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‘Rally’ Reinvents Pickleball Experience: Alum Brings a Hospitality Bent to a Booming Sport

Barrett Worthington ’09 turned a hunch into a successful business. Learn how the Davidson alum is reinventing the social experience of the fastest-growing sport: pickleball.

During a visit to present the 2026 Joel Connaroe Lecture at ����������Ʒ�Ƽ�, acclaimed author Charles Yu challenged our definitions of intelligence in the age of AI. In his recent piece in The Atlantic, “Don’t Call It ‘Intelligence,’” Yu draws from his campus lecture to caution against conflating technological capability with a fundamental human attribute. 

Why ‘One Battle After Another’ Is Even More Radical Than It Looks

����������Ʒ�Ƽ� English Professor Jeff Jackson explores the political complexity of the Oscar-frontrunner One Battle After Another and its surprising connection to the 1966 classic The Battle of Algiers. The discussion dives into how modern cinema balances big-budget genre tropes with radical themes of insurgency and resistance.

Charlotte Optimist: The College That’s Betting on Better Arguments

The Charlotte Optimist spotlights the new D.G. and Harriet Wall Martin Institute for Public Good at ����������Ʒ�Ƽ�. The Martin Institute aims to develop effective, ethical leaders and citizens. 

Presidents Give Voice to the Enduring Values That Have Guided ����������Ʒ�Ƽ� Across Time

Five ����������Ʒ�Ƽ� presidents, representing 42 years of leadership, gathered to discuss the enduring values of a liberal arts education amidst AI disruption and shifting higher education landscapes. The event came after the college announced more than $47 million of gift commitments to launch the D.G. and Harriet Wall Martin Institute for Public Good.

����������Ʒ�Ƽ� Secures $47 Million to Launch the D.G. and Harriet Wall Martin Institute for Public Good

����������Ʒ�Ƽ� establishes the D.G. and Harriet Wall Martin Institute for Public Good with a landmark $47 million in support. The ambitious initiative will cultivate ethical leaders and bridge-builders dedicated to solving the world’s most pressing civic challenges.

The Art of Curiosity: Courtney Lassiter ’27 Weaves Film, Music and Visuals in Cultural Exploration

Meet Courtney Lassiter ’27, a multidisciplinary artist redefining cultural exploration through film, zines, and techno.

Pickleball Prodigy: Liz Truluck ’22 Levels Up on a New Kind of Court

Davidson alum Liz Truluck '22 found pickleball by accident and is now ranked among the top 20 players in the world. Learn how she swapped her tennis racket for a pickleball paddle.

Phi Beta Kappa Elects New Members for 2026

The Gamma Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa at ����������Ʒ�Ƽ� is pleased to publicly announce the new members-in-course for 2026.

Ground Control: Lauren Arkell ’22 Guides Blue Ghost Lunar Landing

Learn how former college athlete and physics major Lauren Arkell '22 went from studying lunar dust as an intern to commanding the successful Firefly Aerospace Blue Ghost lunar lander mission for NASA's CLPS initiative.

You Learned That at ����������Ʒ�Ƽ�?

Discover how six ����������Ʒ�Ƽ� alumni transformed a liberal arts education into unconventional careers in firefighting, video game design, culinary arts and more. Explore stories of leadership, adaptability and purpose-driven lives that prove a Davidson degree prepares you for any path you choose.

Celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day with ����������Ʒ�Ƽ�

No one does “kind” better than the Davidson community. We care for, and about, each other and our students – a distinctive quality that our alumni recall and prospective students sense when they visit. Explore how ����������Ʒ�Ƽ� celebrated this year's Random Acts of Kindness Day.

Beyond the Syllabus: Leadership, Love and Legacy

����������Ʒ�Ƽ� set the stage for a love story and inspired alums Kylee Taylor ’23 and Trey Messer ’24 to volunteer for the benefit of current and future students. 

Laurie Bingaman Lackey ’79: Conservation Biologist

Meet conservation biologist Laurie Bingaman Lackey ’79, a ����������Ʒ�Ƽ� biology alumna who helped build Species360, a global data network for 1,400 zoos across 90 countries. Discover how her Watson Fellowship and Davidson mentorships led to a career managing data for over four million animals and endangered species worldwide.

Mišo Vukčević ’18: Video Game Developer

Discover how Mišo Vukčević ’18 turned a digital art project into the viral indie RPG Bleak Faith: Forsaken. Building off his Montenegrin roots and his studio art education, this Alvarez Scholar now leads a successful game development team and mentors the next generation of creators.

Ashley Mincey ’11: Freelance Culinary Artist

From the ����������Ʒ�Ƽ� tennis courts to MasterChef with Gordon Ramsay, Ashley Mincey ’11 is redefining the culinary arts. Learn how this French major and former teacher uses her Davidson education to lead her brand, Envie by Mincey, blending history, education, and freelance culinary artistry.

Why Does Michael Maggart ’91 Look So Familiar?

From the classrooms of ����������Ʒ�Ƽ� to the symmetrical sets of Hollywood, learn how Michael Maggart ’91 balances an online tutoring business with recurring roles in Wes Anderson films like Rushmore and The Phoenician Scheme. 

Christopher Kip ’95: Fire Chief

From cleaning ancient bones in Cyprus to leading a fire department, Assistant Fire Chief Christopher Kip ’95 shares how his ����������Ʒ�Ƽ� education prepared him for a 27-year career in the fire service. Learn how a studio art and classics background fuels humanitarian leadership in Columbia, South Carolina.

MaryBeth Monaco-Vavrik ’23: Fitness Content Creator

Meet MaryBeth Monaco-Vavrik ’23, a ����������Ʒ�Ƽ� political science and communications alum who turned a viral Pilates video into a full-time career as a fitness content creator. Learn how she's analyzing the sociological and political implications of the fitness industry while traveling the world.

John Harmon ’97: Chief Engineer Aboard M/V Catalyst

Explore the journey of John Harmon ’97, a ����������Ʒ�Ƽ� studio art alum who transitioned from the film industry to become the chief engineer of the historic M/V Catalyst in Alaska.