Amherst Magazine provides news and event updates from Amherst College, highlighting institutional milestones, campus stories, alumni achievements, and regular publication features. The Summer 2026 edition highlights fifty years of coeducation at the institution. Readers looking into competitive admissions updates and Ivy League strategies can examine how historical policy shifts shaped the modern campus. The magazine’s primary feature centers on women at Amherst, featuring an introduction written by Gretchen Sisson from the class of 2006 alongside artwork created by Liz Moran.

Reflecting on the historical context, the publication notes that the current campus environment features significant representation of women among both the student body and faculty ranks. Past leadership milestones include President Biddy Martin serving in the institution’s highest administrative role, Chantal Kordula from the class of 1994 chairing the Board of Trustees, and Professor Rose Olver having her portrait hung in Johnson Chapel as the first image of a woman displayed on those walls. When the institution originally voted to admit women in 1974, the decision fundamentally reshaped the identity and future of the college. Rather than viewing the change as a simple vote by a panel of men, the publication frames the anniversary as an index of integration, resilience, and coeducation structured from the letters A through Z.

The college has scheduled community events throughout 2026 and 2027 to mark fifty years of community, courage, collaboration, and coeducation. College leadership expresses enthusiasm for looking back at five decades of women graduates who carried their education into the world, while also anticipating the next fifty years of accomplishments. Additional news covered in the Summer 2026 edition includes articles exploring why writing is prominent on walls, features on honorary degree recipients such as Nina Simone and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, four distinct perspectives on a historical campus statue, and documentation regarding the very first female applicants to the institution.

The Amherst Creates section highlights independent creative works by alumni and faculty members. This includes Mirissa Neff from the class of 1996 revitalizing local cinema in a small town, filmmaker Julie Forrest Wyman from the class of 1993 featured in The Tallest Dwarf, and recent publications authored by professors. The issue also includes standard publication sections such as a presidential library column, views from campus, memorial notices, class notes, and contests.

For puzzle enthusiasts, Joanna Mahoney, a senior graphic designer working within the campus Office of Communications, designed a spot-the-difference game using artwork on display at the Mead Art Museum. Katharine Whittemore introduced the magazine’s first Sunday-sized crossword puzzle, which was developed by an aunt-and-niece team of cruciverbalists who have previously published puzzles in major newspapers such as The New York Times. Readers can explore the contest and solve the crossword directly through the platform.

The publication maintains an archive extending back through previous editions, including the Spring 2026, Winter 2026, Fall 2025, and Summer 2025 issues, which are accessible to the public online. Amherst Magazine has received external recognition for its journalism and design, including a 2023 gold award in the profile writing category from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) for an article titled “A Glorious Woman” written by senior editor Katharine Whittemore. Furthermore, the magazine earned a 2021 CASE silver award recognizing general interest magazines, and contributing writer Naomi Shulman received a 2021 CASE silver award in the profile writing category for her article titled “His Biggest Fear Is We’ll Go Back to Normal.”

The editorial team actively invites readers to submit story pitches, asking contributors to send a brief couple of paragraphs explaining topics they find mysterious, charming, inspiring, or exciting. Submissions for consideration in the Short Takes column or for an Amherst Creates review can include newly released books, films, albums, podcasts, and other publications sent to the editorial email address.

The masthead lists Katherine Duke from the class of 2005 as production editor, Madeline Levine as editorial and communications coordinator, Liz Moran as design director, Sumanth Prabhaker as editorial director, Maria Stenzel as senior photographer, and Katharine Whittemore as senior editor. Contributing editors include Lauren Groff from the class of 2001 and Andy Ward from the class of 1994, supported by editorial interns Matthew Fisher from the class of 2026, Stephanie Park from the class of 2029, and Tetsuya Tanaka from the class of 2028. The administrative offices are located at Amherst College, Amherst, MA 01002, with main contact telephone numbers and campus maps available through the directory.

To read the complete collection of articles, examine archives, or review detailed event schedules, please see the official portal.

News is prepared from public university announcements for general guidance. Policies change frequently; confirm current details with each university admissions office.