By now I’m sure you’ve read about the big news on the College front with the selection of Philip J. Hanlon ’77, Ph.D., as Dartmouth’s 18th president. Phil, 57, serves as provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at the University of Michigan, where he is also the Donald J. Lewis Professor of Mathematics. He takes office on July 1. Folks on campus are excited about his selection and eagerly await his arrival. He takes over at a time of stability on campus with the College poised to begin a new period of innovation and impact. For those of you who have not been on campus recently, you should try to find the time to come back and sit in on some classes, row on the river or bike along the Connecticut—you’ll be amazed at what you see. The campus retains the special feel we all remember, but now includes some spectacular new facilities for the visual and performing arts, sciences and athletics to name just a few of the larger projects completed during the past few years. Even the Hanover Inn has been renovated! And if you haven’t been following Dartmouth football, it had a winning season in 2012, the first of many more to come. 


Just one piece of class news to report. Richard Lifton was inducted into the 232nd class of members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious academic society. It’s a great honor and one that Richard deserves. He currently is the Sterling Professor of Genetics at Yale and an investigator for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Well done, Richard. 


As I write this Christmas in New England is still a snow-less event. But that doesn’t seem to be stopping folks from enjoying the outdoors and spending time with family and friends. By the time you read this, we’ll all know if Washington, D.C., drove us off the “fiscal cliff” or not and what consequences there were or were not. For the moment I am enjoying being with Nancy, Lizzie and Cody and taking a small break from following the dysfunction in Washington. 


Nanc and I look forward to connecting with many of you in 2013. We send our best wishes for a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year. Do stay in touch. 


—Jim Bildner, 5 Boardman Ave., Manchester, MA 01944; (617) 495-6513; jim_bildner@harvard.edu