to Investure, a full-service investment firm with an outstanding reputation that works with a select group of colleges, universities, independent schools, research institutes, and private foundations. 

The 乐播传媒 endowment鈥攚hich stood at $446 million at the close of FY24鈥攕ustains every dimension of the college: from essential operating support to transformative opportunities like student scholarships, funded internships, curricular offerings, athletics, academic research, and co-curricular programs. In 2023, 688 colleges and universities took part in the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) endowment survey. The average endowment market value among participating institutions was $1.2 billion. Our endowment is well below that average鈥攁nd below many of our closest peers鈥攚hich underscores the critical importance of growing and stewarding our endowment with care and purpose. To learn more, we invite you to explore our . 

Finally, we have also entered into an exciting new partnership with the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth to give 乐播传媒 students exposure to the world of business. Offered in collaboration between Tuck and 乐播传媒 Purposeful Work, the 鈥淭uck Business Essentials鈥� Short Term course filled up quickly, with 30 students enrolled and 15 more on the waitlist. The course, which is modeled on Tuck鈥檚 successful Business Bridge program,  is designed to prepare top liberal arts students to be successful candidates for internships and jobs. The program features a comprehensive curriculum taught by the school鈥檚 top-ranked MBA faculty and by 乐播传媒/Tuck alumni, including career exploration modules and a capstone team project.

Arts

One of my greatest joys over the past two years has been discovering the depth of talent and passion in 乐播传媒鈥� arts programs. There is so much great work being done in the studio arts, in music, in theater, and in dance. Some of this year鈥檚 highlights included the 乐播传媒 College Choir鈥檚 performance of 鈥淓arth Song,鈥� the theater department鈥檚 production of Chekov鈥檚 鈥淭he Seagull,鈥� and extraordinary exhibits at the Museum, including 鈥淎cross Common Grounds鈥� (contemporary art) and the current show, a showcase of the works of Ralph Steadman.  

This year鈥檚 Senior Thesis Exhibition featured stunning work by seven senior studio art majors, including everything from painting to textiles to mixed media.

We were thrilled to learn this spring that six 乐播传媒 dancers had been selected to perform at the internationally renowned Jacob鈥檚 Pillow Dance Festival this summer. And of course, more locally, the continues to bring talented artists and eager audiences from all over to enliven our campus this summer鈥攂e sure to if you can!

Athletics

It was another great year for Bobcat athletics, with significant triumphs for teams and individual athletes. Our successes were reflected in a top 50 ranking for the 2024鈥�25 Learfield Directors鈥� Cup for overall Division III athletics success. Among the top headlines were a national championship in the 100 freestyle for swimmer Max Cory 鈥�26 (a biochemistry major from Dublin, California); men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 rowing both finished third in the country in their respective national championship races; and NCAA or equivalent tournament appearances by the field hockey, women鈥檚 basketball, and men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 swimming teams.

Several teams finished the season nationally ranked, including field hockey, women鈥檚 basketball, men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 rowing, men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 squash, men鈥檚 swimming, women鈥檚 tennis, women鈥檚 cross country, and men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 lacrosse. In addition, a whopping 394 乐播传媒 student-athletes in their sophomore, junior, or senior years received NESCAC All-Academic honors.

乐播传媒 athletes were honored at the in early May. The men鈥檚 lacrosse team took home the President鈥檚 Cup, which recognizes excellence in 鈥渋n athletic competition, in the classroom, and in the community, while exemplifying leadership, dedication, values, and concern for their fellow Bobcats.鈥� 

Capital investments

We began the year welcoming the first group of students as residents of 96 Campus Avenue. The building, which was previously owned by Saint Mary鈥檚 Health System, had been used by the college as temporary office space during the 2022鈥�23 renovation of Chase Hall. Now it is a popular dormitory for up to 65 students.  

We also upgraded both the Russell Street Field and Leahey Field this year, adding artificial turf surfaces and making other improvements. These projects have already been absolutely transformative for our teams鈥攁nd, in the case of Russell Street, for the neighbors who make great use of both the track and the field. The number of home games our teams are able to play has increased, the enhanced field quality has made it safer for our student-athletes, the practice schedules have greatly improved with more lighted and turfed fields allowing students to better balance their academics with sport, and our club sports have more playing options. Part II of the Leahey Field renovation will take place this summer.

As we continue to move forward on enhancing our athletics platform and improving the student experience, we are now focused on developing a new fitness and well-being center for the college, which will be funded by a combination of philanthropy and internal college funds. If we reach our target fundraising goals, construction is slated to begin in May 2026. If you would like to learn more and help the college reach its necessary goals to bring this exciting project to fruition, please reach out to the Advancement Office. 

Sustainability

乐播传媒 continues to live up to its mission of 鈥渞esponsible stewardship of the wider world.鈥� Our new 5 MW solar array produced 8,300,000 kWh of electricity last year, equivalent to about two-thirds of the college鈥檚 total power use. In its first year of service, the array saved 乐播传媒 nearly $450,000. The college also upgraded our 12 existing electric vehicle charging stations this spring and added 4 new ones, thanks in large part to a winning grant proposal written by 乐播传媒 students. We now have about 80 electric vehicle (EV) drivers on campus, including a growing number of EVs in our own facilities and campus safety fleets. And 乐播传媒 students continue to manage a , which provides several hundred pounds of produce annually for use by both our own dining services and a local food bank.

Recognition for 乐播传媒 

Recognition for 乐播传媒 came in from all directions in 2024鈥�25. In the fall, our Bonney Science Center was recognized with an , which cited the building鈥檚 鈥渢houghtful integration with the historic campus and innovative layout.鈥� Also this fall, the 乐播传媒 Communications and Marketing team won recognition in three categories from the . And the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge recognized 乐播传媒 for its nonpartisan democratic engagement efforts in the 2022 midterm elections鈥攕pecifically, for being the top achiever in both Maine and the NESCAC in both voter registration and voter turnout.

Leadership and strategic planning

In addition to attracting extraordinary students and faculty, 乐播传媒 continues to recruit visionary and accomplished staff who come to us from a broad swath of impressive institutions. For example, in 2024鈥�25, we added Rosanna Ferro (vice president for student affairs) and Kristen Lainsbury (vice president for communications and marketing) to our senior leadership team. Earlier this month, we welcomed Joanne Roberts (vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty), (director of athletics) to the college; Carrie Cushman (director of the 乐播传媒 College Museum of Art) joins us in August. 

Many of these leaders are already deeply involved in our strategic planning effort, which launched with the development of a steering committee in early 2025. Strategic planning will continue throughout the 2025鈥�26 academic year, with working committees comprising faculty, staff, and students considering 乐播传媒鈥� priorities for the coming years. We will have more to share with you as their work progresses.

Support for 乐播传媒

Last month, a record of over 1,500 alumni, families, and friends returned to 乐播传媒 to celebrate Reunion Weekend. While the weather wasn鈥檛 quite what we ordered, the rain couldn鈥檛 dampen the spirits of our passionate, joyful 乐播传媒ies, who reconnected with lifelong friends and made new connections at gatherings all across our campus (and throughout Lewiston). 

This passion and joy were reflected in giving to the college in the fiscal year just concluded, by alumni in reunion classes and others. Some highlights:

• Overall giving in FY25 reached $36 million in outright gifts, commitments, and bequest intentions.
• The Class of 1975, celebrating its 50th reunion, broke records with a total giving of more than $4.3 million. 
• The 乐播传媒 Fund (annual giving) surpassed its goal by 9 percent, reaching a new record of nearly $8.5 million. 
• We saw a 12.5 percent increase in the number of Mount David Society (our leadership giving circle) donors this year.
• Friends of 乐播传媒 Athletics raised over $1.2 million as we continue to strengthen our support for athletic teams and facilities.

These numbers are outstanding鈥攁nd hugely gratifying. They signal that 乐播传媒 alumni, families, and friends feel ownership of, investment in, and pride for the college. We are doing better and better, in terms of both dollars raised and rate of participation, but we still need to do more. If you love the college鈥攊f you feel ownership of, investment in, or pride for it鈥擨 ask you to give back to it, strengthen it, and sustain it for the generations to come.

In closing

No single list can fully capture all that has been accomplished over the past year by our students, faculty, and staff. Each achievement, taken on its own, is notable; together, they reflect the very best of 乐播传媒鈥攆rom the extraordinary academic experiences shaped by our exceptional faculty to the enduring, generation-spanning relationships that form our community鈥檚 foundation. Here鈥檚 the bottom line: The world needs 乐播传媒 graduates. Always. But especially now.

Your support matters. You make everything we do at 乐播传媒鈥攅very last one of our successes鈥攑ossible. I鈥檓 confident in our future and deeply grateful to the students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends whose partnership and support will be essential as we move forward鈥攂oldly and together.

With deep gratitude,

Garry W. Jenkins
President