The world’s economy has been growing at an impressive rate for the past two centuries—and the engine driving that growth is the freedom entrepreneurs have to test new ideas. That was the theme of a lecture delivered on the Vassar campus by economist Deidre Nansen McCloskey.

Professor of English Eve Dunbar, Professor of Drama Shona Tucker, Assistant Professor of Biology Myra Hughey, and Professor of Psychological Science Michele Tugade ’95 have been appointed to endowed chairs, Dean of the Faculty William Hoynes announced.

One of Vassar’s oldest traditions—gathering together for Convocation—resumed for the first time in 747 days on September 22. On a beautiful fall day on Commencement Hill, the campus community celebrated the start of the fall semester. President Elizabeth Bradley’s summed up the occasion succinctly: “I’m so thrilled to be with all of you—on campus, together, at last!”

Writer and activist Lila Nordstrom ’06—one of the many students attending the nearby Stuyvesant High School on 9/11—was inspired to found StuyHealth, an advocacy group representing former students who were in lower Manhattan on that day in 2001. She recently published a chronicle of the 20-year battle to ensure permanent funding for the health needs of 9/11 survivors.

Two days before the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, a top editor from the Wall Street Journal traded observations with student journalists and media experts about the evolving ethics of news photography at a forum at the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center.