Harvard professor Steven Pinker lectures on free speech

Steven Pinker, a renowned psychologist, author and professor at Harvard, spoke at Wellesley on Wednesday, Feb. 18. The lecture, “Three Reasons to Affirm Free Speech,” was presented by the Freedom Project, an organization that invites speakers from a range of different fields to campus each semester to engage students in discussions about topics such as democracy, freedom and human rights. The talk was co-sponsored by the Knapp Social Science Center, the psychology department, and the cognitive & linguistic sciences department. Pinker addressed potential threats to free speech in different settings, such as that of the modern-day university. Pinker has published many books on his work, including titles like “How the Mind Works” and “The Sense of Style.” His research, which focuses on language psychology and visual cognition, has been recognized by prominent organizations such as the National Academy of Sciences and the American Psychological Association.

Wellesley student selected for Woodrow Wilson-Rockefeller Brothers Fund Fellowship

Faith Fells ’15, a political science major with a minor in education, is one of eight college seniors across the nation to be awarded with the 2014 Woodrow Wilson-Rockefeller Brothers Fund Fellowship for Aspiring Teachers of Color. Fells has been awarded a $30,000 stipend and will have access to mentoring resources as she completes a master’s degree in education. The fellowship helps recruit teacher candidates of color and supports its recipients to become teachers in high-need K-12 public schools around the country. Last summer, Fells interned as a junior associate in a public school system in Washington, D.C., an experience which inspired her to make a greater impact as a teacher. During her time at Wellesley, Fells has participated in programs such as Bridging the Gap and Mission Hill After School, opportunities which provided a chance for her to mentor high school students and children.