Wellesley at 150

Activities and events are free and open to the community.

Lunch will be available for alumnae and guests at a cost of $25 per person. Please register for lunch by October 12. You can pick up your lunch ticket on Saturday during the check-in process.

Please send any questions to us at 150th@wellesley.edu.

Friday, October 24

Alumnae Achievement Award Ceremony and Reception

4:30 p.m., Diana Chapman Walsh Alumnae Hall

Join us in celebrating the 2025 recipients of Wellesley’s Alumnae Achievement Award: Karen Grigsby Bates ’73, journalist and author; Jocelyn Benson ’99, Michigan’s secretary of state and a voting rights advocate; and Sue Wagner ’82, co-founder of Blackrock Asset Management. This award, the highest honor the College bestows, recognizes alumnae who have brought honor to themselves and to Wellesley College through their outstanding achievements. We invite you to attend the ceremony to hear remarks from President Paula Johnson and the recipients, then to the reception to mingle with the recipients, alums, students, and parents.

Saturday, October 25

Pick up lunch tickets

9:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., Diana Chapman Walsh Alumnae Hall Ballroom

Wellesley at 150: Opening Ceremony

10:30 to 11:15 a.m., Diana Chapman Walsh Alumnae Hall

President Paula A. Johnson reflects on Wellesley’s past and shares her vision for the College’s future.

Wellesley at 150: Women Leading Change

11:15 a.m. to 12 p.m., Diana Chapman Walsh Alumnae Hall

This year’s Alumnae Achievement Award recipients, Sue Wagner ’82, Karen Grigsby Bates ’73, and Jocelyn Benson ’99, address how they define leadership, share their vision, and identify opportunities for positive impact in these complex times.

Lunch in the 150th tent

11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Severance Green (preregistration required)

Open seating for alumnae and guests.

Wellesley at 150: Facing the Climate Crisis

1 to 1:45 p.m., Diana Chapman Walsh Alumnae Hall

Join three professors from Wellesley’s Department of Environmental Studies—Rachel Stanley, Rebecca Belisle, and Alden Griffith—for a discussion on climate change. Courtney C. Coile, provost and Lia Gelin Poorvu ’56 Dean of the College and Stanford Calderwood Professor of Economics, will offer opening remarks that highlight 150 years of faculty and curricular innovation at Wellesley, as well as how the College is preparing the next generation to lead through the pressing issues of our time.

Wellesley at 150: From Sea to Shining Sea: Katharine Lee Bates and the Story of “America the Beautiful”

2 to 3:30 p.m., Diana Chapman Walsh Alumnae Hall

View the documentary From Sea to Shining Sea, followed by a discussion with filmmaker John de Graaf and Katharine Lee Bates biographer Melinda Ponder ’66, moderated by Kathryn Lynch, Katharine Lee Bates and Sophie Chantal Hart Professor of English.

Now & Ever: Trivia, Treats, and Traditions

3:30 to 5 p.m., Severance Green

Join us for an afternoon of fun and community as we celebrate Wellesley at 150. Highlights include:

• Trivia contest hosted by former Jeopardy! contestant Ann Velenchik, associate professor of economics and writing, and Shreeya Lakkapragada ’26
• Classic Wellesley desserts
• A celebratory toast to Wellesley by President Johnson
• Performances by student musical groups
• Family-friendly arts and crafts

Written by Wellesley: Composers and Lyricists Throughout the Ages

5 to 6:30 p.m., Houghton Chapel

This concert, sponsored by the Wellesley 150th Community Fund, highlights the diverse musical contributions of Wellesley alumnae and honors their rich legacy. The program features works spanning generations—from Katharine Lee Bates, class of 1880, and Katherine Kennicott Davis, class of 1914, to today’s students.

The lake path will be open on Saturday and Sunday.