Looking Ahead to Spring 2025

As we come to the end of fall semester and head into the break, we wanted to lift up some of the important dates and programs planned for spring. Earlier this week, a number of people gathered for a regular strategic programming meeting to think together about the lineup of programs, guest speakers and events scheduled for the upcoming semester. Our intention is to ensure our college programming does not exceed our support services capacity, that we are responsive to the student stress calendar and the religious holy days calendar, and that we provide the campus with timely programming and resources that can help advance inclusive excellence and contribute to community wellbeing.

Some of the major speakers scheduled for spring term include:

January 15, 2025
Mia Love - Love will be our featured speaker for Community Learning Days just prior to the start of spring semester. Their session will be focused on Embracing Neurodiversity.  

January 30, 2025
M. Gessen - Gessen will deliver the keynote address for the Press in Times of Peril year-long series organized by the Center for Global Studies. Gessen is the award-winning and bestselling author of several books, including “Surviving Autocracy.” 

February 21, 2025
Terrell Strayhorn - In collaboration with Power & Privilege, Dr. Strayhorn will be visiting campus to provide a presentation focused on the role of belonging on student wellbeing and success. Strayhorn is an internationally-recognized and award-winner writer and education researcher. He is the President/CEO of Do Good Work Consulting Group and the author of “College Students’ Sense of Belonging: A Key to Educational Success.” 

March 11, 2025
Amanda Nguyen - As part of the Third Space Speaker series, Amanda Nguyen will be visiting campus to offer insights about her activism, advocacy work, and her journey to becoming an astronaut. Nguyen’s memoir, “Saving Five,” is scheduled for release the week prior to her visit.

April 10, 2025
Aruna D’Souza - Aruna D’Souza is an award-winning writer on modern and contemporary art; intersectional feminisms and other forms of politics; and how museums shape our views of each other and the world. Whitman’s Concentration in Social Justice is organizing a conversation with D’Souza and Whitman Art History Professor Lisa Uddin.

A few signature Student Programs in the spring to look out for include:

February 18-20, 2025
Power & Privilege Symposium - In a time of ongoing political, social, and personal challenges, hope stands more than an abstract ideal; it can be a transformative force that empowers us to resist and rebuild. Under the theme Reclaiming Hope: Resilience and Resistance in Action, the 2025 Power & Privilege Symposium offers a unique opportunity for our community to come together and engage in conversations surrounding pressing issues that shape our communities and the broader world.

February 8, 2025
Dragtastica - An all ages drag show, filled with fun, class, sass and pizzaz. Coordinated by the Cosmic Drag Collective student affinity group.

April 19, 2025
Taste of Africa - Immerse yourself in the essence of African culture through captivating dance performances and workshops, dazzling displays of African fashion, and a tantalizing array of cuisine representing diverse flavors from across the continent. Taste of Africa is an electrifying annual event hosted by the Whitman African Students Association.

April 26, 2025
Renaissance Faire - Going on for over 50 years, the Whitman College Renaissance Faire is an entirely student planned faire! It features games, tournaments, vendors, live entertainment throughout the day and a kids area. 

Whitman’s signature Visiting Writers Series continues in the spring with:

March 6, 2025
Nathan Harris - Harris was honored as one of 5 Under 35 by the National Book Foundation and has had his work featured in The Best American Short Stories of 2023. His debut novel, “The Sweetness of Water,” was the summer selection of Oprah’s Book Club. He currently lives in Chicago, Illinois.

April 3, 2025
Idra Novey - Novey teaches creative writing at Princeton University and her fiction and poetry have been translated into a dozen languages. She’s written for The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Washington Post and The Guardian. Her new book of poems, “Soon & Wholly,” was released in fall 2024. Her novel, “Take What You Need,” was a New York Times Notable Book of 2023.

May 1, 2025
Justin Gardiner & Rose McLarney - Gardiner is a graduate of Warren Wilson’s MFA Program for Writers and the author of three books. McLarney is winner of the National Poetry Series, the Chaffin Award for Achievement in Appalachian Writing, and the Fellowship of Southern Writers’ New Writing Award for Poetry. Both Rose and Justin are Creative Writing faculty at Auburn University in Alabama.

Other major programs include:

April 25, 2025
Undergraduate Conference

May 3, 2025
2nd Annual Pášx̣apa Powwow

We will also be visited spring semester by folks from:

February 5 & April 25
RVCC - Who will assist in our sexual violence prevention and consent education efforts. 

February 21
Colectiva Legal del Pueblo - Who will help us understand the changing climate for undocumented and mixed-status members of our community and enhance institutional support strategies. 

March 7–8
Columbia University International Interfaith Research Lab - Who will contribute to institutional efforts to promote belonging and interfaith dialogue. 

February 27
We will also continue to provide the Whitman community with access to AHEAD’s webinar series in the spring and invite a number of faculty/staff to participate in a virtual conference focused on Amplifying Voices of Disability.

This is not a comprehensive list. There are lots of Whitman Athletics events and various other amazing programs that will emerge in the spring. Additional guest speaker visits are in the works that will be announced once they are finalized. This look ahead is offered so that people can make note of some events on their calendars, follow up with program organizers for collaborations, and integrate content into their curriculum. Please reach out to diversity@whitman.edu with any questions.