Barnard College

Earlier this year, the Barnard community lost Hilde Limondjian (’58), a visionary cultural impresaria who passed away at the age of 89.

After graduating with a degree in art history, Limondjian spent 41 years as the Director of Concerts and Lectures at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. A true innovator, she programmed over 9,000 events and pioneered the practice of staging live music directly inside the Met’s art galleries. Her impeccable taste, fierce dedication to supporting musicians, and creative vision fundamentally transformed New York City's musical landscape.

Read more about Limondjian’s life and career in the New York Times:

https://nyti.ms/4egQRzF

Hilde Limondjian, Met Museum’s Longtime Concert Impresario, Dies at 89 She gave New York debuts to artists like Cecilia Bartoli and Peter Serkin, and introduced new music by Philip Glass and others.

In 1928, Zora Neale Hurston became the first known African American woman to graduate from Barnard College. As we celebrate 100 years of Black students at Barnard, Hurston’s influence continues to reverberate across literature, anthropology, folklore, and more.

To commemorate the centenary anniversary of Hurston’s historic achievement, the Zora Neale Hurston Committee invited proposals from students, alumnae, faculty, and staff that sustain Hurston’s legacy.

Ultimately, eleven projects were awarded grants.

Read more about the grants here:

Grant Funds Projects that Celebrate Zora Neale Hurston's Legacy Eleven grant-funded projects will honor Hurston’s influence through art, scholarship, storytelling, and community engagement.

Nia Ashley ’16 is an artist, producer, writer, media artist, and now — a Barnard educator.

After earning a Gildersleeve Professorship, Ashley will co-teach a course with Chair and Professor of Africana Studies Monica Miller in spring 2027.

In the course, students will help prepare for Ashley’s upcoming “A Way Out of No Way” exhibition which was recently granted a Zora Neale Hurston Grant.

“In her role as Gildersleeve Professor, Nia will create (with me and our students) an exhibition on Barnard's Black alums, faculty, staff, a long overdue examination and recognition of over 100 years of institutional history,” said Miller.

Ashley is excited to be on the other side of a Barnard classroom.

“I hope that this class is just one of the many ways that Barnard chooses to engage with its own history, and with different demographics in its student body,” she said.

Learn more about Ashley’s achievement here:
https://bit.ly/4eL0Qxb

Barnard Alumna Earns Gildersleeve Professorship Nia Ashley ’16 will co-teach a course with Chair and Professor of Africana Studies Monica Miller in spring 2027.

Andrew Lipman, Professor of History, has earned the 2026 Dan David Prize, an award that recognizes “scholars and practitioners whose work illuminates the human past and can enrich public discourse with a deeper understanding of history.”

The $300,000 prize is the largest of its kind for researchers in the field, and will support his third book project, an exploration of the dynamic social world of colonial New York City under British rule.

Read More:
https://bit.ly/4vchmvU

History Professor Awarded $300,000 Dan David Prize The annual award — the largest prize for researchers in the field — recognizes outstanding scholarship that deepens our knowledge and understanding of the past.

“When you study liberal arts, people always say, ‘What are you going to do with that?’ I was thinking about it recently, and every single course I took, I've managed to use.”

Lisa Hunter ’85 won the Peabody Award for her role as narrative director for the Southern folklore-inspired video game, “South of Midnight.”

She attended Barnard in hopes of being a writer, after finding that most of her favorite writers were alumnae themselves.

Read more about Hunter’s journey from Barnard to video game writer here:

https://bit.ly/442tjs3

Lisa Hunter ’85 Wins Peabody Award for Role in Folklore-Inspired Video Game Alumna said she’s used ‘every single course’ she took at Barnard in her career.

When Jamie Babbit ’93 graduated from Barnard, she had no way of knowing the cultural impact her work would have for generations to come.

Her film, “But I’m a Cheerleader,” has become a cult classic of q***r cinema, finding renewed popularity among Gen Z audiences.

Most recently, she wrapped filming on the sequel to “Red, White & Royal Blue,” another beloved q***r romantic comedy, slated to premiere in early 2027.

Read more about Babbit’s journey from undergraduate to acclaimed director:

https://bit.ly/4uYbfLP

Jamie Babbit ’93 and the Art of Q***r Joy Barnard alumna recently wrapped production on the anticipated sequel to romantic comedy, Red, White & Royal Blue, adding to her repertoire of beloved q***r projects.

Shalini Sharma ’95 began her career in network television in the nineties, scoring her first gig at ABC News through a hand-written letter to an executive producer. Now, after decades of work in both broadcast news and digital media, Sharma has taken on the role of Senior Vice President of Content at NBC News.

Her leadership on the 2025 documentary “Filmed in Gaza” helped earn the network two wins at the 47th annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards, the latest stamp of approval on a remarkable career.

Read More:

https://bit.ly/3QbqzWa

How Shalini Sharma ’95 is Embracing a Shifting Media Landscape The award-winning NBC News executive helped bring the documentary “Filmed in Gaza” to viewers, securing two wins at the 47th annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards.

Columbia University Women’s Wrestling, Featuring 11 Barnard Students, to Become a Varsity Sport for the 2027-28 Academic Year

Read More:
https://bit.ly/4eyehAu

Columbia University Women’s Wrestling, Featuring 11 Barnard students, to Become a Varsity Sport Women’s Wrestling Becomes The First Varsity Sport Added At Columbia In Nearly 20 Years.

Returning to Morningside Heights always has a way of making years feel like mere moments!

Our campus was filled with incredible energy recently as Barnard alumnae across generations gathered to honor our shared legacy and look toward the future. Reunions like this one truly highlight the profound impact of our global network — a community of over 40,000 remarkable leaders, innovators, and changemakers.

Read More:

https://bit.ly/4xdYuON

Congratulations to the Spring 2026 inductees of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest academic honor society! This year marked the 125th anniversary of Barnard's Phi Beta Kappa Chapter, founded in 1901.