Press Releases

Bard College Selects JLL as Real Estate Advisor, Broker
July 16, 2025 — JLL announced today that the company has been retained by Bard College as real estate advisor and broker as the school relocates its Bard College at Simon’s Rock campus in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, to its Massena Campus a short distance from Bard College’s main campus in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York.

April Recital to Feature Simon’s Rock Faculty
March 14, 2025 — Visiting Assistant Professor of Music and pianist Dr. Manon Hutton-DeWys, Applied Music Program Instructor and cellist Julian Müller, and guest violist Bram Fisher will be performing musical works by Beethoven, Schumann, and Brahms during the Faculty Recital on Sunday, April 13th at 3:00 p.m.

Simon’s Rock Faculty in Social Studies and Literature Felix Kaputu to Host 28th Annual W.E.B. Du Bois Event Celebration at Bard College at Simon’s Rock
February 25, 2025 — Bard College at Simon’s Rock presents the 28th annual W.E.B. DuBois Memorial Event entitled "Farewell to the Rock, but Not to the Dream: W.E.B. Du Bois and the Future of Early College Education" led by Simon’s Rock Professor Felix Kaputu on February 25th at 6:30 p.m.

Daniel Arts Center presents exhibition by Ceramics Faculty member Harry Levenstein
October 9, 2024 — The Hillman-Jackson Gallery in The Daniel Arts Center at Bard College at Simon’s Rock is pleased to present flores cinis terra, an exhibition of ceramic artworks by Simon’s Rock Ceramics program resident artist and adjunct ceramics faculty member Harry Levenstein.

Family Weekend 2024 to begin Friday, October 18th
October 4, 2024 — Family Weekend at Simon’s Rock will take place on Friday, October 18 through Sunday, October 20. Family Weekend serves as an opportunity for parents and family members of Simon’s Rock students to meet professors, advisors, and community directors, and get a firsthand look at life on the Simon’s Rock campus.

Dr. Victoria Farris announced as Keynote Speaker for Symposium on Social Justice and Inclusion 2024
October 1, 2024 — Dr. Victoria Farris has been announced as the speaker for the 2024 Symposium on Social Justice and Inclusion.

The Simon’s Rock Writers at the Rock series begins September 19th
September 19, 2024 — The Simon’s Rock Poetry & Fiction series Writers at the Rock begins September 19th with an opening lecture from poet Jameson Fitzpatrick.

Bard College at Simon’s Rock to co-host 2024 Early College Conference
September 5, 2024 — The Massachusetts Alliance for Early College and Bard College at Simon’s Rock will co-host a conference for current and prospective Early College faculty.

Kilpatrick Athletic Center launches SwimAmerica Lessons for Community
September 3, 2024 — The Kilpatrick Athletic Center (KAC) has partnered with SwimAmerica to launch a series of Fall 2024 swimming lessons to the community.

Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy K. Smith announced as 2024 Book One Lecturer
August 16, 2024 — Pulitzer Prize winner and former U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith’s poetry collection Wade in the Water has been announced as the 2024 Book One selection.

Bard Queer Leadership Program (BQLP) Launches ‘Leading Queer’ Podcast Series
June 26, 2024 — The Simon’s Rock Bard Queer Leadership Program’s “Leading Queer” premiered its first three episodes this month.

Simon’s Rock 2024 Alumni Reunion Begins Friday, May 31
May 17, 2024 — The 2024 Bard College at Simon’s Rock Alumni Reunion will begin on Friday, May 31 through Sunday, June 2, 2024 and will feature a plethora of fun-filled activities for alumni and their families.

Recharge Berkshires EV Ride & Drive Event
April 29, 2024 — Bard College at Simon’s Rock to host Immersive EV Event this Summer. On Saturday, June 8, the Recharge Berkshires EV Ride & Drive Event will take place at the Daniel Arts Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Michael Lawrence ’98 to be Simon’s Rock 2024 Commencement Speaker
April 25, 2024 — Simon’s Rock alum Michael Lawrence will address graduates at the 55th Commencement ceremony of Bard College at Simon’s Rock on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at 11:00 a.m.

Spring Jazz Ensemble Concert to Begin Friday, May 10
April 24, 2024 — The annual Bard College at Simon’s Rock Jazz Ensemble Spring Concert begins Friday, May 10 at 8:00 p.m. Conducted by Professor of Music, Electronic Arts, and Cultural Studies John Myers, the concert will include new arrangements of pieces by iconic artists such as Thelonius Monk, Johnny Mandel, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and others, as well as the debut of John Myers’ original composition “Lifeline.”

Chamber Music by Local Composers to be Premiered at Simon’s Rock
March 29, 2024 — A program of chamber music for clarinet, strings, and piano will feature first performances by two Berkshire County composers on Sunday, March 31, at 3:00 p.m. in Kellogg Music Center on the campus of Bard College at Simon’s Rock as part of the South Berkshire Concert Series.

Simon’s Rock Awarded Freedom to Read Grant for Library and Bard Queer Leadership Project
March 25, 2024 — Bard College at Simon’s Rock was awarded a Freedom to Read Grant by the Newburger Schwartz Family Foundation. The grant was awarded to support the Alumni Library and Bard Queer Leadership Project in building a more robust collection of queer scholarship, starting a Queer Book Club, and hosting Drag Story Time events in partnership with Drag Story Hour of the Berkshires.

Simon’s Rock Celebrates Pride with Annual Pride Week Lecture on March 29
March 18, 2024 — Simon’s Rock will host their annual Pride Week Lecture with guest speaker Dr. Kyle Velte (she/her) on Friday, March 29 at 3:30 p.m.

Writers at the Rock: Poetry & Fiction Series at Simon’s Rock Begins March 7
March 5, 2024 — The Poetry & Fiction Series at Bard College at Simon’s Rock returns to campus this spring and is open to the public, beginning on March 7.

Material Record by Jamie Goldenberg Gallery Opening on March 8, 2024
February 29, 2024 — Material Record, Jamie Goldenberg’s exhibition at the Daniel Arts Center at Bard College at Simon’s Rock, opens on March 8 at 5:00 pm with a collaborative weaving project and opening reception.

Ursula Rucker to Host 27th Annual W.E.B. Du Bois Event Celebration at Bard College at Simon’s Rock
February 10, 2024 — Bard College at Simon’s Rock presents the 27th annual W.E.B. DuBois Memorial Event entitled “A Celebration of Soul with Ursula Rucker” on February 19 at 7:00 p.m. Historically presented as a lecture, this year the event will be a celebration.

The Bard Queer Leadership Project to Host Queer Leaders Vision Forum with Dr. Joel Davis Brown
February 6, 2024 — The Bard Queer Leadership Project (BQLP), which welcomed its first cohort of students during the fall 2023 semester at Simon’s Rock, will host its third Queer Leaders Vision Forum with Dr. Joel Davis Brown (he/him) on February 29 at 7:00 pm.

Simon’s Rock Jazz Ensemble Winter Concert on December 15
DECEMBER 11, 2023 — Simon’s Rock will present its Jazz Ensemble Winter Concert on Friday, December 15, at 8 p.m. in the McConnell Theater at the Daniel Arts Center on campus.

Simon’s Rock to Host Annual Craft Fair
NOVEMBER 21, 2023 — The Employee Enrichment Activities Committee (EEAC) at Simon’s Rock will host their Annual Simon’s Rock Arts and Craft Fair on December 1 in the Daniel Arts Center on campus from 2 – 6 p.m.

“Slow Dancing” Exhibit by Artist and Theater Faculty John Musall Opens at the Hillman Jackson Gallery
NOVEMBER 20, 2023 — In his exhibit titled “Slow Dancing,” John Musall, long-time faculty in design for theater, will exhibit paintings of dancers at Bard College at Simon’s Rock, opening November 30.

The Bard Queer Leadership Project to Host Next Queer Leaders Vision Forum with Advocate Paula Neira on December 7
NOVEMBER 13, 2023 — The Bard Queer Leadership Project (BQLP) will host its next Queer Leaders Vision Forum with Paula M. Neira, JD, MSN, RN, CEN, FAAN (she/her), a nurse, lawyer, and renowned trans rights and healthcare advocate.

Simon’s Rock Presents Annual Dance Concert December 8 – 9
NOVEMBER 17, 2023 — Bard College at Simon’s Rock’s Dance Program will present their annual fall Dance Concert this year on Friday, December 8 and Saturday, December 9. Both performances start at 7 p.m.

Simon’s Rock Theater Program Presents The Moors by Jen Silverman
NOVEMBER 3, 2023 — The Bard College at Simon’s Rock Theater program presents The Moors, an anachronistic dark comedy by contemporary playwright, novelist, poet, and screenwriter Jen Silverman.

Simon’s Rock to Host “Kim’s Video” Documentary Screening
OCTOBER 20, 2023 — This Sunday, October 22, 2023, Simon’s Rock will host a screening of the documentary “Kim’s Video” at 6:30 p.m. at the McConnell Theater in the Daniel Arts Center on campus. This event is free, open to the public, and does not require prior reservation.

Second Annual Founder’s Day Lecture with Speaker Friba Rezayee Will Be Held on November 16 at Simon’s Rock
OCTOBER 19, 2023 — The lecture will occur in the McConnell Theater in the Daniel Arts Center on campus. The event is free and open to the public.

Simon’s Rock to Host the Tenth Annual Think Food Conference in November
OCTOBER 17, 2023 — This year’s conference theme, hosted by the Center for Food and Resilience, will feature panels and workshops on the theme “Making Local Farming Work.”

Simon’s Rock to Host Louisville Brass Concert on October 16
OCTOBER 11, 2023 — Simon’s Rock will host Louisville Brass in concert on October 16, 2023. The Louisville Brass is a quintet of trumpets, French horn, trombone, and tuba visiting the Northeast on tour.

Simon’s Rock to Host Symposium Week on Social Justice and Inclusion October 23 – 28, 2023 with Keynote Speaker Shanae Watkins
OCTOBER 10, 2023 — This year’s keynote guest will be activist and author Shanae Watkins, speaking on Saturday, October 28 at 3 p.m. in the McConnell Theater at the Daniel Arts Center on campus. The event can also be streamed virtually on Zoom.

U.S. News & World Report Announces Simon’s Rock #1 for Best Undergraduate Teaching (tied) and #2 in Most Innovative Schools (tied)
OCTOBER 3, 2023 — The U.S. News & World Report 2023 Best Colleges rankings have awarded Bard College at Simon’s Rock top-tier rankings in a number of categories.

Sarah Porter-Liddell Named Dean of Students and Equitable Community at Simon’s Rock, Wins First-Ever DEI Impact Awards from Smart Energy, and Publishes New Book
SEPTEMBER 14, 2023 — Simon’s Rock is excited to share Dr. Sarah Porter-Liddell has been named the new Dean of Students and Equitable Community. Formerly the Dean of Equity and Inclusion at Simon’s Rock, Sarah Porter-Liddell has also been awarded the Catalyst for Change award from the first-ever DEI Impact Awards from Smart Energy. This news comes in conjunction with the publication of Porter-Liddell’s first book, A Black Girl with the Blues, from Dorrance Publishing Co.

Cycle of Mozart Sonatas Performances Continues with Part 4 on September 10
SEPTEMBER 4, 2023 — The Simon’s Rock Faculty Recital Series will present “The Complete Mozart Violin Sonatas, part 4,” with Ronald Gorevic and Larry Wallach joined by guest artists Eric Martin and Anne Legêne.

Exhibit by Artist Zohar Lazar Opens at the Hillman Jackson Gallery on September 4
SEPTEMBER 1, 2023 — Simon’s Rock would like to invite the public to a new artistic experience by Zohar Lazar being held at the Hillman Jackson Gallery at the Daniel Arts Center on campus. Lazar’s showcase of drawings and paintings, entitled “Oh! Sweet Nuthin’” will open with an in-person reception on September 4, 2023, at 5 pm.

The Bard Queer Leadership Project to Host First Queer Leaders Vision Forum with Jim Fielding and Schuyler Bailar
AUGUST 28, 2023 — The Bard Queer Leadership Project (BQLP), which welcomed its first cohort of students this semester at Simon’s Rock, will host its inaugural Queer Leaders Vision Forum with Jim Fielding, author of All Pride No Ego, and Schuyler Bailar, inspirational speaker and first openly transgender NCAA Division swimmer.

Simon’s Rock Announces New Faculty and Staff for Fall 2023
AUGUST 25, 2023 — Ushering in the new school year, Simon’s Rock is pleased to announce a number of new faculty and staff joining the community. With the launch of the Bard Queer Leadership Project and the expansion of the Center for Equity and Inclusion, each of these new members of our community speaks to the exciting and progressive changes at Simon’s Rock.

2023 Book One Lecture with Mira Jacob, author of ‘Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations’
AUGUST 22, 2023 — Simon’s Rock is pleased to welcome acclaimed novelist, memoirist, illustrator and cultural critic Mira Jacob for a talk reflecting on her award-winning graphic memoir and this year’s Book One selection, Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations, at the end of the month.

Simon’s Rock Launches New Center for Food and Resilience Over Alumni Reunion Weekend
JUNE 3, 2023 — With the first in-person Alumni Reunion Weekend since 2019, Simon’s Rock hosted a number of exciting events including the official launch and ribbon cutting of the Center for Food and Resilience.

Simon’s Rock Hosts Annual Rock the Community Week of Service
APRIL 18, 2023 — Simon’s Rock will host its annual Rock the Community event this April. Rock the Community is a week of service executed by Simon’s Rock first-year students that highlights giving back to the school and the community as a whole.

Simon’s Rock to Host Discovery Day for Prospective Students April 22, 2023
APRIL 18, 2023 — Simon’s Rock will host Discovery Day on Saturday, April 22. Discovery Day is designed to give prospective students and families a chance to tour the campus, meet faculty and students, and get to know the Simon’s Rock community.

Cycle of Mozart Sonata Performances at Simon’s Rock Continues with Part 3, April 23
APRIL 14, 2023 — The violin and piano team of Ronald Gorevic and Larry Wallach will offer the third installment of their traversal of the complete Mozart violin sonatas on Sunday, April 23, at 3 p.m. in Kellogg Music Center on the campus of Bard College at Simon’s Rock.

Dr. Eric Huang ’88 to be Simon’s Rock 2023 Commencement Speaker
APRIL 6, 2023 — Simon’s Rock alum Dr. Eric Huang ’88, General Manager and Chief Scientific Officer of Moderna Genomics, will address the graduates at the 54th Commencement ceremony of Bard College at Simon’s Rock on Saturday, May 20, at 11 a.m.

Announcing the Bard Queer Leadership Project at Simon’s Rock
APRIL 6, 2023 — Bard College at Simon’s Rock announces the Bard Queer Leadership Project (BQLP), a B.A. degree program designed for and by LGBTQIA+ college students, aiming to elevate LGBTQIA+ college graduates into leadership roles in fields across the workforce.

Simon’s Rock Celebrates Pride This March with Pride Week Lecture and Dance Performance
MARCH 21, 2023 — Simon’s Rock will host their annual Pride Week in the last week of March, featuring two events open to the public. Simon’s Rock observes Pride Week every year in March to honor International Transgender Day of Visibility and to allow students time to celebrate during the academic year.

Simon’s Rock Hosting “Ephemera” by Fern Katz Projects Performance
FEBRUARY 23, 2023 — Friday, February 24 at 6:30 p.m., Simon’s Rock will host the dance performance “Ephemera” by Fern Katz Projects. “Ephemera” is an evening of contemporary dance and sound.

Concert Commemorating Black History Month Features Members of the Harlem Chamber Players at Simon’s Rock, Sunday February 26
FEBRUARY 15, 2023 — On Sunday February 26 at 3 pm, the South Berkshire Concerts at Simon’s Rock, in partnership with Berkshire Multi-Cultural Bridge, will offer a free performance of music by Black composers from the 18th through 21st centuries, performed by members of the Harlem Chamber Ensemble, the resident performers at the Schomberg Center for Black Culture in New York City.

Mount Everett Teacher Kevin Wolgemuth is First Recipient of the Initial Early College Pedagogy Teaching Certification with Simon’s Rock and the Early College Research Institute
FEBRUARY 14, 2023 — This certification is part of the ongoing partnership between Simon’s Rock and the Southern Berkshire Regional School District to offer early college opportunities to public high school students in South County.

Simon’s Rock is a Top Producer of Fulbright U.S. Scholars
FEBRUARY 14, 2023 — The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs named Bard College at Simon’s Rock a Fulbright Top Producing Institution for U.S. Scholars.

Writer and Artist Delano Burrowes to Deliver 26th Annual W.E.B. Du Bois Lecture at Bard College at Simon’s Rock
FEBRUARY 9, 2023 — Brooklyn-based writer and artist Delano Burrowes will deliver the 26th W.E.B. DuBois Memorial Lecture entitled “The Languages Black Folks Speak: Letting Go of the Myth about Finding our True Voice” this month.

Kilpatrick Athletic Center at Simon’s Rock to Launch Fall Swim Offerings Beginning September 12
SEPTEMBER 12, 2022 — The Kilpatrick Athletic Center at Simon’s Rock announces their fall swim lesson offerings for youth and adults beginning September 12, 2022. Programs for youth ages six months to 13 years old and adults are available.

Bard College at Simon’s Rock Accepting Submissions for Next Issue of Digital, Open-Access Academic Journal, Early College Folio Volume 2, Issue 2
JANUARY 1, 2023 — With this issue entitled “Unconventional Paths to College Education,” Early College Folio aims to exemplify the idea that early college allows diverse student populations to find diverse education solutions and that these solutions may present themselves as inherently unconventional.

Cycle of Mozart Sonata Performances at Simon’s Rock to Start on September 4
SEPTEMBER 4, 2022 — After completing two previous cycles of violin and viola sonatas, by Brahms and Beethoven, violinist Ronald Gorevic and pianist Larry Wallach are tackling the more extensive list of works in that genre by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

2022 Book One Lecture with Molly McCully Brown
AUGUST 9, 2022 — Bard College at Simon’s Rock is pleased to welcome acclaimed author and Simon’s Rock alumna Molly McCully Brown for a public talk reflecting on her award-winning collection of poetry and this year’s Book One selection, The Virginia State Colony for Epileptics and Feebleminded.

Simon’s Rock Student Awarded Massachusetts Space Grant Fellowship
JUNE 6, 2022 — Senior Tyler Farnsworth was awarded a Massachusetts Space Grant Fellowship to conduct research with Assistant Professor in Biology Amy Smith this summer at Simon’s Rock.

Simon’s Rock Professor Peter Filkins Awarded Fulbright and Guggenheim Fellowships
APRIL 28, 2022 — Peter Filkins, Richard B. Fisher Professor of Literature at Bard College at Simon’s Rock, has been awarded a 2022–2023 Guggenheim Fellowship in Biography and a Spring 2023 Fulbright IFK Senior Fellowship in Cultural Studies in support of his writing a biography of Ingeborg Bachmann (1926–1973), one of the most important Austrian writers and poets of the 20th century.

Simon’s Rock Leads in Global Climate Education Initiative
APRIL 14, 2022 — As our planet continues to heat up, Bard College at Simon’s Rock is joining more than 300 universities, high schools, and other organizations around the world to focus on a critical question. What can we do this year to help solve climate change while creating jobs and promoting access to clean energy for everyone?

Ben Dobson to be Simon’s Rock 2022 Commencement Speaker
APRIL 14, 2022 — Ben Dobson ‘00, founder and president of Hudson Carbon and Simon’s Rock alum, will address the graduates at the 53rd Commencement ceremony of Bard College at Simon’s Rock on Saturday, May 21, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. The ceremony will be held in person and will be live-streamed for those unable to attend in person.

Simon’s Rock Awarded Early College Full School Impact Planning Grant of $150,000 to Partner with Southern Berkshire Regional School District
APRIL 12, 2022 — Simon’s Rock recently announced that the institution was awarded an Early College Full School Impact Planning Grant of $150,000 from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Simon’s Rock Alum Chazlee Myers ’12 Awarded Fulbright to Teach English in Italy
APRIL 11, 2022 — Simon’s Rock alum Chazlee Myers ‘12 was awarded an English Teaching Assistant (ETA) grant by the US-Italy Fulbright Commission to provide assistance to local English teachers in Italy and act as a cultural ambassador for the U.S from October 2022 to June 2023. Myers is one of only ten ETA grant awardees for Italy.

Simon’s Rock to Host Ukrainian Poetry Reading with John Hennessy and Jim Kates
APRIL 8, 2022 — John Hennessy and Jim Kates will read translations of Ukrainian poetry in solidarity with the current plight of the Ukrainian people. The reading will take place on Wednesday, April 13 at 6:00 p.m. at the Kellogg Music Center at Bard College at Simon’s Rock. The event is free and open to the public.

Simon’s Rock to launch Curiosity Camp for Students Completing 9th, 10th, and 11th Grades
APRIL 5, 2022 — Curiosity Camp at Simon’s Rock is a two-week exploration of college living and learning designed for students currently completing grades 9, 10 and 11. The camp will be held on Simon’s Rock’s campus from July 10–23, 2022.

Simon’s Rock Theater Program to Premiere Four One-Act Musicals with Guest Artist & Pulitzer-Prize Winning Playwright Marsha Norman
APRIL 5, 2022 — The Theater program at Bard College at Simon’s Rock premieres four one-act student-written musicals April 7-9 in the McConnell Theater at the Daniel Arts Center. Simon’s Rock students have had the privilege of working with Pulitzer Prize and Tony award-winning playwright and screenwriter Marsha Norman over the past eight months in the development process of their musicals.

Violinist Francesca Anderegg Returns to the Berkshires for a Recital on the South Berkshire Concert Series at Simon’s Rock
MARCH 24, 2022 — On Saturday, April 23 at 7:30 pm, Francesca Anderegg will return to the Berkshires and Simon’s Rock for a recital of music for violin and piano by women composers in the McConnell Auditorium of the Daniel Arts Center. The concert is free and open to the public. Reservations are recommended and vaccination certificates and masks are required. Anderegg, who grew up in the Berkshires and has performed here frequently, will be accompanied by pianist Matthew McCright. Their program will include works by Clara Schumann, Gra`zyna Bacewicz, Hannah Lash, Jessie Montgomery, and also will include the Violin Sonata of Amy Beach.

Simon’s Rock is Welcomed by the Montserrat Ministry of Education for Semester Abroad Program
MARCH 7, 2022 — The Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs, and Sports [welcomed students and faculty from Bard College at Simon’s Rock as part of the first cohort of 16 students and three core faculty, along with numerous visiting faculty, to spend a full semester studying on the island.

Award-winning Author and Coach Dr. Pamela Larde to Deliver 25th Annual W.E.B. Du Bois Lecture
FEBRUARY 28, 2022 — Dr. Pamela Larde, a professor, coach, award-winning author, business owner, and Director of Education at Harvard/McLean’s Institute for Coaching, will deliver the 25th W.E.B. Du Bois Memorial Lecture on March 7.

South Berkshire Concerts at Simon’s Rock Resumes with the Rolston String Quartet
FEBRUARY 16, 2022 — After a hiatus of 27 months, the series of visiting musicians at Bard College at Simon’s Rock will resume on Sunday, February 27 in the McConnell Auditorium of the Daniel Arts Center. The concert will feature the Rolston String Quartet, a young ensemble from Canada that has been winning awards both at home and internationally. They will be performing a program of works by Haydn, Mendelssohn, and the contemporary Peruvian-American composer Gabriela Lena Frank.