The below message was sent to faculty, staff, and students on November 5, 2025,
Dear Bryn Mawr Community,
As is our practice, we write to update you on the most recent Board of Trustees' meeting, which was held October 24-25, 2025.
We welcomed board members to campus with a dinner honoring Sustainability Month and featuring a fireside chat with Director of Sustainability and Environmental Outreach Neha Sood. On Friday, the Board met in plenary sessions to discuss strategic visioning for designing the College’s next chapter, the current financial overview for the institution, and updates around enrollment and financial aid. The Board also toured some vacant and unused spaces on campus in addition to dormitory common space, as preparation for understanding the findings of the Comprehensive Campus Plan at their next meeting. Also on Friday, all board members had an opportunity to meet with students during lunch either through the Student Experience Working Group (more details below) or with the Presidential Student Advisory Council.
On Saturday, we enhanced our breakfast with faculty, staff, and student representatives to the Board by adding a panel focused on student and faculty summer research partnerships, moderated by Dean, Career & Civic Engagement Center, Katie Krimmel. This panel featured Nethmi Dharmasena '27 who worked with Associate Professor of Biology Greg Davis on his research on the pea aphid, Akosua Boatmaa Sarpong '28 and Rose Sunderland-McKay '27 who worked with Associate Professor of Anthropology Melissa Pashigian on her research on dizziness, and Ellie Leonardo '26 who worked with Professor of History of Art on The Catherine Fales Fellowship Alicia Walker on syllabus development for her course Kings, Caliphs, and Emperors: Images of Authority in the Era of the Crusades.
At its Annual Meeting on Saturday, the Board and campus representatives heard reports from standing committees, subcommittees, or working groups (descriptions of each committee's responsibilities are available online), as follows. At this meeting, the Board also announced the election of Saskia Subramanian '88 MA '89 as the next Chair of the Board of Trustees, beginning June 1, 2026.
Audit Committee: As it does every October, the committee received a presentation and report from Grant Thornton, the College’s audit team. During their committee meeting, they approved this audit, a recommendation subsequently confirmed by the full Board. The committee also approved an amendment to the by-laws that will allow for delegation of signature authority to more individuals on campus to sign contracts. This recommendation was also subsequently confirmed by the full Board. At their meeting, the committee also discussed risk mitigation and College policy updates.
Buildings and Grounds Committee: The committee was introduced to new staff members Ernesto Gonzalez (Associate Vice President for Facilities Services), Neha Sood, and Wayne Troop (Assistant Director of Facilities for Grounds). They met with the DLR Group to receive and discuss an update on the Comprehensive Campus Plan, including a space analysis report.
Committee on Trustees: The committee shared plans to complete a review of the by-laws this year. They also presented the slate of officers, which the full board approved:
- Chair of the Board of Trustees - Cynthia Archer '75
- Vice Chair - Amy Loftus '90
- Secretary of the Board of Trustees - Gina Kim '92
- President of the College - Wendy Cadge
- Interim Provost - David Karen
- Vice President for Finance and Administration - Samir Datta
- Secretary of the College - Amanda Chudnow '03
- General Counsel - Brandyn Hicks
External Relations Committee: The committee discussed the role of the Board in the evolving external landscape and the plans to hire a Vice President for External Relations to elevate Bryn Mawr’s profile and broadcast the college’s rich legacy to key and emerging external audiences. This is one piece of a multi-step strategy to elevate the work that faculty and students do together, including Project Digicomm, which was also discussed at this meeting. The committee also discussed the planning for and phases of the next comprehensive fundraising campaign as well as plans for expanding focus on corporate and foundation giving opportunities.
Finance Committee: The committee reviewed the results of the operating budget from the prior fiscal year and the projections for the budget for the current fiscal year. The committee also approved a modification to the retirement plan that will enable new employees to receive the earnings on the College’s contributions during the eight-month vesting period in their account, which was subsequently approved by the full board.
Academic Affairs Working Group: This group of trustees meets with the Advisory Council of the Faculty. They discussed the undergraduate curriculum, opportunities and challenges around graduate education, and a new funding opportunity through the Committee on Academic Priorities. They also discussed the implementation of recommendations from the Rebalancing Faculty Workload Committee.
Student Experience Working Group: This group of trustees met with graduate and undergraduate students, including student representatives to the Board, on the topic of living and residential life at Bryn Mawr. Students shared about campus spaces that support them, how their living community helps or hinders their ability to connect with others and build community, and their experiences with affinity housing.
As ever, we are grateful for all of the ways our community, including students, staff, faculty, Board members, alums, parents, friends, and so many more, works together in ongoing support of Bryn Mawr’s mission.
With thanks,
Wendy and Cynthia
Wendy Cadge
President and Professor of Sociology
Cynthia Archer '75
Chair, Board of Trustees
