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As the year comes to a close, a review of the 13 most-read ߣߣ�� news stories published this year tells the story of 2023 at the College, highlighting student, faculty and staff achievements, as well as the celebration of Mount Holyoke’s twentieth president.

1. ߣߣ�� appoints Danielle Ren Holley twentieth president

Danielle Ren Holley, noted legal educator and social justice scholar, became the twentieth president of ߣߣ�� on July 1, 2023. The Board unanimously elected Holley following a thorough and inclusive search process.

2. ߣߣ�� named a “best” college by the Princeton Review

The Princeton Review ranked ߣߣ�� in the top 20 colleges and universities in the country in categories for academics, extracurricular activities and alum resources.

3. A glimpse of the College’s nineteenth-century centerpiece

Construction for Mount Holyoke’s new geothermal energy project led to discoveries from the College’s beginnings.

4. 2023 Commencement speakers announced

Author and scholar Imani Perry, author and professor Lan Cao ’83 and physicist Nancy Welker ’63 spoke to ߣߣ��’s newest graduates at Commencement 2023.

5. High rankings for Mount Holyoke

ߣߣ�� has been ranked highly by U.S. News & World Report, Washington Monthly and the New York Times.

6. Meet Mount Holyoke’s newest faculty for 2023

Mount Holyoke’s newest faculty bring innovative, interdisciplinary scholarship to the College’s thriving intellectual community.

7. Mount Holyoke selected to join Beckman Scholars Program

For the first time in its history, ߣߣ�� has been selected as a Beckman Scholars Program awardee by the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation. The foundation chose the College after a rigorous application process.

8. New applications record for third consecutive year

ߣߣ�� received more than 5,000 applications for the first time and admitted its most diverse class in history.

9. New staff and administrators join ߣߣ��

ߣߣ�� welcomed new staff and administrators for roles across the campus.

10. The future is now with President Danielle R. Holley

ߣߣ�� celebrated the inauguration of Danielle R. Holley as its twentieth president.

11. The theme for Commencement 2023 was “hope”

Mount Holyoke’s one hundred eighty-sixth Commencement was a celebration of the class of 2023 and an ode to fostering hope for the future.

12. “Disability Visibility” is the Common Read for 2023

Mount Holyoke’s 2023 Common Read, “Disability Visibility,” is an anthology of essays, stories, poems and more that centers around disability justice — written by people with disabilities and edited by disabled activist and writer Alice Wong.

13. Mount Holyoke student named a “major league hacker”

ߣߣ�� student Cynthia Akanaga ’25 has been named to Major League Hacking’s Top 50 List for 2023.