While faculty and administrators spent the better part of two years conceiving, researching, designing, debating, revising, and finally launching Principia College’s unique and innovative new Academic centers, anyone with experience building something will tell you that success lies largely in execution. And with students stepping into classrooms just over a month ago, it was time for the rubber to meet the road.
With classes underway, many current students have adjusted their majors to the new programs available to them. But the question remained whether prospective students and those outside the immediate Principia community really understood how fresh and groundbreaking this reimagining really is. With that in mind, the Center directors agreed to hold informational open houses to provide a more concrete introduction to the principles—and the work—involved in each program. Or, as the Center for Sustainability, Ecology and Chemistry faculty rebranded it, a launch party.
The event series kicked off in September, when the Center for Business and Computer Science held a workshop on next-generation AI, with College alumnus David Gutelius (C’93). Since graduating from Principia College, Gutelius has e founded over half a dozen companies and become an influential entrepreneur in the AI space.
“David spoke about his experience and stressed why a liberal arts education is key for the world we’re coming into,” says Dr. Lucia de Paz (US’96, C’00), Director of the Center for Business and Computer Science. “He was a history major at Principia, and now he’s coding and works in Tech. One of his six startups has to do with quantum AI, solving problems of quantum physics—so it just gives you a sense of the breadth and depth that a liberal arts education can give you.”
The event filled Holt House, with over 60 students and many faculty. “I was grateful that somebody with David’s knowledge and professional career could come speak to the students,” de Paz continues.
Two weeks later, the Center for Sustainability, Ecology, and Chemistry held their “launch party”. Center director Dr. Greg Bruland (C’97) says, "I went to the faculty in the Center and asked for ideas. Each department came up with fun hands-on activities that would engage prospective students and the broader community, as well as current students, faculty, and staff.”
The event brought a festival-like energy to campus, with the Chemistry department offering up dry-ice ice cream, Sustainability students and faculty upcycling old Principia College t-shirts into tote bags and offering a trivia station with prizes, and Biology professor Dr. Chrissy McAllister (C’93) providing campus ecosystem tours. Even the solar car RA XI made an appearance.
I would have been happy with 20–30 attendees,” reflects Bruland. “But we ended up doubling that! People could hear the buzz and the energy around campus, and we got to introduce the Center to the wider community. I feel really pleased.