Letters and Speeches
Provost and dean of faculty announced
President Stephens announces Dr. Lisa Sullivan as the College’s new provost and dean of faculty.
Presidential Search Committee chairs
Board of Trustees Chair Karena Strella ’90 announces the chair and vice-chair of the Presidential Search Committee.
Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum appointed interim
The Board of Trustees has appointed Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum to serve as Mount Holyoke College’s interim president. She will begin her service in July 2022
Mount Holyoke forever shall be
President Stephens expresses her profound gratitude for the opportunity to serve Mount Holyoke since 2013.
In appreciation of our nineteenth president
As President Stephens announces she is stepping down, Board of Trustees Chair Karena Strella ’90 honors her accomplishments and outlines next steps.
Welcome to the spring 2022 semester
President Stephens shares her message of welcome for the new year and the new semester.
Health & safety updates for spring 2022
President Stephens shares an urgent message regarding operational changes for the safe start of the 2022 spring semester.
A season of renewal
President Sonya Stephens presents a video to celebrate our community in this new year.
Antisemitic symbols on campus
After the discovery of more antisemitic symbols on campus, President Stephens gives updates on the investigation and offers resources to the community.
Climate action commitments
President Stephens writes to clarify Mount Holyoke College’s climate commitments, including investment strategies, greening the campus and climate justice.
Swastika discovered on campus
A swastika was found in a Mount Holyoke residence hall. President Stephens discusses both the ongoing investigation and resources for the community.
Racist messages in the community & on campus
President Stephens denounces racist messages sent to Black students, faculty and staff at UMass Amherst and Patriot Front stickers on the MHC campus.
Convocation 2021
Celebrating the return of students to a fully-reopened campus, President Stephens welcomed all with a speech on the importance of interconnectedness.
Welcome to the Fall 2021 semester
President Stephens shares her message of welcome for the new academic year and the return to an in-person educational and community experience
Dean of Faculty Search Committee
President Stephens announces the process for undergoing the search for the next Dean of Faculty, including the members of the search committee.
Campus updates for the fall 2021 semester
In light of the surge of the delta variant of COVID-19, President Sonya Stephens has updated health and safety plans for students and employees.
Damage to Mead Hall
Lightning struck Mead Hall July 17, 2021. President Stephens writes with a detailed update on the damage to the building and the cleanup efforts underway.
COVID-19 vaccination mandate for employees
Mount Holyoke College will mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for all employees as of August 13, 2021.
Welcome to Commencement 2021
Empathy, the connective experience, underpins friendships and fuels advocacy and collective action, says President Stephens. It begins with curiosity.
Fall 2021 detailed information
As the College moves toward a full undergraduate residential experience for fall 2021, updated information for students and employees can be found here.
Honorary degree recipients and Commencement
President Sonya Stephens shares news about Commencement 2021, including the three honorary degree recipients.
The Derek Chauvin trial
The verdict in the Derek Chauvin killing of George Floyd has many of us feeling a keen awareness that there is so much more yet to be done.
Regarding the Atlanta-area shooting
The tragic attack in Atlanta has brought to the fore yet further evidence of racism, anti-Asian sentiment and gender-based violence.
Continuity of care at Gorse Children’s Center
Mount Holyoke has secured a one-year extension of the current contract with Bright Horizons.
- Update regarding on-campus early education, February 28, 2021
- Welcome to the Spring 2021 Semester, January 26, 2021
- Today's siege of the capitol, January 6, 2021
- Stronger together, January 1, 2021
- Progress on the Mount Holyoke anti-racism action plan, December 9, 2020
- A message about the 2020 presidential election, November 4, 2020
- Preliminary information on spring 2021, October 28, 2020
- Incident at Wellesley College, October 16, 2020
- Opposing all forms of prejudice and oppression, September 24, 2020
- Update on the College’s financial situation and identifying permanent, structural changes, September 17, 2020
- (Virtual) Convocation 2020 Address, September 7, 2020
- Affirming our Core Values and Campus Safety, September 5, 2020
- Resources for Caregivers, September 2, 2020
- Mount Holyoke's Anti-Racism Plan, August 27, 2020
- Welcome to the Fall 2020 Semester, August 2, 2020
- Fall 2020 Financial Update, August 19, 2020
- The College’s decision for a remote fall semester, August 10, 2020
- An important message about fall 2020, August 7, 2020
- Regarding the ICE guidance of July 6, 2020
- The Plan to Open the Gates, June 30, 2020
- Black lives matter, June 2, 2020
- In solidarity with victims of racial violence, May 15, 2020
- An update on Commencement 2020, May 4, 2020
- COVID-19 Planning, April 29, 2020
- Planning for the Consequences of COVID-19, April 7, 2020
- COVID-19 Update, March 23, 2020
- Welcome back: Spring 2020
- Fall 2019 Board of Trustees Meeting Summary, October 28, 2019
- Swastikas Discovered on the Smith College Campus, October 25, 2019
- The President's Response on Mountain Day and Rosh Hashanah, October 2, 2019
- Convocation 2019 Welcome Address
- Welcome back: Fall 2019
- Update on Campus Police, April 11, 2019
- College convenes a Hiring Practice Task Force, March 14, 2019
- February 2019 Board of Trustees Meeting Summary, March 7, 2019
- VP for Enrollment named, February 22, 2019
- Mount Holyoke: A Smoke-Free Campus
- Mount Holyoke's response to Hampshire news, January 15, 2019
- Fall 2018 Board of Trustees Meeting Summary
- In sorrow at the hateful act in Pittsburgh, October 27, 2018
- Continuing the #MeToo conversation, October 21, 2018
- Standing with Trans & Non-Binary Individuals
- Inaugural Address
- Convocation 2018 Welcome Address
- President's Report 2017–2018
- Spring 2018 Board of Trustees Meeting, June 8, 2018
- Commencement 2018 Welcome Address, May, 2018
- In anticipation of the future
- MHC: An Inclusive Community
- Welcome Back Letter: Spring 2018, January 23, 2018
- Letter to Congressman Neal: Tax on endowment income threatens financial aid opportunities, November 6, 2017
- Update on NEASC site visit, October 30, 2017
- Mount Holyoke stands with #MeToo, October 23, 2017
- Fall 2017 Board of Trustees Meeting Summary, October 20, 2017
- Statement on Title VII, October 5, 2017
- Statement on Title IX, September 25, 2017
- Response to DACA decision, September 5, 2017
- Remarks from the 2017 Convocation Ceremony, September 5, 2017
- Reaffirming support for DACA, August 31, 2017
- Statement on the violence in Charlottesville, August 15, 2017
- Spring 2017 Board of Trustees Meeting Summary, March 1, 2017
- A letter to President Trump regarding the executive order concerning immigrants from majority-Muslim countries, February 2, 2017
- Response to recent executive actions, January 30, 2017
- Immigration Pollicy following Executive Order, January 29, 2017
- Two New College-wide Initiatives in the areas of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Sustainability, January 20, 2017
- Response to Petitions on DACA, November 22, 2016
- Embracing Difference as We Embrace Challenge, November 21, 2016
- An Open Letter to Stephen Bannon, November 21, 2016
- Letter from Presidents to President-elect Trump, November 18, 2016
- Fall 2016 Board of Trustees Meeting Summary
- Remarks from the 2016 Convocation Ceremony, September 6, 2016