A Year in Review: The Top Stories of 2025
Reflecting on the extraordinary moments that connected our Dartmouth community in 2025
The end of the year is approaching, which presents a time to reflect on the extraordinary moments that connected our Dartmouth community. From transformational housing investments to meet cutes and fond farewells, 2025 was a year bolstered by the strength of the unwavering Dartmouth spirit shared by alumni, families, friends, and students across the globe.
Here are the top 10 stories of the year:
Women Honor Alumnae with Residence Hall and Riverfront Park
Alumnae leaders banded together to raise $27 million for a new residence hall and park, marking the latest philanthropic achievement led by Dartmouth women and a historic investment that will enhance the western entrance to campus. This new residence hall, along with Rhimes Hall, The Class of 1989 Hall, and Russo Hall will transform the residential experience.
Big Green Love Stories: 2025 Edition
Our annual edition of Big Green Love Stories did not disappoint. Featuring feel-good stories from First-Year Trips to reunions rekindling, this year’s roundup featured a wide variety of unique, funny, and heartwarming memories to remind us that love can be found in the most unexpected places.
Mindy Kaling ’01 Supports Creation of New Theater Lab at the Hop
When Dartmouth announced the campaign to revitalize the Hopkins Center for the Arts in 2018, writer, actor, and producer Mindy Kaling ’01 was one of the first people to offer support. Inspired by the Bentley Theater, her gift created the newly dedicated Mindy Kaling Theater Lab, located in the lower level of the new Daryl and Steven Roth Wing.
A Football Dream Comes True
From a Dartmouth QSS research project to the Superdome, Isabel Pantle ’23, a quantitative analyst for the Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles, helps transform billions of data points into competitive advantage.
New Spaces in the Hop Energize and Engage the Dartmouth Community
Spectacular, stunning, amazing… There is no shortage of words to describe the renovated and expanded Hopkins Center for the Arts, which reopened its doors in October. The expansion has added 15,000 square feet, including dynamic venues in the new Daryl and Steven Roth Wing, along with several major new and renovated spaces.
Treasured Top of the Hop Revitalized as a Lively Social Hub
The Top of the Hop received a facelift, led by a generous lead gift from Anne Blackburn ’91 and Jeff Blackburn ’91. As part of the Hopkins Center expansion and renovation, the rejuvenated space improves function while retaining its original mid-century modern flair.
2025 Reunions Off to a Rousing Start
Sunny skies bookended the first of two week-long Reunion celebrations taking place in June and July 2025. More than 2,500 alumni, friends, and family members made the trip to Hanover to reconnect and delight in friendships old and new.
Designing a Career—and a Life—with Purpose
In an exclusive interview, Joe Catrino, executive director of the new Center for Career Design, discussed how the College is rethinking career development. Through life design principles and a personalized, exploratory approach, the center will help students better understand themselves, discover unexpected career possibilities, and create intentional plans for their futures.
Vice President for Alumni Relations Cheryl Bascomb ’82 Announces Retirement
From milestone events to the robust expansion of Dartmouth’s alumni outreach activities, Bascomb’s tenure saw deepened connections through affinity-based engagement.
Historic Gift From Shonda Rhimes ’91 Names Residence Hall
The five-story Shonda Rhimes Hall is not only the first Dartmouth building named for a woman, but also the first building named for a Black alum. It is slated to break ground early next year and to open in 2028—just in time to welcome the Class of 2032.