Dear Fellow Alumni,
I’m sure this year’s senior class would agree—time moves quickly.
That feels especially true as I write this final letter to you. The past two years have passed in a blink, a reminder that while we often overestimate what we can accomplish in a single year, we almost always underestimate what is possible over ten. Institutions are built that way: slowly, collectively, purposely, and over time.
Serving as CMCAA President has never felt like a role to “fix” something. Instead, it has been an opportunity to steward something already great. To be a custodian, if only briefly, within a school and a community that has shaped how we think, how we listen, how we lead, and how we engage with the world.
We are living through moments of both transition and celebration. Soon, CMC will welcome President-elect William Dudley as its sixth president, opening a new chapter in the College’s history following President Chodosh’s extraordinary tenure. I had the great honor of serving on the Presidential Search Committee, which deepened my appreciation for this institution beyond what I thought possible. I look forward to the future with President-elect Dudley. Change is constant and inevitable, and CMC has always met it—not with trepidation—but with confidence and curiosity.
As was the case a half-century ago, when CMC welcomed female students. This fall, the 50 Years of Co-Education Celebration invites us to reflect honestly on how far the College and society have come and how responsibility grows alongside progress. Don’t miss the reflections on the early days of co-education on the following pages.
You also don’t want to miss some fantastic opportunities coming up: Alumni Weekend, June 4-7; Worldmeet in Athens, Greece, June 17-21; and an Alaska Escape sea-faring journey through Haines, the Inian Islands, and Tracy Arm Fjord, August 18-23.
Over the past two years, I’ve often asked myself did I leave a mark? The honest answer is probably no, and I’ve come to believe that was the point. Leadership is not always about imprinting yourself on an institution, but often about participating in its trajectory. About inspiring others to ask, why am I not more involved? About making engagement feel both meaningful and approachable.
Was it difficult to balance this role with everything else life brings? Of course. Did I answer every call or make every event? I tried. Was it worth it? Without a doubt. I hope you continue to find ways, whether large or small, official or unofficial, in person or virtual, to make CMC part of your lives.
As this school year comes to a close, this moment feels like yet another graduation for me. It feels like an ending, but I know I will never really leave. I am forever grateful to this remarkable institution and deeply thankful to this community. Thank you for showing up, saying yes, opening doors, mentoring students, challenging ideas, and sustaining what makes CMC … CMC.
It has been an honor to serve.
Antoine Grant ’07
President
CMC Alumni Association