Staff Stories: Fred Baumgarten
Director of Institutional and Academic Grants Fred Baumgarten shares why he chose to work at 51成人猎奇 and his proudest accomplishments.
Tell us about your own journey to Bennington.
Coming off a twenty-year career with the National Audubon Society, I have spent the past twenty years in higher-education grant fundraising. It is a job I enjoy immensely, helping the institution advance its priorities and goals and assisting faculty in their scholarly and research pursuits.
I came to Bennington following in the footsteps of some former colleagues at Mount Holyoke College, my previous employer, and because of the College's exceptional reputation in so many areas, the arts especially. When I was handed a copy of the alumni magazine with "" on the cover at my interview, I knew I had to come here!
What do you do in your current position at the College?
As part of Institutional Advancement, I lead and coordinate efforts to secure institutional grants from major government, foundation, and corporate funders. I also assist faculty in pursuing external funding for research, scholarship, and creative work.
Everyone pitches in to make Bennington better.
Fred Baumgarten, director of institutional and academic grants
What do you love to do in your time away from Bennington?
I am a writer who covers a variety of topics. I am one of only a small handful of people who knows who "the Beethoven of America" was and have written on his life and his relationship to the artist/naturalist John James Audubon.
I also write about music, culture, and nature generally, as well as contributing occasional articles to online political websites. I am an active birder and covered the Bennington campus during the annual Christmas Bird Count. I listen to a lot of classical music and am a basketball fanatic鈥揵oth playing and watching.
What are some of your proudest professional achievements and current goals?
I have been happy to secure some grants for our new BFA/MFA Dance program, and I was excited to have gotten an enormous response from faculty to the College's first opportunity for Whiting Fellowships鈥搘ith six faculty winning fellowships, an extraordinary number.
I have ambitious goals for the coming year to secure seven-figure grants for Bennington.
What is your favorite part of working at Bennington?
The people, without a doubt. The staff, faculty, and students are all creative, brilliant, and kind. Everyone pitches in to make Bennington better. I also love the beauty of the campus.
What advice do you want to share with current or prospective Bennington students?
Be you! I have worked at four liberal arts colleges, some very similar to Bennington, and none have allowed students anything like the total freedom to explore every aspect of their education and themselves that Bennington does, guided by skilled mentors and teachers. Also, to quote the late, great Tom Robbins, "Erleichda!" (Lighten up!)
What is your favorite spot on campus?
Oh, so many! VAPA for its exceptional spaciousness and vast studios. It makes me wish I had been an art student. And CAPA for its architecture.