April 22, 2023

This Spring marks the Social Thought and Political Economy Program’s 50-year anniversary.  We hope that STPEC students and alumni will join us on Saturday, April 22 to celebrate this milestone with a series of “STPEC at 50” events. 

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm   Our celebration begins with a welcome lunch and social hour in the Marriott Room (11th floor) of the UMass Campus Center. Reunite and reconnect with STPEC alumni, faculty, staff and students from across the many generations of the STPEC Program. 

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm     “The Past, Present, and Future of STPEC.” Hear from panels of guest alumni sharing stories of their paths from STPEC, and the ways STPEC prepared them to realize our STPEC Program motto: “Understand the World, Change It.”  This conversation and discussion time will be an opportunity for our current students to connect with our vibrant community of alumni.  Bring your own stories and pathways from STPEC, and learn how you can support the present and future generations of STPEC students. 

3:00 pm – 5:00 pm     “STPEC Evolution.”  We’ll also host a panel with past and present STPEC faculty on the origins and evolution of STPEC, featuring special guests founding director Dr. Robert Paul Wolff and long-serving director Dr. Sara Lennox.  Join us to welcome these esteemed educators and change-makers back to campus, and to hear Professor Wolff’s exciting story of STPEC’s creation 50 years ago! 

5:00 pm – 7:30 pm     This year’s STPEC Student Executive Committee is hosting an open-air concert and rally outside the Campus Center, starting at 5:00 pm. We’ll provide dinner and refreshments that you can enjoy in the Campus Center or take with you outside to the concert rally. 

8:00 pm – 9:15 pm     We’ll end our day of festivities with the world-renowned Bread and Puppet Theater, performing “Inflammatory Earthling Rants” at the Mahar Auditorium, across the pond from the concert rally. 

Join us on April 22 for any or all of these special “STPEC at 50” events.