October 2025 Board of Trustees Meeting Summary
A report on the board meeting held October 16–18, 2025.
Dear members of the Mount Holyoke College community,
Mount Holyoke hosted the fall meeting of the Board of Trustees from Oct. 16–18, 2025. The Board welcomed two new members to their first meeting as trustees: Margaret Clarkson ’94 P’24 and Oyinade Ogunbekun Wielock ’07. Key discussion topics at the meeting included artificial intelligence, strategic enrollment and the Comprehensive Campus Plan (CCP) currently under development.
The meeting opened with a panel on Mount Holyoke’s approach to artificial intelligence, featuring Assistant Professor of Philosophy Arden Ali, Professor of Psychology and Education Mara Breen, Professor of Music Thomas Ciufo, Associate Professor of Psychology and Education Jennifer Wallace Jacoby, Language Instructor Alice Shin-Yi Kao and Assistant Professor of Computer Science Diane Uwacu. The panel shared that faculty are exploring AI with their students, considering the parameters of the technology and its environmental and ethical implications. At the same time, faculty are utilizing AI in their research in exciting ways. The trustees appreciated the thoughtful approach the College is taking to AI and noted that AI skills are necessary for graduates to be competitive in the job market. They encouraged the College to continue educating students about how to use it thoughtfully and creatively. Afterward, the Board was delighted to have a reception and dinner with the panelists. A cross-divisional working group of students, faculty, staff and trustees will recommend College-wide AI guidelines and policies to the Senior Team next spring.
The trustees discussed strategic enrollment strategies based on the 2024—25 Strategic Enrollment Working Group report. The Board thanks Vice President for Marketing and Communications Jen Brock, Associate Professor of History and former Chair of the Advisory Committee on Admission and Financial Aid Desmond Fitz-Gibbon, Dean of Admission Mandy Hart, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Tayler Kreutter, and Athletics Director Andrea Ricketts-Preston for participating in a panel discussion, moderated by Vice President for Enrollment Management Robin Randall, that outlined the ways in which MHC will continue to enhance student recruitment and enrollment.
Trustees viewed a presentation of the vision and big ideas for the Comprehensive Campus Plan (CCP) and provided extensive feedback. The vision and big ideas were shared with the campus community last week in an October update, which can be read on the CCP website. The Board anticipates voting on the plan in February. Campus renewal efforts are already underway; trustees were treated to a tour of recent renovations to the Kendall Sports & Dance Complex with Director of Athletics Andrea Ricketts-Preston and Senior Associate Director of Athletics Bardee Sadlier. The tour included the refurbished gym, which is beautiful and full of Lyon spirit. It is no surprise that the stands have been packed with fans this semester!
In 2020, the trustees established a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Task Force, a commitment made in the Board’s Anti-Racism Action Plan. Through the leadership of Trustee Hallie Nath ’92 and former Trustee Avice Meehan ’77, and with the expert support of Vice President for Equity and Inclusion Kijua Sanders-McMurtry, the Board has now established the Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Committee as a standing committee of the Board of Trustees. The Committee includes representatives from the other nine standing committees and will complement the diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging work of our entire Mount Holyoke community.
Finally, upon the recommendations of President Holley and of the 2024–25 Graduate Programs Working Group, the Board voted to close the Professional and Graduate Education (PaGE) unit in summer 2027. All current degree-seeking students will be supported in completing their degrees according to their current programs of study. PaGE has offered high-quality programs since its establishment. The decision to close the unit was based in no way on its caliber. In its vote, the Board affirms that Mount Holyoke’s undergraduate program must be the College’s main focus. The Psychology and Education Department will continue to offer teacher licensure to undergraduates. The Board is grateful to the PaGE staff for their excellent work; the College has pledged to support them as they determine their next steps. The trustees also acclaim the importance to the Mount Holyoke community of our esteemed PaGE alums.
The formal actions of the Board at the October meeting included:
- Approval with congratulations of the fall conferral of degrees for those undergraduate (15) and graduate students (20) recommended by the faculty.
- Approval of a slate of honorary degree candidates whom President Holley can choose to invite to the 2026 or a future Commencement.
While on campus, the trustees said good-bye to former Mount Holyoke President, remarkable alum, and stellar leader Elizabeth Topham Kennan ’60 at a memorial service in Abbey Chapel. The chapel was filled with people whose lives President Emerita Kennan had touched, with many more participating virtually. The remembrance brought us together as a community. It underscored Mount Holyoke’s history, vision and values. And it reminded us of how generations of graduates have embodied purposeful, compassionate leadership in ways that shaped our campus and the world. It is a privilege to educate the next generation of uncommon leaders, and to be in community with you all.
We wish you success throughout the remainder of the fall semester.
Sincerely,
Sally Durdan ’81, Chair of the Board of Trustees
Danielle R. Holley, President