Donor support ensures Bard’s unique place as an institution of excellence that serves as a center for and a model of cultural creation, debate, service, and political exchange among citizens of the future, one that is dominated not by commerce and a narrow definition of utility, but by a love of learning.
For more than a century and a half, donor support has helped Bard College change lives with discoveries that improve the world, with knowledge that enlightens and inspires, and with an educational environment that prepares students for lives of impact.
Your Gift Supports: 100% of Students 100% of Faculty and Staff 100% of Classrooms 100% of Facilities
Photo by Chris Kayden
Faculty at the Top of Their Fields
Members of the Bard faculty inspire our students in the classroom. They are thought leaders investigating the most critical questions in their fields. Bard faculty awards and honors have included: the French Legion of Honor, GRAMMY awards, Guggenheim Fellowships, Kennedy Center Honors, MacArthur Foundation Fellowships, the National Book Award, National Science Foundation Grants, the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prizes, Rhodes Scholarships, the Royal Society of Literature, and Tony awards.
Photo by Pete Mauney ’93 MFA ’00
State-of-the-Art Science Facilities
Students taking courses in science, mathematics, and computing at Bard have use of exceptional facilities and the latest equipment. The Reem-Kayden Center for Science and Computation features seven smart classrooms and nearly 17,000 square feet of laboratory space with state-of-the-art biology and chemistry equipment. The computer science space includes cognitive systems, robotics, and hardware teaching labs.
At Bard, students get the best of both worlds: an excellent liberal arts education and one of the finest arts schools in the country. Arts students study and work with active, distinguished professionals in their fields. All of the arts programs unite a study of craft with history, theory, and criticism. From the Frank Gehry–designed Fisher Center for the Performing Arts to the László Z. Bitó '60 Conservatory Building, world-class facilities support top-level artistic training in the context of a liberal arts education.
Photo by Karl Rabe
Bard College Fund | Financial Aid
The availability of financial support can considerably enhance the educational experiences and opportunities for many talented students who might otherwise be unable to access higher education. One way the Bard College Fund supports Bard students is through scholarships, awards, and prizes, which help enable them to pursue their academic and professional dreams without the burden of financial constraints. This aid reduces their economic pressures and fosters an environment of inclusivity and diversity within Bard's campus. Bard is continually grateful for the generous contributions from its donors, as each donation plays a significant role in sustaining Bard's successes. Every contribution, regardless of size, makes a significant difference in the lives of students.
Bard Professor Felicia Keesing Receives Award From American Society of Mammalogists
Felicia Keesing, the David and Rosalie Rose Distinguished Professor of Science, Mathematics, and Computing at Bard College, is the recipient of the 2024 C. Hart Merriam Award from the American Society of Mammalogists.
Bard Professor Felicia Keesing Receives Award From American Society of Mammalogists
Felicia Keesing, David and Rosalie Rose Distinguished Professor of Science, Mathematics, and Computing at Bard College.
Felicia Keesing, the David and Rosalie Rose Distinguished Professor of Science, Mathematics, and Computing at Bard College, is the recipient of the 2024 C. Hart Merriam Award from the American Society of Mammalogists. The award, given to eminent scholars in recognition of outstanding research in the study of mammals over a period of at least 10 years, honors Keesing for her scholarly contributions to the fields of disease ecology and community ecology, all while keeping the role of mammals in ecological processes front and center. As recipient, Keesing is invited to address the Society in a plenary session at the 2025 annual meeting, as well as to prepare a manuscript for publication in the Journal of Mammalogy.
Post Date: 09-11-2024
Bard Professor Antonios Kontos Awarded $351,951 Grant from the National Science Foundation
Antonios Kontos, associate professor and director of physics at Bard College, has been awarded a research grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Kontos’ proposal, titled “Stray Light Control for Cosmic Explorer,” has been awarded a total of $351,951 in funding over a period of three years, which will also cover student salaries, travel, and equipment. “Try to imagine a telescope that can hear every collision between two stars in the universe. That is what we are creating with the Cosmic Explorer detector,” said Kontos.
Bard Professor Antonios Kontos Awarded $351,951 Grant from the National Science Foundation
Antonios Kontos, associate professor and director of physics at Bard College.
Antonios Kontos, associate professor and director of physics at Bard College, has been awarded a research grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Kontos’ proposal, titled “Stray Light Control for Cosmic Explorer,” has been awarded a total of $351,951 in funding over a period of three years, which will also cover student salaries, travel, and equipment.
“Try to imagine a telescope that can hear every collision between two stars in the universe. That is what we are creating with the Cosmic Explorer detector,” said Kontos. “This award will allow students at Bard the opportunity to contribute to this remarkable project over the next three years.”
Gravitational-wave astronomy, a subfield of astronomy focusing on the detection and study of gravitational waves emitted by astrophysical sources, has now opened a new window to the universe, which—along with conventional telescopes—significantly broadens our understanding of astrophysics and cosmology. The Cosmic Explorer project is a concept for a next-generation gravitational-wave observatory in the US, which will enable the detection of nearly every black-hole collision in the observable universe. The NSF award will allow a team of scientists and engineers to produce this initial conceptual design, and to develop technologies to facilitate the eventual realization of the Cosmic Explorer. The project will be undertaken in collaboration with the California Institute of Technology, which received a separate grant for the initiative.
The NSF is an independent federal agency that supports science and engineering in all 50 states and US territories. It was established in 1950 by Congress to promote the progress of science, advance the nation’s health, prosperity and welfare, and to secure the US national defense. Its investments account for about 25% of federal support to US colleges and universities for research driven by curiosity and discovery. NSF aims to keep the US at the leading edge of discovery in science and engineering, to the benefit of all, without barriers to participation.
Bard College Awarded $74,445 NEH Digital Humanities Advancement Grant for the Center for Experimental Humanities
L-R: Krista Caballero, codirector of Experimental Humanities and artist in residence (photo by Terry Roethlein); and Susan Merriam, codirector of Experimental Humanities and associate professor of art history and visual culture.
Bard College is pleased to announce that the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has awarded a $74,445 grant in support of the Center for Experimental Humanities (EH) at Bard. The grant will support Solar-Powering the Humanities: Archiving for the Future, a new initiative by EH to creatively re-envision archives and the reliance of small institutions on external data storage providers. The project will redesign and migrate EH’s current digital archive, currently hosted on Amazon web services, to a “solar server” that the center will design, prototype and self-host.
“Experimental Humanities at Bard College is grateful to receive funding from National Endowment for the Humanities to support the creation of a solar-powered server to host our extensive archives,” said Krista Caballero and Susan Merriam, codirectors of EH. “This project is important because recent research is clear that the environmental cost of our digital infrastructures is enormous; the Cloud has a greater carbon footprint than the airline industry. Solar-Powering the Humanities: Archiving for the Future emerged out of conversations regarding ways EH might incubate projects that explicitly address this ecological crisis. A collaboration among faculty in Computer Science, Physics, and the Arts as well as students, and staff, our designs will be made available so that other institutions can reimagine their archives to be self-sustaining and environmentally responsible.”
Bard’s Experimental Humanities is an interdisciplinary center for experimentation with digital, analog, and conceptual methods of learning, research, and public engagement. EH works with media and technology from across historical periods, and is committed to the notion that embracing experimental approaches is essential to fostering practices that are inclusive for all learners and transformative for the societies in which we live. To learn more, visit https://eh.bard.edu/.
The team includes project co-directors Krista Caballero, co-director of the Center for Experimental Humanities and artist in residence; Valerie Barr, Margaret Hamilton Distinguished Professor of Computer Science and director of the Bard Network Computing Initiative; Beate Liepert, visiting professor in physics and environmental studies and director of environmental studies; Susan Merriam, co-director of the Center for Experimental Humanities and associate professor of art history and visual culture; as well as Misha Awad, developer for digital arts and humanities at the Center for Experimental Humanities; Sean Maguire, systems administrator in information technology; and Anna Hallett Gutierrez, project coordinator at the Center for Experimental Humanities.
Bard Professor Heeryoon Shin Awarded $5,500 Fellowship from the Asian Cultural Council
Heeryoon Shin, assistant professor of art history and visual culture.
Heeryoon Shin, assistant professor of art history and visual culture at Bard College, has been awarded an individual fellowship of $5,500 from the Asian Cultural Council in support of a new project in India. Shin’s research will focus on investigating the localized reception of blue-and-white ceramics in colonial India, and examine the innovative architectural reuse of Chinese, Dutch, and British ceramics in Indian interiors. Blue-and-white ceramics incorporated into palace interiors have been seen as derivative imitations of European practices of collecting and displaying ceramics, or have often been considered too foreign to be part of the narrative of India’s national art history. Shin’s project aims to reframe these historical spaces as sites of multilayered cultural exchanges facilitated by the creativity of Indian patrons and artists—and to ultimately contribute to the decolonization of global art history by emphasizing the Indian agency and initiative in ceramic practices and histories.
Wihanble S’a Center at Bard College Receives $500,000 Grant and Named NEH Humanities Research Center on Artificial Intelligence
Suzanne Kite MFA ’18, director of the Wihanble S’a Center for Indigenous AI.
Bard College is pleased to announce that the Wihanble S’a Center for Indigenous AI, directed by Dr. Suzanne Kite, distinguished artist in residence and assistant professor of American and Indigenous Studies, has been designated as a Humanities Research Center on AI by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). This prestigious recognition will confer a $500,000 grant in support of the Center, and position Wihanble S’a at the forefront of innovative research that integrates Indigenous Knowledge systems with cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.
Beginning in Fall 2024, the Wihanble S’a Center will embark on groundbreaking research aimed at developing ethical AI frameworks deeply rooted in Indigenous methodologies. The Center’s mission is to explore and address the ethical, legal, and societal implications of AI through an Indigenous lens, ensuring that AI technologies reflect diverse perspectives and contribute positively to society.
“This award is a tremendous honor and a recognition of the importance of American Indian perspectives in the rapidly evolving fields of AI,” said Dr. Kite, who is an award-winning Oglála Lakȟóta artist and academic, and Bard MFA ’18 alum. “Our goal is to develop ethical methodologies for systems grounded in Indigenous knowledge, offering new guidelines and models through collaboration between Indigenous scholars and AI researchers, challenging the predominantly Western approach to AI. Wihanble S’a (WEE hah blay SAH) means dreamer in Lakota, and we are dreaming of an abundant future.”
The NEH designation will support the Center’s initiatives, including the establishment of a dedicated facility on Bard College’s Massena Campus. This facility will serve as a collaborative hub, bringing together scholars from across diverse academic disciplines—including computer science, cognitive and neuroscience, linguistics, ethics, and Indigenous Studies—to engage in interdisciplinary research and educational activities.
In addition to research, the Center will host public events, workshops, and an interdisciplinary Fellowship and Visiting Scholars program, all aimed at advancing the field of Indigenous-informed AI. The Center’s work will complement the recruitment and support of Indigenous students ongoing at Bard’s Center for Indigenous Studies, enhancing Bard College’s commitment to being a leader in Indigenous studies in the United States as well as complementing Dr. Kite’s work with the international Abundant Intelligences Indigenous AI research program. Wihanble S’a Center’s designation as an NEH Humanities Research Center on AI underscores Bard College’s dedication to fostering innovative, socially responsible research that bridges the humanities and technological advancements.
Bard College Conservatory Receives $50,006 Grant from New York State
László Z. Bitó Conservatory building.
Bard College will receive a $50,006 grant as part of New York State’s Higher Education Capital Matching Grant Program, which supports projects at colleges and universities across the state by providing construction and renovation of laboratory and research spaces, the purchase of instructional technologies and equipment, and other significant investments. The grant will support the purchase of pianos and equipment for Bard’s László Z. Bitó Conservatory building. The equipment will be available to Bard’s community of students, faculty, and staff, as well as to the greater Hudson Valley community that participates in the opportunities Bard provides for learning, enrichment, and enjoyment. “New York’s colleges and universities are second to none, offering students unparalleled opportunities to learn, explore, and prepare to launch their careers,” Governor Hochul said. “With this funding, my administration is reaffirming our commitment to providing our students—including those at our private, not-for-profit institutions—with a top-tier, New York education with the best possible resources and facilities that will help them succeed inside and outside of the classroom.”
Two Bard Faculty Members Awarded 2024 Franklin Research Grants
L-R: Robert Culp, professor of history and Asian studies, and Peter Klein, associate professor of sociology and environmental and urban studies.
Two faculty members from the Division of Social Studies at Bard College have been awarded a Franklin Research Grant for 2024. Robert Culp, professor of history and Asian studies, will receive a grant of $4,000 in support of his book project, Circuits of Meaning: Book Markets and Reading Communities in Modern China, 1900–1965, an in-depth study dedicated to modern Chinese book distribution, which has been neglected in research on modern Chinese publishing and comparative book history more generally. Peter Klein, associate professor of sociology and environmental and urban studies, will receive $6,000 to support his book project, The Favela and the Sea: Examining the Intersection of Fishing, Urbanization, and Environmental (In)Justice, which is also being supported by a Fulbright US Scholar award and explores how the fishers of Complexo da Maré, Rio de Janeiro's largest cluster of favelas, have preserved traditions and protected their way of life in response to a myriad of threats and upheavals.
Post Date: 07-01-2024
Endowment Challenge
George Soros and the Open Society Foundations have pledged $500 million for Bard’s unrestricted endowment.
This pledge ranks among the largest commitments to higher education in the United States in recent memory. The pledge has challenged Bard to raise an additional $500 million over five years for its endowment. In April 2021, the College publicly announced that the first half of that amount, $250 million, was raised from trustees, alumni/ae, and friends, all of whom have made their own pledges due to their belief in Bard’s distinctive mission.
Bard College understands that you may have questions about the information you provide on this website and your use of this website.
Our Use of “Cookies” and “Action Tags” We use cookies to improve website performance, to remember user preferences and settings, and to collect analytic data. By “cookies” we mean small text files placed on your computer by websites you visit. We may also use “action tags.” When you access pages with action tags, a generic notice of that page visit is generated. This may be used to allow third-parties to set cookies in order to present advertising on other sites based on your behavior on our site. However, we do not use cookies or action tags to collect or transfer personal information. If you have concerns about the use of these methods you should adjust your browser settings to restrict or block cookies.
Website Performance Website performance cookies allow us to make the website easier and more informative. For example, they may enable us to save you time when filling out a form by populating it with information you provided in previous visits.
Analytics We use Google Analytics to track usage statistics to give us a better understanding of how people engage with our website, such as:
How many individual visitors we have
How many visitors are new or returning
How often visitors come to the website
What content they’ve visited
How visitors interact with particular pages or content
These features do not use personally identifiable information but do collect information about your computer. This tool can also be used by other websites to present advertising that may be of interest to you based on your behavior on our site. If you do not wish to participate, you can use Google’s opt out link. You may also be interested in the National Advertising Institute’s opt out tool.
How Certain Content Hosts May Place Cookies and Gather Information About You Our site is connected in a variety of ways to content residing on other platforms. We provide links to content on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, and to content on other sites, such as articles posted on the sites of news organizations. Our site also features embedded media, such as videos, that are hosted on other platforms (such as YouTube) but viewable directly through the buttons we provide. When you click on links or buttons for any of these types of external content, the providers of that content may place their own cookies on your computer, access existing cookies that were set when you previously visited other websites, or otherwise gather information about you as you access their content.
To learn about how those content hosts treat the data they collect through cookies and otherwise, see their respective online privacy policies and other posted guidance. Bard Prison Initiative will never share or sell any personal information or data to any third parties for promotional purposes.
Email Subscription Opt-Out The site provides you with the opportunity to sign up for our email list, and we may collect data by using a URL that enables us to identify that you have taken an action, such as clicking a link in an email. In all email communications that you receive from this site, except for confirmation emails for event registrations and/or donations, you will be provided an unsubscribe option. You can also modify the emails that you receive at any time by going to your account profile and changing your opt-in status there. Our electronic communications are powered by Technolutions’ Slate platform.
Links On This Website To Third Party Sites In some places on the Bard College Giving website users may find links to third party websites. These links will take you away from our site. Users who open those links should be aware of the privacy policies of those sites as Bard College cannot control use of user information shared directly with third parties. We encourage you to become familiar with the privacy statements of all sites that you visit.
Updates to This Privacy Policy This site has the right to make changes or additions to this policy at any time. If those changes involve using your personally identifiable information in a manner different from that stated at the time you joined, the site will notify you by email. Changes that do not affect use of personally identifiable information will be posted to the site. If you have questions regarding this policy, please check this policy periodically.