Messages from the President
1-16-23
Launch of the President’s Initiative
Antioch College Launches President’s Initiative Campaign
Transformational Program Seeks to Provide Educational Opportunities for All Students, Secure Future of Historic and Influential Institution
Today, as the world celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the Antioch College community carries the spirit of Coretta Scott King, class of 1951, and her work with Dr. King to achieve the beloved community they knew was possible. Dr. Jane Fernandes, Antioch College President, is launching the President’s Initiative, with the goal of raising $5M by June 30, 2023.
12-19-22
In Memory of John Sims ’90
We mourn the loss of John Sims, ’90, who died suddenly near his home in Sarasota, Florida. The news shocked everyone at Antioch and in the art world.
As an Antioch student, working closely with math faculty, such as Bill Whitesell, John Sims began studying math and integrated that with his art practice. After graduating, he created and organized the Cross-Cultural Field Program and African-American Culture Week, which later became a long-running Blues and Gospel Fest. He taught at the Ringling College of Art and Design, where he featured the integration of math and art and presented related exhibits and lectures around the United States, Hungary, Slovenia, Israel, and Argentina.
12-4-22
In Memory of Julia Reichert ’70
Julia Reichert ’70 has passed away. Julia was diagnosed with urothelial cancer 4.5 years ago with a prognosis of around 18 months. The warrior Julia exceeded everyone’s expectations and chose to continue her craft and her life until she was ready. In a testament to the incredible impact Julia had on the world, remembrances and tributes have come in from those close to her personally, and those influenced, inspired, and illuminated by her work. Our hearts go out to Steve, Lela, her entire family, and all those touched by Julia and this tremendous loss.
10-27-22
State of the College 2022
My name is Jane Fernandes, and I am the president of Antioch College. She, her, or the inclusive they, them are my pronouns. I am here to deliver the State of the College address for 2022.
10-14-22
Antioch Activate
Dear Alumni, Supporters, and Friends of Antioch College,
All structures rely on their foundations for stability. Without a stable foundation lifting up and bearing the load, whatever good works that have been done, or are to be done, inside of the structure, cease.
I would like to talk with you today about the foundation of Antioch College in terms of history, of changemaking mission, of financial requirements, and of community engagement.
10-13-22
Celebration of the Life of Terry Ogden Herndon (March 15, 1934 – August 6, 2022)
I attended a celebration of the life of Terry Ogden Herndon (March 15, 1934 — August 6, 2022) on September 24, 2022, at First Religious Society in Carlisle, Massachusetts. He was the husband for 66 years of Eva (Warmbrunn) Herndon. Antioch is indebted to Terry and Eva for their substantial financial support over the years culminating in the Herndon Art Gallery, where we will soon be privileged to witness Flourishing, an exhibit of photo and video work by five Black artists celebrating their stories and experiences.
10-11-22
Leadership in Action: DACA and American Values
It is time for America to show us who we are.
We were deeply saddened – though not shocked – by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling invalidating the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, popularly known as DACA. Started in 2012, DACA is a pathway allowing immigrants who entered the country as children, and who have no other legal remedies for formal status here, to remain as long as DACA is in place. The recent court decision is therefore tragic. It directly threatens over 600,000 young people seeking to make a life in America, harming our communities in the process and injecting chaos into an already impossible immigration system.
Without Congressional action, we are almost certain to lose hundreds of thousands of young people. They have grown up in our schools, joined our religious communities, become high school valedictorians, played in our sports leagues, participated in our town fairs, and are now starting to join our workforce and tax base when we need them most.
9-8-22
New Students, New Energy
Something I have often heard since arriving at Antioch is that there has been a renewal of energy on campus in the last year. The maintenance and facilities teams have been doing a wonderful job in making the spaces and buildings welcoming. The faculty and staff, those that have been here for many years and those that have arrived more recently, have been finding ways to engage the students and each other creatively and thoughtfully with fresh and renewed perspectives. The students themselves consistently bring energetic enthusiasm to the shaping of this community.
8-11-22
Reflections on Reunion 2022
Just a few short weeks ago, Antioch College Reunion 2022 brought alumni and friends back to our beloved campus for the first in-person reunion since 2019. It was truly an exciting and inspiring community event, which also marked my first Antioch Reunion. What an incredible introduction to the reasons why our community seeks to share these unique spaces and passionate conversations every year together.
Our guests and I were greeted with a full agenda. The days and nights were packed with awards and recognition, generosity of time, talents, and gifts, spontaneous dancing and food, exploring historic photos and memories while creating new ones, curated panel discussions covering important topics, and all of the equally important and wonderful impromptu face to face conversations, stories, and exchanges.
7-14-22
Strategic Plan Goals and Objectives
As announced recently in our email newsletters, I am excited to share that Antioch College’s 2022-2025 Strategic Plan was unanimously approved by the Antioch College Board of Trustees last month. You can now read the full plan here: https://antiochcollege.edu/about/strategic-plan-2022-2025/
Created by students, faculty, staff, alumni, and Yellow Springs community members, this clear, actionable, and measurable plan will guide us towards the better systems that we need to further our critically important mission over the next three years.
We know how committed and invested you are in Antioch College’s future, and as we implement this Strategic Plan, please know that we will regularly report on plan progress and have honest conversations about how we are meeting our goals and our work ahead.
Thank you for your continued dedication to and support of Antioch College. We look forward to welcoming many of you to campus here shortly to celebrate the 2022 Antioch College Reunion.
6-27-22
Roe v. Wade
Friday’s decision by the Supreme Court to overturn 50 years of precedent in Roe v. Wade dealt a striking blow to equitable access to reproductive health for us all.
It is stunningly difficult to comprehend the deliberate unraveling of human rights presently taking place in the United States of America. In several states, such as Texas, gender affirming care is barred in addition to new abortion bans. The barring of the human right to abortion and gender affirming care is horrendous enough, but made that much worse by their criminalization.
4-11-22
Ohio HB 616
It is disheartening and distressing that we are once again confronted with news of misguided, attention-seeking legislative actions clearly aimed to promote division, stoke fear, breed misunderstanding, suppress, and marginalize.
On Monday, April 4th, 2022, Ohio state Representatives, Mike Loychik and Jean Schmidt, introduced HB 616 which bears strong resemblance to Florida’s recently passed Parental Rights in Education law, known by many as the “Don’t Say Gay” law. The proposed legislation is copied directly from that of other states.
1-29-22
Statement on Suspended Medical License of Dr. Donald Gronbeck
Like many of you, I am grappling with the harrowing news that the State Medical Board of Ohio suspended the medical license of Dr. Donald Gronbeck, Antioch Class of 2002 and former campus doctor from 2015-2019. Antioch College unequivocally condemns sexual violence of any nature and we are working with local authorities to provide information and help ensure that a full accounting is made of any harms done as a result of Dr. Gronbeck’s work for the College.
