A Dartmouth Alum’s Perspective: In Support of President Beilock’s Leadership

By: Steve Avila '11

August 20, 2025 -- When I returned to Hanover for my college reunion this year, I felt the familiar rush of gratitude that comes with walking across the Green.  Dartmouth gave me opportunities my parents could scarcely have imagined.  As a young alum, a person of color, a first-generation college graduate, the child of immigrants, and a member of the LGBT community, my time at Dartmouth was transformative.  It was also a reminder of how much the College means to students from backgrounds like mine, who arrive with dreams but not always with a roadmap.

At the reunion, I had the privilege of meeting President Sian Leah Beilock and thanking her personally.  I wanted her to know that, despite the criticism she has faced, there are alumni who see value in her leadership.  What I saw in our conversation was not hesitation or defensiveness, but conviction—a clear understanding that Dartmouth must act with principle, even when that principle is unpopular.

Much of the recent debate has centered on Dartmouth’s decision not to sign an open letter denouncing actions by the Trump administration.  Every other Ivy League institution added its name.  Dartmouth stood alone.  For some, this choice signaled timidity or indifference.  But that interpretation misses the reality. President Beilock’s decision was not about avoiding controversy; it was about preserving Dartmouth’s independence and credibility to act where it matters most.

Universities today are under extraordinary political pressure.  Federal agencies are scrutinizing research funding, targeting diversity initiatives, and questioning the very legitimacy of higher education as a public good.  In this environment, statements—however righteous—can quickly become ammunition.  By declining to sign a letter with little practical consequence, Dartmouth maintained the ability to fight in ways that actually matter.  Under President Beilock’s leadership, the College has joined lawsuits, filed amicus briefs, and taken concrete steps to defend academic freedom, research integrity, and the wellbeing of its students and faculty.

That is not inaction.  That is strategy.

As someone who has benefited from Dartmouth’s commitment to opportunity and inclusion, I see great value in this approach.  Symbolic gestures have their place, but they do not change laws, overturn policies, or protect vulnerable students.  What makes a difference is sustained, thoughtful action—the kind Dartmouth is pursuing quietly but forcefully.

The concept of “brave spaces” has been part of my own Dartmouth journey.  For me, a brave space was not about insulation from uncomfortable ideas.  It was about the assurance that my voice, as a student from a working-class immigrant family and as a member of the LGBT community, would be respected.  It was about the confidence that disagreements could happen without fear of exclusion or reprisal.  President Beilock’s leadership reflects this same philosophy.  True bravery in higher education is not about echoing the loudest call of the day, but about protecting the conditions that allow disagreement, inquiry, and growth to flourish.

Of course, I understand why some alumni, faculty, and students felt let down when Dartmouth declined to sign the letter.  In an era when silence is often equated with complicity, restraint can feel unsatisfying.  But leadership is not about satisfying everyone in the moment.  It is about stewarding an institution through difficult times so that it can remain strong for decades to come.  By choosing carefully where to speak and where to act, Dartmouth is ensuring that it can still do the work that matters most: providing world-class education, producing groundbreaking research, and shaping the next generation of leaders.

Standing at my reunion, surrounded by classmates who have gone on to careers across every imaginable field, I was struck by how enduring Dartmouth’s influence is.  Each of us carries a piece of the College into the world.  And in that moment, I felt proud to see a president willing to absorb criticism in the short term in order to safeguard Dartmouth’s values for the long term.

President Beilock deserves credit, not condemnation, for her steady leadership.  She is navigating Dartmouth through one of the most politically charged environments higher education has ever faced.  By focusing on concrete action rather than symbolic performance, she is preserving the College’s credibility and protecting its mission.

For alumni like me, the lesson is clear: Dartmouth is strongest when it leads with principle, not performance.  At my reunion, I was reminded that our College has endured for centuries because its leaders have safeguarded its independence, even when it was difficult.  In President Beilock, I see a leader carrying that responsibility with courage and care—for today’s students and for those yet to come.