Top 10 Highlights from the 2021–22 Academic Year 

The Commencement stage has been disassembled and the parking lots cleared for summer guests and events. With our students engaged in a season of internships, research, intensive classes or summer jobs—hopefully with a fair share of rest in between—The Bell took a look back on this past academic year to capture the top 10 highlights.

Heritage program launches (July 2021)

Last summer, Gordon welcomed its inaugural Heritage program cohort to campus for a week in July. Heritage invites any rising high school sophomore, junior or senior to partake in workshops, seminars and other activities that provide opportunities to experience a liberal arts education. Students are encouraged to grow together with a community from around the country, develop a framework for Christian engagement and cultivate the virtues of hospitality, reflection and craftsmanship. 

Homecoming welcomes hundreds back to campus (September 2021)

Students of past and present gathered on campus for an in-person Homecoming following a year of virtual events. Highlights included Scot Talks, Gordon Archives and art exhibits, kids’ activities, food trucks, Athletics games, a prayer walk, the annual hymn sing and jazz concert, Homecoming Marketplace and reunions. During the Alumni Awards ceremony, eight alumni received distinguished awards and three were inducted into the Athletics Hall of Honor. Save the date for this year’s Homecoming on September 30 and October 1, 2022.

Gordon Athletics celebrates 100 years (October 2021)

A century of Scots! In October of 2021, Gordon celebrated 100 wonderful, faithful and championship-filled years of Athletics. This momentous milestone was celebrated with merchandise for athletes, media days to commemorate history, a video showcasing the best wins and biggest plays, and the spring 2022 issue of STILLPOINT magazine. From 1921 to 2021, the Gordon College Fighting Scots have trained, practiced, played and won, with Christ as their focus, and will for many decades to come. 

Three teams claim CCC championships (November 2021, May 2022)

Both the Men’s and Women’s Soccer teams made their own Gordon history when they brought home the CCC Championship title for the Fighting Scots. As the Scots victoriously held up the championship trophy, it marked the first time in CCC history that both a men’s and women’s team from the same school have held the CCC title. The championship titles did not stop there; in the spring, the Women’s Track and Field team claimed the CCC Championship for the first time in Gordon College history. 

New Master of Public Health announced (January 2022)

Long before the COVID-19 pandemic took the world by storm, Gordon College had started the process of creating a master’s program that would teach students the skills to handle such a global phenomenon. Then, in January of 2022, the College announced that the Master of Public Health (MPH) program, led by Johns Hopkins and Yale alum Dr. Heather Sipsma, which will welcome its first class in the fall of 2022. 

President Hammond embarks on the Alumni Tour (March 2022)

President Mike Hammond spent two months this spring traveling across the country on the Alumni Tour—stopping in all five New England states; down the East Coast to Pennsylvania, Washington D.C. and Virginia; and west to Illinois, Colorado and California. The president hosted gatherings in homes, restaurants, churches and breweries to connect more personally with alumni, hear their stories and advice, and share his vision for the future of their alma mater. Stay tuned for information about future alumni tours.

Student Life welcomes Dr. Jennifer Skaggs as VP (March 2022)

Following her most recent work at the American University of Cairo in Egypt, Dr. Jennifer Skaggs joined the Gordon community as vice president of student life. Her impressive work in the world of higher education began at Miami University in Ohio and took her all over the map, with stops in Florida, Washington, Kentucky, Egypt and now Massachusetts. The College is overjoyed to welcome her expertise and insight as she seeks to enhance the student experience at Gordon.

Gordon in Orvieto returns (March 2022)

After three long semesters of patient waiting and expectant prayer, students were welcomed back to the Gordon in Orvieto study abroad program in Italy. Stretching their creative abilities with art projects, cooking fresh pasta, harvesting sweet grapes and reading poetry in the warm Italian sunshine are just a snapshot of what students in Orvieto got to experience on this once-in-a-lifetime trip. 

Gordon has its most successful Day of Giving (April 2022)

Generosity was contagious this spring as Gordon’s Day of Giving quickly became the most successful one to date. Thanks to so many in the Gordon community who gave to support students, the College received $315,194 in donations. Every gift has gone toward making Gordon the best experience that it can be for each student, with hopes of increasing their faith and enhancing their education.

Mike Hammond inaugurated as the ninth president (April 2022)

As the weather warmed and excitement for commencement rose, Dr. Mike Hammond was formally inaugurated as Gordon’s ninth president on April 29. The inaugural theme of “Strength for Today, Bright Hope for Tomorrow” rang through the Bennett Athletic Center as students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents and guests joined together to witness such a historic day for the College.