Princeton University

As we look to the celebration of , one Princetonian is helping retell the story of Philadelphia’s role in shaping our nation’s founding.

Associate dean in the Office of the Dean of the College, Alec Dun was asked to lend his expertise as part of the documentary, “Becoming American: Philadelphia’s Story.” Earning his master's and Ph.D. in history from Princeton, his scholarship is focused on early America, race and identity, radicalism and revolution and slavery and anti-slavery.

In addition to on-screen interviews, Dun was involved in elements of the script, fact-checking, and location scouting.

"We like to think about it as a singular event (‘the Revolution’), but of course it was really a series of unfolding events, each contingent on the others, with no foregone endpoint," he said. "Thinking about it that way makes 'Revolution' more of an adjective than a noun—one that describes whose ideas about the changes that were taking place took hold and whose were seen as steps too far. In my view, this is the most satisfying, and exciting, way to understand this period (or any period)."

He also spoke to the significance of the film showing at this time.

The film "recovers the vital presence of actors who are usually left out, it uncovers a picture of an American Revolution that, while full of promise, required (and requires) ongoing effort and struggle to attain, and it embraces that struggle itself as the highest form of patriotism. I think that’s a really important series of messages to convey as the nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of its independence."

Now streaming on PBS, filmmakers heard from viewers at special screenings, where filmgoers expressed both "joy and gratitude," and even picked up some new details.

"In some cases, despite the fact that historians have been writing about these events for decades, folks were learning about these issues, events, and people for the first time. More than one said that they felt a new kind of connection to the nation at large that they hadn’t necessarily felt before."

Learn more: https://www.becomingamericanmovie.com/

📸: Bear House Media

When Ian Auzenne ’10 received a phone call from his mom on April 1 saying he had been accepted to Princeton, he thought it was an April Fool’s joke. “When she read the letter and Admissions Dean Janet Rapelye’s name at the end, I realized it was no joke. I’m a natural procrastinator, but I put the postcard confirming my acceptance in the mail the next morning.”

Auzenne, who grew up in Lafayette, Louisiana, was introduced to Princeton through the inaugural LEDA Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America Scholars Program summer session in 2005. “It's a summer I’ll never forget. The program was an eye-opening experience for a kid from South Louisiana who had never been that far away from home by himself. It may sound trite, but learning about other people’s experiences and perspectives showed me just how big and diverse our country and our world are, and I’m grateful for having that opportunity.”

Auzenne jokes that he “majored in WPRB 103.3 FM” at Princeton, where he honed his craft in radio broadcasting. “WPRB set the course for my professional career by opening doors I never imagined existed, from DJing to anchoring newscasts to handling sports play-by-play.”

After graduating with a bachelor’s in politics, Auzenne returned to Lafayette, where he worked for 12 years in local television and radio, both on air and behind the scenes. He's now at WWL Radio in New Orleans, working “in the nation's service” through local journalism by keeping communities informed and highlighting outstanding citizens.

Off air, Auzenne encourages students to try new experiences. “You can always bring your degree back home, but you’ll at the very least have seen a small slice of the world and, hopefully, met others who will have helped to shape your view of the world.”

Today, Auzenne is proudly standing up for Princeton and higher education. “If we are to continue advancing as a people, we need Princeton and other universities to continue their work in the sciences and in the humanities, whether it’s finding cures for cancer and other debilitating diseases, finding ways to protect our environment, or figuring out the inner workings of human nature. I will always stand up for learning. I will always stand up for knowledge. I will always stand up for Princeton.”

A major gift from the Leinweber Foundation has established the Leinweber Forum for Theoretical Physics at Princeton University. With this gift, Princeton will become the ninth member of the Leinweber network for theoretical physics, which is focused on advancing curiosity-driven research on the theoretical principles underlying the physical universe.

The Leinweber Forum for Theoretical Physics at Princeton will be an interdisciplinary hub, drawing researchers from the departments of physics, astrophysical sciences and mathematics as well as scholars across the University.

Observed annually on June 19, Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, TX, and announced the enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation—more than two years after it had been issued—effectively freeing the last enslaved African Americans in Confederate territory.

The Department of African American Studies has curated a list of educational resources as well as a selection of public events throughout the tri-state area to mark the day.

Honoring Juneteenth: Reflection, Learning, and Community Engagement Juneteenth stands as a national moment of remembrance, celebration, and continued reflection on the long struggle for Black freedom in the United States. Observed annually on June 19, it marks the day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the enforcement of the Emancip...

: “One of my favorite memories at Princeton was sitting at one of the pottery wheels in the Huo College ceramics studio, listening to my music, soft clay running through my hands, and looking out the big glass window onto Poe field at sunset. Ceramics is an extremely meditative process and was a valuable, relaxing and creative outlet from my busy studies as a history major with a minor in architecture & engineering. In the classroom I might feel a strong obligation to be perfect, but ceramics is a place where failure is OK — even inevitable. I first discovered ceramics in a 10th grade art class and actually wrote one of my Princeton application essays on what I called ‘embracing the messiness’ — sometimes the best pieces emerge by accident. Maybe I was intending to make a vase, but my hand slipped, pulling the clay out wide, so that now I had a beautiful bowl instead. Or maybe my hand slipped and the piece collapsed, but that’s OK because I could simply just wedge the clay, and start over again. In ceramics there is no ‘right’ answer, there’s not even a ‘right’ process. There is only room to experiment, explore, and with enough practice, be able to tangibly create something you are proud of. I took advanced ceramics classes my junior and senior years of high school, and became a regular at the Huo College ceramics studio as soon as I set foot on campus my first year, signing up for as many wheel-throwing sessions a week as my schedule allowed. At the start of my sophomore year, I got a job as an associate in the studio and spent the next three years leading workshops and introducing my peers to the art form that I love so much. I would recommend to every Princeton student who is looking for community, a creative outlet, a break from their busy day, or just an opportunity to try something new and laugh with their friends, to check out the ceramics studio. There are several sessions every day — no experience needed. It’s one of the most special places on campus.” — Hailey Hubbard ’26; photo by Noel Valero ’82 *86

Like mother, like son 🎓

"My highlight of graduation season was definitely seeing my mother walk on stage seven days before I did."

​After completing his finals, Brian Mhando '26 went home to New York to watch his mom, Anna, receive her master's degree in Construction Administration from Columbia University.

While they were both attending college, Anna was diagnosed with breast cancer.

"There were many moments during college, especially during my junior year, when my mom was sick, where I would come home and spend time studying with her. We would often work together at our living room table, holding each other accountable for our work ... We definitely helped each other succeed during moments of intense academic pressure."

Earlier this spring, Brian was awarded a Gates Cambridge Scholarship. He plans to pursue an MPhil with a focus on human diseases at University of Cambridge in preparation for a career as an epidemiologist, with an initial focus on village health systems in East Africa.

His mother’s battle with breast cancer drew his attention to inequities in healthcare and was one of his inspirations to pursue a career in global health, developing equitable and cost-effective health systems to support people worldwide.

"Watching my mom pursue her graduate education, even while sick, has further inspired me to pursue a PhD in Epidemiology. In moments where I doubted myself at Princeton or felt unfit for graduate school, she reaffirmed that I could push through by refusing to quit, despite facing many strenuous challenges during her master's degree. I could not be prouder and more honored to have graduated the same year as her."

On May 26, Anna and family were in Princeton to celebrate the other graduate in their family, Brian, who earned his bachelor's degree in ecology and evolutionary biology and minors in African studies, African American studies, and global health and health policy.

Lilia Burtonpatel and Ram Narayanan, both members of Princeton’s Class of 2027, have been awarded Goldwater Scholarships. This annual award — now in its 40th year — supports "sophomores and juniors who aspire to become this nation’s next generation of researchers in science, engineering, and mathematics": https://bit.ly/4vIuJnw

Burtonpatel, from Brookline, Massachusetts, is majoring in ecology and evolutionary biology, with a minor in music.

Ram Narayanan is a physics major from Scarsdale, New York, with minors in computer science and applied and computational mathematics.