After speaking briefly at school meeting at the end of October to recieve the 2022 Heritage Award, the President of Denison University Adam Weinberg ’83 has already captivated the interest of many students and faculty. Dr. Weinberg had a busy schedule, as he managed to partake in a campus tour, speak at school meeting, and attend “Politics and the Science of Memory,” taught by History & Social Science Teacher John Leistler, all in half a day. After the school day ended, he attended lunch with several Advancement Ambassadors then promptly flew back to Ohio to continue his role at Denison University.
The Office of Advancement stated, “The Heritage Award was initiated…to recognize a Deerfield alumnus/a whose professional and personal achievements represent a special contribution to the betterment of society — someone whose life exemplifies the Academy’s motto, ‘Be Worthy of Your Heritage.’”
Dr. Weinberg became the 20th President of Denison University in 2013 and before working at Denison, he worked as the CEO of World Learning, an NGO leading educational programs in more than 70 countries. He attributes his desire to work globally in education and issues of human justice to Deerfield. Dr. Weinberg expressed, “I had opportunities because of Deerfield to shape the world around me.”
Furthermore, Dr. Weinberg credited his career’s success to the skills and values he learned at Deerfield. He said, “As I got older, all the academic and intellectual tools that I started to develop at Deerfield became hugely important … You learn to work hard, you learn to manage lots of activities, [and] you learn to live effectively with a wide range of peers.” Dr. Weinberg concluded that the writing and communication skills he strengthened at Deerfield were the most important, as they became immensely valuable to his professional career.
Though Dr. Weinberg noted that the current generation of Deerfield students would graduate into a vastly different world than he did, he recognized the Deerfield experience as a commonality. Dr. Weinberg commented on the influential nature of the Deerfield experience and its capability to shape students into better people. He said, “I came through Deerfield, recognizing that you have a commitment to community … to be a good person, to be kind and empathetic towards others, to be the kind of person who leans into social issues. You become the kind of creative and forward-looking problem solver who is always trying to make things better.” Dr. Weinberg further reasoned that this commitment to community fostered his desire to pursue a career in education.
In addition to the skills he gained at Deerfield, Dr. Weinberg remarked that the modern employment landscape will value additional skills as well. In particular, he identified the ability to work with data, have intellectual humility, and communicate effectively as the three most important skills for the future because they would serve as a foundation for further growth.
Dr. Weinberg was impressed with the positive changes he saw at Deerfield when he returned. He particularly praised the current generation of Deerfield students for their ability to reconcile differences of opinion. He noted, “It was great to be back on campus and to feel the energy. The generation of Deerfield students now is obviously a group of smart, empathetic people who will make their mark on the world.”
Though Dr. Weinberg enjoyed his time at Deerfield, he had advice for his younger self. He reflected, “I wish I’d stayed in better touch with more of my Deerfield friends more consistently … [and] I probably would have pushed myself harder to try totally new things that were outside my comfort zone.” Regardless, Dr. Weinberg said that if he were given the chance, he would love to relive his time at Deerfield to once again experience a tight-knit community. He remarked, “I cherish my years at Deerfield and will always be grateful to the teachers and others at Deerfield.” Dr. Weinberg was surprised by how much he valued the connections with Deerfield classmates and acknowledged the significance of having spent an influential period of life together and the deep bonds that developed from their shared experiences.
To conclude, Dr. Weinberg gave a final piece of advice to Deerfield students. As a Deerfield alumnus, he recognized the expectation to have one’s life planned out so early. However, Dr. Weinberg acknowledged that many things he wound up doing were not things he thought he would do if given another chance. He summed up these thoughts in a simple phrase: “Enjoy today, and make decisions for today and tomorrow.”