Here's your news for December from on and off campus.Carleton's on winter break now, but the education never stops. Addy Huss ’28 has been schooling the opposition all month; she leads the MIAC in scoring and was the MIAC women's basketball player of the week three times in a row. High marks go as well to quarterback Jack Curtis ’26, who has been chosen as a semifinalist for the Gagliardi Trophy (you can vote for him!), and to diver Nina Schwab ’28, who set a new MIAC record. Narjis Nusaibah ’26 has been improving women's health awareness in Bangladesh through her nonprofit Alo Health, and recent grad Celia Vander Ploeg Fallon ’25 teamed up with German professor Juliane Schicker to publish an article on the pedagogy of preschool language immersion. For the wise, prizes arise: Simine Vazire ’01 is an Einstein Foundation award recipient, and Karen Brakke ’85, Beth Morling ’90, and Regan A.R. Gurung ’91 have all won national teaching awards in psychology. And if you like learning by reading, political science professor and president emeritus Steven Poskanzer has just published a book on how and when colleges and universities should take stands on social and political issues. If you have updates to share, send the College your knowledge, and read on for more information from campus and beyond.
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Farewell to Robert Edwards, Carleton’s 7th President
Robert Hazard Edwards, the President of Carleton from 1977 to 1986, died on November 30, 2025 at the age of 90. During his tenure, the College launched the Science, Technology, and Public Policy program (which evolved into what is now the Environmental Studies program), Gould Library was remodeled and expanded, and ACT (Acting in the Community Together, now part of the Center for Community and Civic Engagement) was established. Bob Edwards was appointed President Emeritus by the Carleton Board of Trustees in 2011. Read more about President Edwards' impact and share a memory.
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History professor Serena Zabin featured in new Ken Burns documentary
Serena Zabin, the Stephen R. Lewis Jr. Professor of History and the Liberal Arts, is taking her expertise national in the latest Ken Burns documentary, The American Revolution. The six-part series explores the country’s founding struggle and its eight-year War for Independence. Check out the official trailer on PBS.org or on YouTube, and read more about professor Zabin's contribution to the documentary.
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Jack Curtis's battles on and off the field
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Virtual: Thursday, December 11 12:00 p.m. CST Carl Talks: "Oops, This Old Show Is a Little Racist — Now What?"Phil Chan ’06, choreographer, opera director, and founder of Final Bow for Yellowface and the Gold Standard Arts Foundation, explores the challenge of presenting historically significant works—like Madama Butterfly or La Bayadère—that also carry racial insensitivities. Drawing on his experience staging opera and dance, Chan shares strategies for honoring artistic tradition while creating inclusive, equitable performances.
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Virtual: Friday, December 12 10:00 a.m. CST Carleton Connects: The College and the local community
Carleton and its local community are deeply interconnected, and the College not only cultivates but thrives on good relations with its neighbors. From the economic impact on Rice County to the current state of student civic engagement, here’s your chance to learn from faculty, staff, and administration about the vibrant connections between Carleton and Northfield (and beyond).
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Winter gatherings — new locations added!Winter gatherings are a fun way to get together with Carls in your area, engage current students—many of whom will be back home for winter break—and show them what life after Carleton is like.
Check out the list of events and register. Don't see an event in your area? There's still time to plan an informal gathering; just pick a date in January and a time at one of your favorite watering holes.
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Kickstart 2026 with a captivating read
Prepare for a literary journey in 2026 with Carleton's alumni book club, your gateway to engaging reads and insightful discussions with fellow Carls. Our new year begins on January 2 with Ariel Lawhon's The Frozen River.
In a starred review, a critic for Kirkus praised The Frozen River as “a vivid, exciting page-turner from one of our most interesting authors of historical fiction.”
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New alumni benefit: Authors365
Carleton alumni now have free access to Authors365, a program featuring live monthly talks with bestselling authors in business, professional development, and wellness.
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Call for Reunion 2027 volunteersIf your class will be celebrating Reunion in 2027 and you would like to help plan the weekend's events or your class's gift and outreach efforts, please complete the Reunion Volunteer form. Everyone is welcome.
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You'll drool over our bib!The Carleton Alumni Association and the Office of Alumni Relations provide Carleton bibs (in an easy-to-wash silicone design) to alumni who have recently welcomed a baby into their families. Please fill out our form to share your news with us and receive a free bib.
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Correction for Carleton print calendar The 2025 Carleton print calendar incorrectly cites the start date of Chanukah. The correct date is December 14. We regret the error and apologize for the oversight.
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Make your gift early this DecemberThere's still time to make a gift to Carleton before the tax deadline on December 31. However, most College offices will be closed from December 24 through January 1. If you typically make your gift by phone (800-745-2275), please consider initiating your call early this year. If you plan to mail your gift, please ensure it is postmarked by Wednesday, December 31. Otherwise, we invite you to visit give.carleton.edu to make your annual contribution by December 31.
Our offices will be closed 12/24–1/1Please feel free to reach out to us when we reopen on January 2. Happy New Year!
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