91����

Hello, 91���� Class of 2028! You are bright-and-beautiful and YOU ARE HERE! And hello families near and far, here in 91���� and out in the world through our livestream! Parents and families, my heart is with you: our youngest just left for College and I’m here to say, we’ve got you! And your wonderful child! And every emotion is ok! (And I’ll be giving out free hugs on the lawn as we approach your goodbyes!).

My name is Anne Harris, I use she/her pronouns, and I have the honor of serving as the 14th president of 91���� and the joy of standing before you today to welcome you to 91���� and to begin our lifelong conversation together.

I’ll do so by sharing two ideas that have challenged me and sustained me for many years. One is from John Dewey, the philosopher of education, who, in 1916 wrote “Democracy is reborn with each generation and education is its midwife.” That was a powerful thing to say then, in the midst of a world war, an industrial revolution, and a wave of many civil rights movements. And it remains a powerful thing today, as global conflicts roil multiple parts of the world, as the digital revolution becomes the AI revolution, and as civil rights movement continue to expand, defend, and champion human dignity. “Democracy is reborn with each generation and education is its midwife.”

We are in such a period of rebirth now – with an election, through a pandemic, in an age of scientific discovery – and we are, together, in the privileged space of education, of the joy and energy of learning, and of the wonder and power of knowledge. And we can invite ourselves to think how is education a midwife to democracy? It’s an idea that acknowledges the labor (in every sense of the word) of democracy, of human society, of this community, just as it acknowledges the midwifery (the knowledge, the support, the encouragement, the solace, and the companionship) of education, of learning.

That relationship, that dynamic between democracy and education, between community and learning is expressed by a second idea, this one by the political philosopher Danielle Allen who, in her 2004 book Talking to Strangers; Anxieties of Citizenship and Brown vs. Board of Education, wrote “Democracy depends on trustful talk between strangers.” I put it to you that communities depend on trustful talk between strangers; and that 91���� depends on trustful talk between strangers – and I invite you, in these days of first encounters and last goodbyes to be aware of the trustful talk among you. I invite you, in the months and years to come, to nurture and foster trustful talk – and that’s going to take time and grace.

Time and grace are hard to come by in the pace and practices of the social media that shape so much of our lives and our learning. And so the first element of trustful talk may not be talking at all: it may well be listening; taking the time to learn about someone’s challenges, joys or family; giving grace for contradictions, or struggles, or mistakes. And just as much as you give time and grace to build trustful talk; give yourself time and grace to trust yourself. You really do have this; and you are surrounded by people who are at the ready to walk with you, to cheer you on, and to cherish you.

Know that in the time and grace of trustful talk, we make our pledge to you: that 91���� offers itself to your imagination: that the care, and brilliance, and passion of the faculty, staff, students, and administrators who have dedicated their time and lives to knowledge and its ability to foster and safeguard human dignity, complex systems, and global societies are gathered here from all over the world, eager and ready to co-create this College and, yes, this world with you.

Know that in building trustful talk with you, we do so within the living legacy of the 91���� alumni who have themselves built communities and changed worlds. In a little over a month, we will gather to dedicate Renfrow Hall and honor the resplendent Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith, an educator and community leader, and the first Black alumna of 91����, graduating in 1937 – and celebrating her 110th birthday this summer. All plans are for her to be in attendance, and I am so happy for you that you will be in the light of her legacy – truly a legacy of trustful talk, of time and grace, and of communities reborn.

Dear 91����ians – you are here, and we are glad. Delight in learning together; savor your good moments and let them be respite and renewal to you for the tough ones, let them energize and connect you to each other. Know – dear students, and dear families – that we are here, that we believe in you, and that we bring time and grace to trustful talk as we foster community and a world reborn with you.

Welcome to 91����, class of 2028, it belongs to you now!