From the president
A last thought
Protect what matters most in academia
“A true conservationist is a [person] who knows that the world is not given by [their] parents, but borrowed from [their] children.” This quote is widely attributed to John James Audubon, the famed 19th-century naturalist, ornithologist, and artist who produced one of the most iconic American studies of nature, Birds of America.
I encourage you to view our copy of this book on display in Trinity’s Watkinson Library. It is awe-inspiring that Trinity owns such a marvel and so many other splendid artifacts and artworks that are beautifully exhibited and cataloged under the care of those who love and appreciate the importance of research and knowledge preservation.
Most Wednesdays, Rare Books and Special Collections Librarian Eric Johnson-DeBaufre and the Watkinson team lead a ritual turning of a page of this oversized tome. They affectionately call this act “flipping the bird.” Like clockwork, our library colleagues faithfully demonstrate their respect for the magnificent artistry and scholarship of Audubon, who 200 years ago decided to try to catalog and capture every bird species in the American wild. Through his detailed study, we know which species have survived through the centuries and which have not.
When I was asked to identify a bucket list of last acts as president, flipping the bird was at the top. Yes, there is something quite special about touching an oversized page that embodies the preservation of knowledge and history in a beautiful art form.
My page was Plate 231, the Blue Jay (Corvus cristatus). How lovely it was to see up close the beauty of Audubon’s artistry. The blue jays are depicted in a notorious act of stealing eggs from other birds. Eric shared that they also are known as excellent mimics of other birds, especially the sound of red-shouldered hawks.
Flipping the bird reminds me of why I love academia. This tactile interaction is the convergence of art, history, science, and conservation—a true interdisciplinary experience that characterizes the best of a liberal arts education. It takes place in the heart of the Watkinson—a cathedral of knowledge, as most college libraries are. I am grateful to the library staff who carefully and diligently preserve our treasures to the benefit of this generation and of those to come.
Audubon’s legacy is not without controversy. He was a slave owner, and his views on Indigenous peoples have offended many; in recognition of this, a number of Audubon Society chapters have renamed themselves: NYC Audubon Society became NYC Bird Alliance in 2024. Other chapters, including those in Seattle and Chicago, removed his name as well. However, after a long debate among members in early 2023, the National Audubon Society “decided that the organization transcends one person’s name” and retained the Audubon name.
As my 11th and final year as president comes to an end, I would like to leave our community with this point: Trinity and the progress we make as an academic institution are the sum of our actions and our commitments, which transcend individuals, including myself. While we may explore differing opinions and perspectives that ultimately might affirm or evolve how we see history, it’s the act of examination and discernment—one that can come only with academic freedom—that we must protect, uphold, and treasure.
Trinity has for centuries been the home of visionary thinkers and their acts of debate, exploration, research, and sometimes defiance. This moment in time is no exception. The value of a liberal arts education will transcend each one of us because it is our collective momentum that creates, disseminates, and conserves knowledge. Now more than ever, we need to stay true to this most precious kind of education.
It has been an immense honor to serve this community of great thinkers and bold leaders who lead transformative lives. I will never stop finding inspiration in the intellectual rigor of this brave community. As I turn the page to my next chapter, so does Trinity as we welcome incoming President Dan Lugo.
My last words on this last chapter are simply this: Let us all be grateful for the treasures that Trinity has to offer and protect the academic freedom that advances human knowledge. Let us cherish these golden days and borrow the graces of generations to come.
