Forged in dissent: Raise your voice for MHC | Mount Holyoke
Source: http://www.mtholyoke.edu/why-mount-holyoke/forged-dissent-raise-your-voice-mhc
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:14
Forged in dissent: Raise your voice for MHC | Mount Holyoke
Forged in dissent: Raise your voice for MHC
Higher education is under fire — and Mount Holyoke is meeting the moment. For nearly 200 years, we’ve championed educational inclusion for women and people marginalized on the basis of gender. Today, we remain a powerful force for changemakers and visionaries who refuse to accept the status quo. From our historic founding to our newest campus initiatives, Mount Holyoke proves what college education can be: a launchpad for fearless leaders and boundless learners. Discover how we’re uplifting others, challenging injustice and driving change — and how you can be part of it.
Take action
Reflect on MHC’s impact
Give to the MHC Forward Fund
Find additional resources for the MHC Community on The Gates
The Mount Holyoke Experience
“At Mount Holyoke ... we are built on diversity, equity and inclusion”
Mount Holyoke defends academic freedom amid federal pressure
Mount Holyoke College President Danielle R. Holley spoke to CNN about being one of the few higher education leaders pushing back against federal government overreach.
“We have the right to determine our own missions”
On March 17, President Danielle R. Holley spoke to “Here and Now” on NPR about the growing tensions between higher education and the federal government.
“DEI is not separate from excellence. It is the engine of it.”
In an op-ed for the San Francisco Chronicle, President Holley reflects on Frances Perkins (class of 1902), DEI and the “engine of excellence.”
MHC’s principles
Mount Holyoke is a beacon of bold, values-driven education. We prepare students — across backgrounds, identities and geographies — to think critically, act courageously and lead with purpose. In this time of national division and global disruption, our mission remains constant and our commitment unwavering.
“Whenever our country’s values have been challenged, MHC has said ‘We are better than what we are seeing right now.’”
-President Danielle R. Holley
A vibrant, global community
Mount Holyoke’s global community is a point of distinction and pride. International students have been part of the Mount Holyoke community since the 1840s, and the unique perspectives that they bring — in and out of the classroom — elevate discourse and prepare our students to lead in an increasingly complex, global world. The current administration has implemented policies that threaten the legal status of international students, including visa revocations and potential deportation for minor infractions.
These actions led to significant anxiety and confusion for students.
MHC believes that international students are a vital part of our community and our campus.
Advancing research and discovery
Mount Holyoke is nationally recognized for its high level of undergraduate research activity, earning the prestigious Carnegie Classification as a baccalaureate college with “Arts & Sciences Focus and High Research.” We rank #1 among U.S. institutions for producing women who go on to earn PhDs in the life sciences and STEM — a powerful testament to our faculty mentorship, hands-on research opportunities and unwavering belief in the potential of every student. In an era when investment in research and scientific inquiry is increasingly politicized, Mount Holyoke remains fiercely committed to advancing knowledge that empowers individuals and serves the public good.
Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and accessibility
Mount Holyoke was founded to defy expectations based on gender roles and provide access to a transformational education to those who were historically excluded. For nearly two centuries, we have been relentlessly working to create a more just and equitable future, and are committed to having the challenging conversations and taking the bold actions required to realize it. The current administration has threatened to revoke federal funding from colleges and universities that engage in DEI and accessibility practices. The Department of Education also warned in a March letter that, if these efforts were not cut, they could face financial penalties or lawsuits. Anti-DEI policies put women’s higher education in jeopardy, and we refuse to implement them.
LGBTQ+ inclusion
As the first of the Seven Sisters colleges, Mount Holyoke has consistently led the way among women’s colleges. In 2014, we announced a groundbreaking admissions policy welcoming trans, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming students (TGNC) students, becoming the first — and most inclusive — of the Seven Sisters colleges to do so. The Trump administration has issued executive orders decrying “gender ideology” and restricting nationwide access to gender-affirming care for young people by threatening to withhold research and education grants from institutions that provide it to those who are under the age of nineteen.
Advocating for our community
Want to Celebrate Women’s History Month? Stop the Anti-DEI Rollbacks
March 30, 2026
At the close of this year’s Women's History Month, President Danielle R. Holley examines recent “anti-DEI” initiatives and argues they are direct assaults on the education, health and ability of women to participate fully in civic and professional life.
Dissent as progress: reflections on Justice Jackson's talk
November 14, 2025
Lindsay Adkins, AVP for Mount Holyoke College’s Marketing and Communications team, reflects on the power of language and dissent after a public talk between President Danielle R. Holley and Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
International student crackdown not reflected in data
November 13, 2025
In May 2025, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the federal government would “aggressively” revoke international students’ visas. Many predicted a sharp decline in the number of international students enrolling at colleges and universities, but new federal data reveal a less than 1% decrease this fall. In line with this finding, Mount Holyoke’s international student population has remained constant, comprising 20% of the incoming class of 2029.
Mandy Hart
, dean of admission at Mount Holyoke College, recently spoke to The Washington Post about this finding. She told The Washington Post that the College had many conversations with families concerned about the visa situation. Despite concerns, however, most students received their visas before the fall semester. “This year was not markedly different than previous years in terms of students having issues with obtaining their visas,” she said.
Inclusive admissions policies at women’s colleges
October 10, 2025
Mount Holyoke College President Danielle R. Holley spoke to The Boston Globe about the school’s commitment to building a gender-diverse community amid shifting federal policies on diversity and gender inclusion.
Teaching the history and legacy of the Civil Rights Movement
September 11, 2025
Kijua Sanders-McMurtry, vice president of equity and inclusion at Mount Holyoke College, met with other college educators to craft tools and classes to teach the history of the Civil Rights Movement.
Mount Holyoke defends academic freedom amid federal pressure
August 12, 2025
Mount Holyoke College President Danielle R. Holley spoke to CNN about being one of the few higher-education leaders pushing back against federal government overreach.
Justice Department Declares DEI Unlawful
July 30, 2025
Former Mount Holyoke College President Lynn Pasquarella ’80 says “What is missing from the DOJ narrative on DEI is that treating people differently is not always unjust, especially when doing so corrects a broader pattern of systemic injustice. Considering race and gender in the context of historic unjust discrimination to inform policies and practices at colleges and universities doesn’t in and of itself constitute illegal discrimination, though the letter suggests otherwise.”
Threatened revocation of Chinese students’ visas
June 3, 2025
Mount Holyoke College’s Ruth Lawson Professor of Politics and Carol Hoffmann Collins Director of the McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives Kavita Khory spoke to CNN and The Boston Globe about the threatened revocation of Chinese students’ visas.
Mounting uncertainty regarding international students’ visas
June 6, 2025
Mount Holyoke College faculty and administrators spoke to Bloomberg about how the federal government’s recent actions might affect international students and campus life.
Three Mount Holyoke College presidents speak out
May 2025
President Danielle R. Holley isn’t the only Mount Holyoke College president speaking out against injustice.
Former Mount Holyoke College Interim President and faculty member Beverly Daniel Tatum, in her role as the former president of Spelman College, joined more than 80 past and current higher education presidents as signatories of a
letter supporting Harvard University in its defiance of the Trump administration’s attacks
on the core freedoms of colleges and universities.
Additionally, former Mount Holyoke College President Lynn Pasquarella ’80 is the president of American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) and has written an
editorial for Inside Higher Education
about the “endless war being waged against colleges and universities in this country.” AAC&U has also published “
A Call for Constructive Engagement
,” which more than 500 higher education leaders have signed, including President Holley.
International students worry about the future
May 22, 2025
A Mount Holyoke College student from Nepal spoke to The Boston Globe about the current Trump administration’s threats to international students.
Attacks on knowledge are attacks on democracy
April 24, 2025
President Danielle R. Holley spoke to WGBH about why the current administration is targeting higher education and why Mount Holyoke is fighting back.
President Holley defends American higher education
April 18, 2025
President Danielle R. Holley spoke to “MSNBC Prime” about why she believes attacks on higher education are attacks against the fundamentals of our democracy.
A handful of college presidents emerge as leaders of burgeoning resistance movement against Trump
April 9, 2025
President Holley was interviewed along with heads of several other elite universities that emerging as leaders of a burgeoning resistance to the president’s attacks on higher education.
President Holley on NEPM and “The Harvard Plan”
December 17, 2024
President Danielle R. Holley spoke to both New England Public Media and the podcast “The Harvard Plan” about how higher education is not the enemy, as well as supporting students going forward.
‘No! Here's what we stand for': Western Mass. college leader urges higher ed to stand up to Trump
December 17, 2024
President Holley spoke with WGHB.
Trans health care is a human right
December 9, 2024
Mount Holyoke 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.
Women’s colleges are more important than ever — take action now
Vice President for College Relations Kassandra Jolley makes an impassioned plea for alums of women’s colleges.
Read the article
Give to the MHC Forward Fund
Don’t give in. Give to the MHC Forward Fund.
The
MHC Forward Fund
is a vital priority within The Mount Holyoke Fund that empowers President Holley and College leadership to respond with strength and agility to the most pressing challenges facing higher education today. In a rapidly shifting political and financial landscape, gifts to this fund provide critical, flexible resources to defend academic freedom, support students affected by global and domestic pressures, and sustain Mount Holyoke’s bold, inclusive mission.
MHC Forward Fund Honor Roll
Support Mount Holyoke now
Areas of distinction
Championing Research
The Carnegie Foundation classifies Mount Holyoke as an Undergraduate Research Institution — a distinction recognizing our deep commitment to hands-on, mentored research opportunities.
STEM Leadership
MHC is the #1 baccalaureate source for women earning PhDs in life sciences and virtually tied for #1 among liberal arts colleges for women earning PhDs in all STEM fields.
Global Impact
Mount Holyoke has been ranked a Top Fulbright Producer for five consecutive years and 40% of our applicants reach at least semi-finalist status, and about 25% reach finalist status and are awarded.
What has a Mount Holyoke education meant to you?
How has being part of the Mount Holyoke community shaped your life? And if you are a graduate of another women’s college or secondary school for girls, or are an advocate for higher education, please join us. Share your story and the ways you are responding to executive orders and current legislation.
Reflect on MHC’s impact
Find additional resources for the MHC Community on The Gates
Our impact—by the numbers
Global, inclusive community
Students from 91 countries and 48 U.S. states.
27% domestic students of color, 21% international students, 18% first-generation.
Five vibrant identity-based cultural centers and a campus community rooted in belonging, resilience, and leadership.
Career and leadership readiness
91% of students complete internships, research, or study abroad.
67% engage in faculty-mentored research.
Programs like Lynk, Nexus, Sophomore Institute, Careers in Public Service, Semester in DC and Community Based Learning connect liberal arts education with real-world leadership.
94% of graduates are employed, in school, or participating in an internship six months post graduation.
Academic Excellence
The Carnegie Foundation classifies Mount Holyoke as an Undergraduate Research Institution — a distinction recognizing our deep commitment to hands-on, mentored research opportunities.
#1 baccalaureate source for women earning PhDs in life sciences and virtually tied for #1 among liberal arts colleges for women earning PhDs in all STEM fields.
Mount Holyoke's four academic centers bring together students, faculty and leaders from different disciplines and backgrounds to focus on challenging questions and interconnected answers.
Consistently rated in the top ten for The Princeton Review's “Professors get high marks” category, our world-class faculty is committed to mentoring students in their academic journeys. With an average student-to-faculty ratio of 9:1, professors challenge students to dig deeper and go further, to think thoroughly and to communicate confidently — ultimately empowering them to tap into their full potential.
Happening at Mount Holyoke
Making a difference
Beverly Guy-Sheftall named Mount Holyoke’s Commencement speaker
Trailblazing Black feminist scholar Beverly Guy-Sheftall will be the primary speaker at the Mount Holyoke College Commencement. Two extraordinary Mount Holyoke alums, Leslie Anne Miller ’73 and Maria Z. Mossaides ’73, will also be honored.
Tags:
Academic Excellence
Alum
BIPOC
Commencement
Traditions and Annual Events
Women’s College
Chloé Zhao ’05 helms Oscar-winning film
Mount Holyoke College alum Chloé Zhao ’05 directed “Hamnet,” which was recognized by the Academy Awards for the “Best Actress” category.
Tags:
Alum
Arts: Fine and Performing
Faculty
Women’s College
Vice President Kassandra Jolley wins a CASE award
Jolley, the vice president for college relations at Mount Holyoke College, was recognized with an Individual Achievement Award in the Distinguished Service category.
Tags:
Awards and Honors
Giving
Staff
Women’s College
More News
Inspiring change
For over 187 years, Mount Holyoke graduates have been changing the world. We are advocates, championing equality, dignity and access. We are STEM leaders, solving pressing societal issues. We are artists and storytellers, amplifying new voices and lifting up untold stories. Learn more about some of the inspiring alums leading the way.
More alums leading the way
Suchi Saria
Class of 2004
Suchi Saria ’04 is a widely recognized academic scholar and scientist whose exceptional creativity, expertise and passion have helped put forth major medical advancements in U.S. healthcare and around the world.
Read Suchi’s story
Ruth Muskrat Bronson
Class of 1925
Cherokee poet, educator and indigenous rights activist
Read Ruth’s story
Florence Sophie Schorske Wald
Class of 1938
former dean of Yale School of Nursing, credited as “the mother of the American hospice movement”
Read Florence’s story
Chloé Zhao
Class of 2005
The first woman of color to win an Academy Award for best director
Read Chloé’s story
Tara Roberts
Class of 1991
2022 Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year
Read Tara's story
Suzan-Lori Parks
Class of 1985
First Black woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama
Read Suzan-Lori's story
Barbara Smith
Class of 1969
Co-founder of the Combahee River Collective and co-author of the Combahee River Collective Statement
Read Barbara's story
Jean Sammet
Class of 1948
Co-developer of the computer programming language COBOL
Read Jean's story
Frances Perkins
Class of 1902
First woman Cabinet member, U.S. Secretary of Labor and creator of Social Security
Read Frances' story
“Forged in dissent” was originally coined by alum Colleen Butler-Sweet ’00 in her
2017 op-ed
for US News & World Report.
Quick links
Visit Mount Holyoke
Request Information
Apply
Forged in dissent: Raise your voice for MHC
Higher education is under fire — and Mount Holyoke is meeting the moment. For nearly 200 years, we’ve championed educational inclusion for women and people marginalized on the basis of gender. Today, we remain a powerful force for changemakers and visionaries who refuse to accept the status quo. From our historic founding to our newest campus initiatives, Mount Holyoke proves what college education can be: a launchpad for fearless leaders and boundless learners. Discover how we’re uplifting others, challenging injustice and driving change — and how you can be part of it.
Take action
Reflect on MHC’s impact
Give to the MHC Forward Fund
Find additional resources for the MHC Community on The Gates
The Mount Holyoke Experience
“At Mount Holyoke ... we are built on diversity, equity and inclusion”
Mount Holyoke defends academic freedom amid federal pressure
Mount Holyoke College President Danielle R. Holley spoke to CNN about being one of the few higher education leaders pushing back against federal government overreach.
“We have the right to determine our own missions”
On March 17, President Danielle R. Holley spoke to “Here and Now” on NPR about the growing tensions between higher education and the federal government.
“DEI is not separate from excellence. It is the engine of it.”
In an op-ed for the San Francisco Chronicle, President Holley reflects on Frances Perkins (class of 1902), DEI and the “engine of excellence.”
MHC’s principles
Mount Holyoke is a beacon of bold, values-driven education. We prepare students — across backgrounds, identities and geographies — to think critically, act courageously and lead with purpose. In this time of national division and global disruption, our mission remains constant and our commitment unwavering.
“Whenever our country’s values have been challenged, MHC has said ‘We are better than what we are seeing right now.’”
-President Danielle R. Holley
A vibrant, global community
Mount Holyoke’s global community is a point of distinction and pride. International students have been part of the Mount Holyoke community since the 1840s, and the unique perspectives that they bring — in and out of the classroom — elevate discourse and prepare our students to lead in an increasingly complex, global world. The current administration has implemented policies that threaten the legal status of international students, including visa revocations and potential deportation for minor infractions.
These actions led to significant anxiety and confusion for students.
MHC believes that international students are a vital part of our community and our campus.
Advancing research and discovery
Mount Holyoke is nationally recognized for its high level of undergraduate research activity, earning the prestigious Carnegie Classification as a baccalaureate college with “Arts & Sciences Focus and High Research.” We rank #1 among U.S. institutions for producing women who go on to earn PhDs in the life sciences and STEM — a powerful testament to our faculty mentorship, hands-on research opportunities and unwavering belief in the potential of every student. In an era when investment in research and scientific inquiry is increasingly politicized, Mount Holyoke remains fiercely committed to advancing knowledge that empowers individuals and serves the public good.
Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and accessibility
Mount Holyoke was founded to defy expectations based on gender roles and provide access to a transformational education to those who were historically excluded. For nearly two centuries, we have been relentlessly working to create a more just and equitable future, and are committed to having the challenging conversations and taking the bold actions required to realize it. The current administration has threatened to revoke federal funding from colleges and universities that engage in DEI and accessibility practices. The Department of Education also warned in a March letter that, if these efforts were not cut, they could face financial penalties or lawsuits. Anti-DEI policies put women’s higher education in jeopardy, and we refuse to implement them.
LGBTQ+ inclusion
As the first of the Seven Sisters colleges, Mount Holyoke has consistently led the way among women’s colleges. In 2014, we announced a groundbreaking admissions policy welcoming trans, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming students (TGNC) students, becoming the first — and most inclusive — of the Seven Sisters colleges to do so. The Trump administration has issued executive orders decrying “gender ideology” and restricting nationwide access to gender-affirming care for young people by threatening to withhold research and education grants from institutions that provide it to those who are under the age of nineteen.
Advocating for our community
Want to Celebrate Women’s History Month? Stop the Anti-DEI Rollbacks
March 30, 2026
At the close of this year’s Women's History Month, President Danielle R. Holley examines recent “anti-DEI” initiatives and argues they are direct assaults on the education, health and ability of women to participate fully in civic and professional life.
Dissent as progress: reflections on Justice Jackson's talk
November 14, 2025
Lindsay Adkins, AVP for Mount Holyoke College’s Marketing and Communications team, reflects on the power of language and dissent after a public talk between President Danielle R. Holley and Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
International student crackdown not reflected in data
November 13, 2025
In May 2025, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the federal government would “aggressively” revoke international students’ visas. Many predicted a sharp decline in the number of international students enrolling at colleges and universities, but new federal data reveal a less than 1% decrease this fall. In line with this finding, Mount Holyoke’s international student population has remained constant, comprising 20% of the incoming class of 2029.
Mandy Hart
, dean of admission at Mount Holyoke College, recently spoke to The Washington Post about this finding. She told The Washington Post that the College had many conversations with families concerned about the visa situation. Despite concerns, however, most students received their visas before the fall semester. “This year was not markedly different than previous years in terms of students having issues with obtaining their visas,” she said.
Inclusive admissions policies at women’s colleges
October 10, 2025
Mount Holyoke College President Danielle R. Holley spoke to The Boston Globe about the school’s commitment to building a gender-diverse community amid shifting federal policies on diversity and gender inclusion.
Teaching the history and legacy of the Civil Rights Movement
September 11, 2025
Kijua Sanders-McMurtry, vice president of equity and inclusion at Mount Holyoke College, met with other college educators to craft tools and classes to teach the history of the Civil Rights Movement.
Mount Holyoke defends academic freedom amid federal pressure
August 12, 2025
Mount Holyoke College President Danielle R. Holley spoke to CNN about being one of the few higher-education leaders pushing back against federal government overreach.
Justice Department Declares DEI Unlawful
July 30, 2025
Former Mount Holyoke College President Lynn Pasquarella ’80 says “What is missing from the DOJ narrative on DEI is that treating people differently is not always unjust, especially when doing so corrects a broader pattern of systemic injustice. Considering race and gender in the context of historic unjust discrimination to inform policies and practices at colleges and universities doesn’t in and of itself constitute illegal discrimination, though the letter suggests otherwise.”
Threatened revocation of Chinese students’ visas
June 3, 2025
Mount Holyoke College’s Ruth Lawson Professor of Politics and Carol Hoffmann Collins Director of the McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives Kavita Khory spoke to CNN and The Boston Globe about the threatened revocation of Chinese students’ visas.
Mounting uncertainty regarding international students’ visas
June 6, 2025
Mount Holyoke College faculty and administrators spoke to Bloomberg about how the federal government’s recent actions might affect international students and campus life.
Three Mount Holyoke College presidents speak out
May 2025
President Danielle R. Holley isn’t the only Mount Holyoke College president speaking out against injustice.
Former Mount Holyoke College Interim President and faculty member Beverly Daniel Tatum, in her role as the former president of Spelman College, joined more than 80 past and current higher education presidents as signatories of a
letter supporting Harvard University in its defiance of the Trump administration’s attacks
on the core freedoms of colleges and universities.
Additionally, former Mount Holyoke College President Lynn Pasquarella ’80 is the president of American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) and has written an
editorial for Inside Higher Education
about the “endless war being waged against colleges and universities in this country.” AAC&U has also published “
A Call for Constructive Engagement
,” which more than 500 higher education leaders have signed, including President Holley.
International students worry about the future
May 22, 2025
A Mount Holyoke College student from Nepal spoke to The Boston Globe about the current Trump administration’s threats to international students.
Attacks on knowledge are attacks on democracy
April 24, 2025
President Danielle R. Holley spoke to WGBH about why the current administration is targeting higher education and why Mount Holyoke is fighting back.
President Holley defends American higher education
April 18, 2025
President Danielle R. Holley spoke to “MSNBC Prime” about why she believes attacks on higher education are attacks against the fundamentals of our democracy.
A handful of college presidents emerge as leaders of burgeoning resistance movement against Trump
April 9, 2025
President Holley was interviewed along with heads of several other elite universities that emerging as leaders of a burgeoning resistance to the president’s attacks on higher education.
President Holley on NEPM and “The Harvard Plan”
December 17, 2024
President Danielle R. Holley spoke to both New England Public Media and the podcast “The Harvard Plan” about how higher education is not the enemy, as well as supporting students going forward.
‘No! Here's what we stand for': Western Mass. college leader urges higher ed to stand up to Trump
December 17, 2024
President Holley spoke with WGHB.
Trans health care is a human right
December 9, 2024
Mount Holyoke 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.
Women’s colleges are more important than ever — take action now
Vice President for College Relations Kassandra Jolley makes an impassioned plea for alums of women’s colleges.
Read the article
Give to the MHC Forward Fund
Don’t give in. Give to the MHC Forward Fund.
The
MHC Forward Fund
is a vital priority within The Mount Holyoke Fund that empowers President Holley and College leadership to respond with strength and agility to the most pressing challenges facing higher education today. In a rapidly shifting political and financial landscape, gifts to this fund provide critical, flexible resources to defend academic freedom, support students affected by global and domestic pressures, and sustain Mount Holyoke’s bold, inclusive mission.
MHC Forward Fund Honor Roll
Support Mount Holyoke now
Areas of distinction
Championing Research
The Carnegie Foundation classifies Mount Holyoke as an Undergraduate Research Institution — a distinction recognizing our deep commitment to hands-on, mentored research opportunities.
STEM Leadership
MHC is the #1 baccalaureate source for women earning PhDs in life sciences and virtually tied for #1 among liberal arts colleges for women earning PhDs in all STEM fields.
Global Impact
Mount Holyoke has been ranked a Top Fulbright Producer for five consecutive years and 40% of our applicants reach at least semi-finalist status, and about 25% reach finalist status and are awarded.
What has a Mount Holyoke education meant to you?
How has being part of the Mount Holyoke community shaped your life? And if you are a graduate of another women’s college or secondary school for girls, or are an advocate for higher education, please join us. Share your story and the ways you are responding to executive orders and current legislation.
Reflect on MHC’s impact
Find additional resources for the MHC Community on The Gates
Our impact—by the numbers
Global, inclusive community
Students from 91 countries and 48 U.S. states.
27% domestic students of color, 21% international students, 18% first-generation.
Five vibrant identity-based cultural centers and a campus community rooted in belonging, resilience, and leadership.
Career and leadership readiness
91% of students complete internships, research, or study abroad.
67% engage in faculty-mentored research.
Programs like Lynk, Nexus, Sophomore Institute, Careers in Public Service, Semester in DC and Community Based Learning connect liberal arts education with real-world leadership.
94% of graduates are employed, in school, or participating in an internship six months post graduation.
Academic Excellence
The Carnegie Foundation classifies Mount Holyoke as an Undergraduate Research Institution — a distinction recognizing our deep commitment to hands-on, mentored research opportunities.
#1 baccalaureate source for women earning PhDs in life sciences and virtually tied for #1 among liberal arts colleges for women earning PhDs in all STEM fields.
Mount Holyoke's four academic centers bring together students, faculty and leaders from different disciplines and backgrounds to focus on challenging questions and interconnected answers.
Consistently rated in the top ten for The Princeton Review's “Professors get high marks” category, our world-class faculty is committed to mentoring students in their academic journeys. With an average student-to-faculty ratio of 9:1, professors challenge students to dig deeper and go further, to think thoroughly and to communicate confidently — ultimately empowering them to tap into their full potential.
Happening at Mount Holyoke
Making a difference
Beverly Guy-Sheftall named Mount Holyoke’s Commencement speaker
Trailblazing Black feminist scholar Beverly Guy-Sheftall will be the primary speaker at the Mount Holyoke College Commencement. Two extraordinary Mount Holyoke alums, Leslie Anne Miller ’73 and Maria Z. Mossaides ’73, will also be honored.
Tags:
Academic Excellence
Alum
BIPOC
Commencement
Traditions and Annual Events
Women’s College
Chloé Zhao ’05 helms Oscar-winning film
Mount Holyoke College alum Chloé Zhao ’05 directed “Hamnet,” which was recognized by the Academy Awards for the “Best Actress” category.
Tags:
Alum
Arts: Fine and Performing
Faculty
Women’s College
Vice President Kassandra Jolley wins a CASE award
Jolley, the vice president for college relations at Mount Holyoke College, was recognized with an Individual Achievement Award in the Distinguished Service category.
Tags:
Awards and Honors
Giving
Staff
Women’s College
More News
Inspiring change
For over 187 years, Mount Holyoke graduates have been changing the world. We are advocates, championing equality, dignity and access. We are STEM leaders, solving pressing societal issues. We are artists and storytellers, amplifying new voices and lifting up untold stories. Learn more about some of the inspiring alums leading the way.
More alums leading the way
Suchi Saria
Class of 2004
Suchi Saria ’04 is a widely recognized academic scholar and scientist whose exceptional creativity, expertise and passion have helped put forth major medical advancements in U.S. healthcare and around the world.
Read Suchi’s story
Ruth Muskrat Bronson
Class of 1925
Cherokee poet, educator and indigenous rights activist
Read Ruth’s story
Florence Sophie Schorske Wald
Class of 1938
former dean of Yale School of Nursing, credited as “the mother of the American hospice movement”
Read Florence’s story
Chloé Zhao
Class of 2005
The first woman of color to win an Academy Award for best director
Read Chloé’s story
Tara Roberts
Class of 1991
2022 Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year
Read Tara's story
Suzan-Lori Parks
Class of 1985
First Black woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama
Read Suzan-Lori's story
Barbara Smith
Class of 1969
Co-founder of the Combahee River Collective and co-author of the Combahee River Collective Statement
Read Barbara's story
Jean Sammet
Class of 1948
Co-developer of the computer programming language COBOL
Read Jean's story
Frances Perkins
Class of 1902
First woman Cabinet member, U.S. Secretary of Labor and creator of Social Security
Read Frances' story
“Forged in dissent” was originally coined by alum Colleen Butler-Sweet ’00 in her
2017 op-ed
for US News & World Report.
Quick links
Visit Mount Holyoke
Request Information
Apply