In the first event back from my fall sabbatical, I had the honor of introducing John McWhorter at a special alumni gathering in Orange County, prior to his appearance at the Athenaeum later that evening as part of the Valach Speaker Series. One of the country’s singular and authentic voices, McWhorter is best known as a linguistics professor and New York Times opinion writer. His thoughtful yet outspoken presence reinforced our mission-centric, nationally recognized Open Academy, which I described as “an emerging, cloud-clearing North Star for higher education in a society that appears increasingly censorious, dogmatic, and polarized.”
It is further reinforcing to see our Open Academy commitments come alive in this issue of the magazine, through so many examples.
In one of our feature profiles, Henry Albrecht ’91 P’23 P’26 shared how CMC taught him the value of critical thinking and open-mindedness. A standout CMS basketball player, he loved organizing pickup games with opposing players from nearby colleges—a counterintuitive impulse to learn how to get along with others who were supposed to be his “enemy on the court.” Through his well-rounded athletic and academic experience, Henry walked away from CMC knowing “that life wasn’t about locking out ideas, or concepts, or constructs just because they weren’t what you originally thought or agreed with.” This is The Open Academy in our recent past.
In another profile, Claire Vlases ’25 discussed how she chose CMC, in large part, because of its viewpoint diversity. She knew she would be challenged in classes and on campus by peers who thought differently. This exposure has made her a stronger, more responsible leader, particularly in her home state of Montana, where she has advocated for climate change policy. Claire has since been honored by TIME Magazine and appeared in a variety of national interviews from PBS to CNN for her leadership in a Montana court case about fossil fuel approvals. This is The Open Academy today.
You’ll see many other examples throughout this issue—whether our esteemed Ath speakers from this academic year, including salons and events on the Middle East and the upcoming election, our amazing faculty research and scholarship, or our exceptional alumni involvement and student honors.
Even our public art speaks to Open Academy objectives.
For me, the vivid translucency and penetrability of Pae White’s Qwalala, which graces our Mid-Quad, calls us to see through, to transcend the centrifugal forces and opaque walls that separate us. The haiku I wrote in my January welcome back letter to the community—which I’ve shared on the next page—expresses that calling.
I trust you will see in these pages our unwavering commitment to overcome division through constructive dialogue, and to create more unum in our pluribus.
Wishing you all the very best.
