PRESIDENT:
Catharine Bond Hill, colloquially known as “Cappy” by her constituents, became our president in 2006. She earned a B.A. from Williams College, an M.A. in politics, philosophy and economics from Brasenose College, Oxford, and a Ph.D. in economics from Yale University.
She spent five years working for the World Bank*, focusing on African economies. She would later return to the area (’94-’97), living and working in Zambia as fiscal/trade advisor and then as “chief of party” for the Harvard Institute for International Development’s (HIID)** Project on Macroeconomic Reform working in the Ministry of Finance and with the Bank of Zambia—an experience she describes as “one of the most transformative experiences of her life.”
She returned to teach economics at Williams, where she would become Provost and take on responsibilities including the annual college budget, long-range financial planning, their Libraries and Museum of Art, and the offices of Admissions, Financial Aid and Information Technology.
She most notably restored a need-blind admissions policy in 2007. She also replaced loans with grants in financial aid for low-income families.
Her husband, Kent J. Kildahl, is the head of the Upper School of Riverdale County School. Together, they have three children.
She is a trustee of Cooper Union,*** Ithaka Harbors, Inc.**** and was recently elected to serve as an alumni fellow to the Yale Corporation. Hill previously served on the Board of the College Board, the NCAA Division III Presidents Council, and on the Board of the Yale-NUS College, Singapore’s first liberal arts college.
Cappy loves golf and walking her dog!
*The World Bank’s involvement (with the International Monetary Foundation) in African economics has been extremely damaging. Together they offered much-needed loans on the condition that they would implement Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) which would promote free movement of capital (opening of national markets to international competition and lowering tax barriers to trade), privatization of public services and companies, de-regulations of labour relations and cutting social safety nets, and improving competitiveness. This is all a part of the rise of neoliberalism toward the late 70s. To read up on it, check out this and this.
**HIID was a think-tank “to helping nations join the global economy,” which ultimately has the same goals as those mentioned above: lowering and eliminating trade barriers and social services while increasing competitiveness.
***Where Jamshed J. Bharucha, one of our trustees, serves as the President.
****The parent company of JSTOR.
Catharine Bond Hill, colloquially known as “Cappy” by her constituents, became our president in 2006. She earned a B.A. from Williams College, an M.A. in politics, philosophy and economics from Brasenose College, Oxford, and a Ph.D. in economics from Yale University.
She spent five years working for the World Bank*, focusing on African economies. She would later return to the area (’94-’97), living and working in Zambia as fiscal/trade advisor and then as “chief of party” for the Harvard Institute for International Development’s (HIID)** Project on Macroeconomic Reform working in the Ministry of Finance and with the Bank of Zambia—an experience she describes as “one of the most transformative experiences of her life.”
She returned to teach economics at Williams, where she would become Provost and take on responsibilities including the annual college budget, long-range financial planning, their Libraries and Museum of Art, and the offices of Admissions, Financial Aid and Information Technology.
She most notably restored a need-blind admissions policy in 2007. She also replaced loans with grants in financial aid for low-income families.
Her husband, Kent J. Kildahl, is the head of the Upper School of Riverdale County School. Together, they have three children.
She is a trustee of Cooper Union,*** Ithaka Harbors, Inc.**** and was recently elected to serve as an alumni fellow to the Yale Corporation. Hill previously served on the Board of the College Board, the NCAA Division III Presidents Council, and on the Board of the Yale-NUS College, Singapore’s first liberal arts college.
Cappy loves golf and walking her dog!
*The World Bank’s involvement (with the International Monetary Foundation) in African economics has been extremely damaging. Together they offered much-needed loans on the condition that they would implement Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) which would promote free movement of capital (opening of national markets to international competition and lowering tax barriers to trade), privatization of public services and companies, de-regulations of labour relations and cutting social safety nets, and improving competitiveness. This is all a part of the rise of neoliberalism toward the late 70s. To read up on it, check out this and this.
**HIID was a think-tank “to helping nations join the global economy,” which ultimately has the same goals as those mentioned above: lowering and eliminating trade barriers and social services while increasing competitiveness.
***Where Jamshed J. Bharucha, one of our trustees, serves as the President.
****The parent company of JSTOR.
DEAN OF THE COLLEGE:
Christopher Roellke grew up in New Jersey and Cape Cod. He earned a B.A. in American Government from Wesleyan University. He taught secondary school history and social studies before returning to school to earn an M.S. and Ph.D. in Educational Administration from Cornell University.
His research interests are in the politics and economics of education, teacher education and secondary school reform.
He arrived at Vassar in 1998, teaching in the Education department. During his time at here he has been Chair of the Education department, Dean of Studies, Raymond House Fellow, and now Dean of the College.
He is also the Founding Director of the Vassar College Urban Education Initiative (VCUEI)*, an urban education outreach and professional development project funded by the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations.
His wife is a veterinarian. They have three dogs and a horse (that is stabled off-campus).
He plays baseball with the senior men’s league, Dutchess County Pirates,.
*VCUEI has 3 main programs: Exploring College, Vassar English Language Learners Outreach Program (VELLOP), and Vassar After School Tutoring (VAST). Critique of these programs to follow!
Christopher Roellke grew up in New Jersey and Cape Cod. He earned a B.A. in American Government from Wesleyan University. He taught secondary school history and social studies before returning to school to earn an M.S. and Ph.D. in Educational Administration from Cornell University.
His research interests are in the politics and economics of education, teacher education and secondary school reform.
He arrived at Vassar in 1998, teaching in the Education department. During his time at here he has been Chair of the Education department, Dean of Studies, Raymond House Fellow, and now Dean of the College.
He is also the Founding Director of the Vassar College Urban Education Initiative (VCUEI)*, an urban education outreach and professional development project funded by the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations.
His wife is a veterinarian. They have three dogs and a horse (that is stabled off-campus).
He plays baseball with the senior men’s league, Dutchess County Pirates,.
*VCUEI has 3 main programs: Exploring College, Vassar English Language Learners Outreach Program (VELLOP), and Vassar After School Tutoring (VAST). Critique of these programs to follow!
DEAN OF FACULTY:
Jonathan Chenette has a B.A. in Mathematics, an M.A. in Music Composition (Butler University ‘76), and a Ph.D. in Music Composition (University of Chicago ‘78). He previously taught at Grinnell College in 1983, and later became an Associate Dean in 2004. He has been dean of the faculty and professor of music at Vassar since 2008. Jonathan came under fire early on in his position for notifying “two English [Creative Writing] professors that their 3-year contracts would not be renewed and their jobs are being cut.” After student, faculty, and alumni pressure, the contracts were extended.
His music often focuses “on relationships between people and the land,” and has worked on a large-scale concert band composition evoking soundscapes of the Hudson Valley. He also speaks at conferences on “place-based education, curricular innovation, and enhancement of teaching and learning with media technologies.”
He is married to musician/music educator at SUNY-Dutchess Community College, Kern Chenette. They have three children and two granddaughters together.
Jonathan Chenette has a B.A. in Mathematics, an M.A. in Music Composition (Butler University ‘76), and a Ph.D. in Music Composition (University of Chicago ‘78). He previously taught at Grinnell College in 1983, and later became an Associate Dean in 2004. He has been dean of the faculty and professor of music at Vassar since 2008. Jonathan came under fire early on in his position for notifying “two English [Creative Writing] professors that their 3-year contracts would not be renewed and their jobs are being cut.” After student, faculty, and alumni pressure, the contracts were extended.
His music often focuses “on relationships between people and the land,” and has worked on a large-scale concert band composition evoking soundscapes of the Hudson Valley. He also speaks at conferences on “place-based education, curricular innovation, and enhancement of teaching and learning with media technologies.”
He is married to musician/music educator at SUNY-Dutchess Community College, Kern Chenette. They have three children and two granddaughters together.
VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION:
Robert A. Walton, also known as Bob, earned a Bachelor’s of Science and a Master’s in Library and Information Science from University of Texas at Austin. His work focuses on libraries and information technology, founding his own company,Walton Bridge Consulting, in 1986. He has also taught at universities and professional workshops on library planning, technology management, contract negotiations, and budgeting.
Before coming to Vassar, he was the CEO of the Claremont University Consortium, where he oversaw institutional services (coordinating and providing support for all business services, human resources, payroll, IT services, audit, facilities management, emergency management and disaster planning, campus safety, risk management, and student services) for seven adjoining Claremont institutions.
He has served as a director on several non-profit and corporate boards and been closely involved in Chinese higher educational initiatives.
During his short time at Vassar, he has been heavily involved in the construction of the new Juliet bookstore and the $125 million science center building.
Robert A. Walton, also known as Bob, earned a Bachelor’s of Science and a Master’s in Library and Information Science from University of Texas at Austin. His work focuses on libraries and information technology, founding his own company,Walton Bridge Consulting, in 1986. He has also taught at universities and professional workshops on library planning, technology management, contract negotiations, and budgeting.
Before coming to Vassar, he was the CEO of the Claremont University Consortium, where he oversaw institutional services (coordinating and providing support for all business services, human resources, payroll, IT services, audit, facilities management, emergency management and disaster planning, campus safety, risk management, and student services) for seven adjoining Claremont institutions.
He has served as a director on several non-profit and corporate boards and been closely involved in Chinese higher educational initiatives.
During his short time at Vassar, he has been heavily involved in the construction of the new Juliet bookstore and the $125 million science center building.
DEAN OF STRATEGIC PLANNING & ACADEMIC RESOURCES:
Marianna H. Begemann earned a B.A. in Chemistry from Vassar College and a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from U.C.-Berkeley (’84). She returned to teach at Vassar in ’85. She has acted as Chairwoman of the Chemistry department (’95-’99) and Associate Dean of the Faculty (’07-’11) before becoming Dean of Strategic Planning and Academic Resources.
She got a 4.3 out of 5 on ratemyprofessors.com!
Marianna H. Begemann earned a B.A. in Chemistry from Vassar College and a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from U.C.-Berkeley (’84). She returned to teach at Vassar in ’85. She has acted as Chairwoman of the Chemistry department (’95-’99) and Associate Dean of the Faculty (’07-’11) before becoming Dean of Strategic Planning and Academic Resources.
She got a 4.3 out of 5 on ratemyprofessors.com!