News

President Biden recognized an expansive cast of public figures, celebrities and cultural luminaries on Saturday with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Hillary Clinton ’69 was one of the 18 honorees, along with famous figures in sports, entertainment, fashion, film, science, social justice, and activism.

On Saturday, President Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, to 18 people, including some of the Democratic Party’s best-known leaders, such as Hillary Clinton ’69.

Rapper Lupe Fiasco is stepping into academia! This spring he is teaching a course at MIT titled “Rap Theory & Practice.” The class is also open to students at Wellesley, Harvard, and Mass Art.

Psychology and health sciences professor Paul Wink writes for Cognoscenti about the triumphant and tragic life of Maria Callas. He is the author of “Prima Donna: The Psychology of Maria Callas.”

“Maria,” a new Netflix movie starring Angelina Jolie as opera superstar Maria Callas, is generating large viewership as well as awards buzz. As a psychologist, lifelong opera fan, and biographer of Callas, Wellesley professor Paul Wink says Maria is visually spectacular and raises important issues related to gender and aging.

Study co-lead Lamiya Mowla ’13 emphasized the discovery’s importance: “These remarkable images give us an unprecedented picture of what our own galaxy might have looked like when it was being born."

Artist Lorraine O’Grady ’55 spent a week in residence at Wellesley this year, working closely with students. “As much as she has taught us, Lorraine told me that her priority was to continue learning — to hear from thinkers of all ages,” said Amanda Gilvin, curator of O’Grady’s “both/and” show at the Davis Museum.

Wellesley-led team of astronomers discovered the Firefly Sparkle galaxy, named for its dazzling appearance. “This looks like fireflies gleaming in a dark night sky,” said astronomer Lamiya Mowla ’13.