Reed College: A Legacy of Notable Alumni and Academic Distinction
Reed College, nestled in Portland, Oregon, stands as a testament to the enduring power of liberal arts education. Founded in 1908 and opening its doors in 1911, this nonsectarian institution has cultivated a unique environment where intellectual curiosity and critical thinking thrive. With its rigorous academic programs and a commitment to fostering independent thought, Reed has produced a remarkable array of alumni who have made significant contributions across diverse fields.
A Foundation of Academic Rigor
Reed's academic philosophy emphasizes research, close relationships with faculty, and a distinctive conference-style learning approach. Freshmen are required to take Humanities 110, an intensive introduction to multidisciplinary inquiry. The college also distinguishes itself by requiring all students to complete a year-long thesis project. While letter grades are recorded, the focus remains on narrative evaluations, encouraging a deeper engagement with the material. This emphasis on intellectual exploration has consistently propelled Reed graduates toward advanced academic pursuits, with a high proportion earning PhDs in fields like natural sciences, history, political science, and philosophy. Reed College inspires students to positively change the world around them.
A Hub for Intellectuals
Reed College has the second-highest number of Rhodes scholars among its alumni for any liberal arts college-32-as well as over one hundred Fulbright Scholars, over seventy Watson Fellows, and three MacArthur ("Genius") Award winners.
Alumni in Academia and Research
Reed's emphasis on critical thinking and research has led many alumni to distinguished careers in academia and research.
- Noam Chomsky: A towering figure in linguistics and philosophy, Chomsky is an Institute Professor Emeritus at MIT. His work has revolutionized the field of linguistics and his political activism has made him a prominent public intellectual.
- Eleanor Rosch: A professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, Rosch is renowned for her work on categorization and prototype theory, significantly influencing cognitive psychology.
- Daryl Bem: A social psychologist and professor emeritus at Cornell University, Bem is known for his self-perception theory of attitude formation and change.
Alumni in Arts, Literature and Media
Reed College has fostered creativity and intellectual exploration, leading its graduates to excel in diverse artistic fields. Reed alumni have made their mark in literature, journalism, and the performing arts.
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- Gary Snyder: Associated with the Beat Generation and the San Francisco Renaissance, Snyder is a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, essayist, and environmental activist.
- Barbara Ehrenreich: An author, political activist, and journalist, Ehrenreich is best known for her book "Nickel and Dimed," which explored the challenges of low-wage work in America.
- Katherine Dunn: An American novelist, journalist, voice artist, radio personality, book reviewer, and poet from Portland, Oregon. She is best known for her novel Geek Love (1989). She was also a prolific writer on boxing.
- Dr. Demento: An American radio broadcaster and record collector specializing in novelty songs, comedy, and strange or unusual recordings dating from the early days of phonograph records to the present.
Alumni in Technology and Entrepreneurship
Reed's emphasis on critical thinking and innovation has also produced notable figures in the world of technology and entrepreneurship.
- Steve Jobs: Although he did not graduate, Jobs' time at Reed College profoundly influenced his life and career. He audited classes in calligraphy, which he later credited with inspiring the typography of the Macintosh computer.
- Daniel Kottke: He met Jobs at Reed College in 1972, and they trekked together through India for spiritual enlightenment and to the All One Farm.
Alumni in Politics and Public Service
Reed College alumni have also made contributions to the realm of politics and public service.
- Marie Gluesenkamp Perez: An American politician and businesswoman. A member of the Democratic Party, she has been the United States representative for Washington's 3rd congressional district since 2023.
- Bud Clark: Served as the 48th mayor of Portland, Oregon, from 1985 to 1992.
Reed Theatre Graduates
Reed Theatre graduates use their liberal arts theatre training in a variety of ways. After graduation, students who have gone on to robust careers in emergency medicine, law, library science, college admissions, fashion, and social services have expressed that they have used their theatre training on a daily basis in these professions and in other parts of their lives. Many Reed Theatre graduates have gone on to use their training to become teachers of everything from mathematics to English to theatre history; there are Reed Theatre graduates in North America teaching every level of student from preschoolers to graduate students at research universities.
Many Reed Theatre graduates also choose to pursue Theatre as a profession. Graduates have apprenticed and interned with Seattle Children's Theatre, Portland Stage, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Studio Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre, Berkeley Rep, McCarter Theatre, Wingspace Theatrical Design, Juilliard, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, the Public Theater, and SoHo Rep., among other institutions. Reed Theatre graduates have pursued MFA and doctoral degrees at Juilliard, N.Y.U., the Yale School of Drama, Northwestern University, the University of Washington, California Institute of the Arts, and Carnegie-Mellon University. Students have done post-graduate training with Bread and Puppet Theater, New England Center for Circus Arts, Pig Iron, and Dell'Arte International School of Theatre. Students have pursued study and professions in dramaturgy, playwriting, acting, directing, design, production management, and stage management.
Campus and Traditions
The Reed College campus itself is a distinctive feature of the institution. Architect A. E. Doyle developed a plan, never implemented in full, modeled on the University of Oxford's St. John's College. The original campus buildings are brick Tudor Gothic buildings in a style similar to Ivy League campuses. The Reed College Canyon, a natural area and national wildlife preserve, bisects the campus. Canyon Day, a tradition dating back to 1915, is held twice a year.
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