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Executive Director of Major Gifts William Brower ’84 discussed ways to increase the effectiveness of development programs in a webinar titled “Improving ROI and Performance in Fundraising” on Feb. 2. 

The Peace Corps recently celebrated its 50th anniversary and noted that since 1961, 218 of its volunteers have been Hamilton graduates. Most recently Kerry Coughlin ’11, Megan Bumb ’10, Jane Fieldhouse ’10 and Elijah Lachance ’10 served in the Peace Corp ranks.

David Palmer '56 has recently posted an essay titled "Rituals and Symbols" on his blog Cosmoticks. Palmer's thoughts and questions are the result of his study of the works of Carl G. Jung, which he first encountered at Vanderbilt Divinity School in 1987. His essay explores the nature of adolescence, the relationship between love and power, and the relation of God to the self:

A guest post titled “Higher education’s $64,000 question” by Professor of Government David Paris ’71 appeared on The Washington Post College Inc. blog on Feb. 2. Paris, who is currently serving as executive director of the New Leadership Alliance for Student Learning and Accountability, expressed his support for establishing evidence-based improvement of student learning as a central focus of higher education.

Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP has announced that Arthur J. Reliford, Jr. '96 has been elected to the equity partnership ranks from a non-equity partner. Reliford is co-chair of the firm's Diversity Committee and a member of the Recruiting Committee. His practice focuses on commercial litigation, product liability law, and complex civil litigation. He has been included in Illinois Super Lawyers-Rising Stars Edition in general litigation in 2008-2010.

On February 1, students in the Semester in Washington Program met with George Baker ’74 and Frank Vlossak ’89, principals at Williams and Jensen PLLC. Williams and Jensen is one of the nation's leading, independently owned government affairs law firms.

During this bicentennial year of Hamilton College, a unique and entertaining way of looking back at the college’s history is through the eyes of Half-Century class annalists. Their letters, invaluable in recording Hamilton’s past and recounting life on the Hill, have now been posted on a new web page. The five most recent are also available as videos.

Julia Hysell '04, a library assistant at Teton County Library in Jackson, WY, will be hosting a two-evening workshop titled "Gary Snyder, Dharma Bums & the Coming Revolution" on Feb. 6 and March 5. Hysell researched the influence of Buddhist scripture and poetry on Jack Kerouac's book The Dharma Bums for her senior thesis under Walcott-Bartlett Professor of Religion Jay G. Williams '54 and Bates and Benjamin Professor of Classical and Religious Studies Richard Seager while she was at Hamilton. She is currently working on a manuscript for a book chronicling her literary exploration of The Dharma Bums. Her research has extended over nearly ten years as she "started digging and started to find the real people behind the characters and the real places behind the spots used in the book."

The Descendants, an adaptation of the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings with a screenplay by Nat Faxon '97, Jim Rash and Alexander Payne, recently won the Golden Globe for Best Picture Drama. The three were also nominated for Best Screenplay but ultimately lost out to Woody Allen.

Ronald Pressman ’80, a Hamilton College charter trustee, has been named executive vice president and chief operating officer of TIAA-CREF, a leading financial services provider.  Pressman is a 32-year veteran of General Electric, where he most recently served as president and CEO of GE Capital Real Estate and as director of the GE Capital Services and GE Capital Corporation boards. He will begin his new duties on January 30 and will be based in New York City.