An Evening with Pericles Lewis
Engagement event with Yale underscores Yale’s steadfast support for Yale-NUS students and alumni
On 18 March 2025, members of the Yale University and Yale-NUS College communities gathered for an evening of meaningful connections, hosted by Dean of Yale College Pericles Lewis, who also served as the inaugural President of Yale-NUS. This event underscored Yale’s steadfast support for Yale-NUS students and alumni, reaffirming the lasting ties between both institutions while providing valuable networking opportunities, and a chance to reconnect with current and former members of the Yale-NUS community.
The evening began with a warm welcome from Yale-NUS President Joanne Roberts, who thanked Yale’s for its unwavering commitment to the Yale-NUS community, particularly during the College’s final years. “Yale’s commitment to supporting our current students and alumni has been absolutely steadfast to ensure that we close with dignity and grace,” she said. Since the announcement of Yale-NUS College’s closure, Yale has taken significant steps to support students and alumni, including expanding semester study-abroad programmes, offering summer opportunities, and facilitating visiting Yale faculty to teach at the College.
One of the event’s highlights was a keynote address by Pericles Lewis, Douglas Tracy Smith Professor of Comparative Literature and Dean of Yale College. Reflecting on his time at Yale-NUS from 2012 to 2017, he remarked, “I think all of us who have been involved in Yale-NUS over the last 14 years feel that this has been one of the most important projects in higher education.” He emphasised that Yale-NUS’ impact would persist through the contributions of its students and alumni in their respective fields. Encouraging the Yale-NUS community to remain engaged with Yale, Dean Lewis said, “Yale-NUS alumni are an important part of the Yale community. Many people in New Haven have close ties to those who studied, taught, or worked in Singapore, and Yale-NUS alumni are international affiliates of the Yale Alumni Association. We look forward to seeing you and interacting with you in New Haven and around the world.”
Dean Lewis also acknowledged and thanked current and former faculty and staff members who attended the event, which included the College’s inaugural Dean of Faculty Charles Bailyn, A. Bartlett Giamatti Professor of Astronomy and Physics, and Rebecca Tannenbaum, Senior Lecturer in History at Yale University, both of whom are visiting faculty at Yale-NUS this semester. He added that it was heartening to note the presence of many other former staff and faculty members from Yale-NUS College reconvening with each other at the event, a testament to the enduring bonds that the College has fostered for the community.
Attendees were also treated to a special performance by the Yale Alley Cats, one of Yale’s premier a cappella groups, who captivated the audience with a vibrant set of songs, including a football chant. The lively atmosphere facilitated conversations between Yale and Yale-NUS students and faculty, offering them a chance to exchange experiences and insights.
For Sophia Chok, a Yale-NUS Class of 2025 student, the event was an affirmation of continued support from the Yale community. “It’s encouraging to know that we have a broader network that extends beyond Yale-NUS,” she said. “Hearing from Dean Lewis and engaging with Yale students was a great reminder that our connections don’t end at graduation.” Sophia enjoyed meeting the student performers from the Yale Alley Cats, with whom she compared college experiences in Singapore and New Haven.
Alumni also relished the opportunity to reconnect and network with fellow members of the Yale-NUS community. “It’s an honour to meet Dean Lewis, and so refreshing to be back in an environment full of young, passionate individuals who are interested in making real change in the world. I know that the Yale-NUS legacy will endure for decades to come,” said Jialing Wen, Class of 2023, reflecting on her encounters with former classmates and faculty at the event.
The event successfully reinforced Yale’s commitment to fostering an enduring relationship with Yale-NUS students and alumni. As attendees reminisced about their shared experiences and envisioned the future, the evening served as a poignant reminder that the spirit of Yale-NUS will continue to thrive within the global Yale network.
