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“I feel more confident and open-minded, open to doing things I would have been afraid to try before. I feel ready to take on challenges,” said Mount Holyoke College senior Sumaiya Jahan ’25.

Mount Holyoke College senior Sander Ivanenko ’25 said, “If it weren’t for Mount Holyoke and the environment and professors and students, I never would have gone into science.”

Mount Holyoke College has been a vibrant and safe second home for Mars Bickford ’25. “I don’t think I would have felt that I could explore my personal gender identity anywhere else,” they said.

Mount Holyoke College held a panel discussion “Trans Health Care Is a Human Right: On Safeguarding Gender-Affirming Care After United States v. Skrmetti.” Speakers discussed the case and its impact on transgender and gender-diverse people.

Lily E. Rood ’27 will serve as a Youth Ambassador for the Human Rights Campaign Foundation for two years, raising awareness of its efforts to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ youth at home, at school, at work and beyond.

This year, Convocation celebrated the start of the Mount Holyoke College academic year and the 10-year anniversary of its inclusive admission policy.

By 8 am, a line of students and families stretched around the green in front of Mary Woolley Hall, signaling the beginning of the 2024-2025 academic year at Mount Holyoke College.

“I met one of my best friends that first year, and we still talk and have dinners weekly. It's been nice to finally feel like I’ve found forever friends at college.”

“College taught me how to ask for help in a respectful but confident way, and now I know it’s not something to feel guilty about doing. It also helps that people at Mount Holyoke want to help and want to see you succeed.”

“I got to sit in on a rehearsal in Rooke Theatre, and that’s what drew me to Mount Holyoke. I thought, ‘This is amazing. I’ll get to work with real professionals and very talented, smart, knowledgeable people.”