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After graduating from Brown University in 1966, Marilynne Robinson enrolled in the graduate program in English at the University of Washington. While writing her dissertation, Robinson began work on her first novel, *Housekeeping* (1981). *Housekeeping* received the PEN/Hemingway award for best first novel and was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. After the publication of *Housekeeping*, Robinson began writing essays and book reviews for *Harper's*,* Paris Review*, and *The New York Times Book Review*. She also started teaching, serving as writer-in-residence and visiting professor at numerous colleges and universities, including the University of Kent in England, Amherst College, and the University of Massachusetts. From an essay she wrote for Harper's, entitled "Bad News from Britain", Robinson wrote the controversial book *Mother Country: Britain, the Welfare State and Nuclear Pollution* (1989), a finalist for the National Book Award. In the tradition of 19th century novelists who turned to the essay, Robinson published a critically acclaimed collection in 1998 called *The Death of Adam: Essays on Modern Thought*. Through essays on topics ranging from John Calvin to Darwinism to Freud and 20th century psychologists, the book examines and critiques the ideas our culture has handed down to us. Although Robinson has published only three books, she is widely regarded as one of America's best contemporary writers.

Gail Willumsen produces, directs and writes long-form documentary films and videos for clients like *National Geographic* Television, WGBH/*NOVA*, Vulcan Productions, and the Discovery Channel. Through her company Gemini Productions, and with her producing partner Jill Shinefield, Willumsen has chased down stories all over the world, on a wide range of topics. Her expertise and personal interests lie in projects that explore the human experience, especially these themes: the complex and enduring bond between people and animals the unraveling of humankind's roots and history through archaeology and anthropology

Millie Rahn is a Massachusetts based folklorist who has done extensive fieldwork throughout New England and beyond. Her research interest include food traditions, traditional music, 1960s folk music revival, oral history, and industrial communities of New England. She has developed long and short term projects and events involving living cultural traditions for cultural and educational organizations, government and economic development agencies and the tourism and heritage industries. She has curated exhibits for many regional folk festivals, including the annual Lowell Folk Festival, the American Folk Festival in Bangor, Maine, the Boston Cultural Heritage Festival and the Working Waterfront Festival in New Bedford, MA.

Bill Nowlin began writing about the Boston Red Sox as a young teenager, for a self-published neighborhood newspaper. Though the paper's circulation hovered in the single-digit range, it was the first step on what would become a life-long journey for Nowlin. Since the early '90s he has established himself as an authority on the much-beloved Sox via 15 published books and over 100 articles in various newspapers, magazines, and journals. His books include *Mr. Red Sox: The Johnny Pesky Story*, *Fenway Lives*, *Ted Williams: The Pursuit of Perfection*, *Blood Feud: The Red Sox*, *the Yankees*, *The Struggle of Good vs. Evil*, and *Day by Day with the Boston Red Sox* (the first two titles co-authored with fellow Sox enthusiast Jim Prime). Nowlin's devoted scholarship - particularly his detailed exploration of the life and legacy of Ted Williams - led to his recent election as Vice-President of the Society for American Baseball Research, as well as his continuing role as publications editor for the Ted Williams Museum in Florida. These days he appears frequently on radio and television in the Boston area, discussing his favorite team, the Boston Red Sox. Bill Nowlin grew up in Lexington, Massachusetts. For the first dozen years of Rounder Records' existence, Bill also served as a professor of political science at the University of Lowell; Dr. Nowlin retired from teaching in 1982.

Walsh, 61, is Wellesley's twelfth president, a position she assumed on October 1, 1993. She is the fourth alumna to head Wellesley, the nation's leading college for women. Under her leadership, the College has undertaken a number of new initiatives, including a revision of the curriculum, expanded programs in global education, expanded experiential and service learning opportunities and new interdisciplinary programs, including environmental sciences, neuroscience, and computer sciences. During Walsh's presidency, several new facilities have been constructed, including the Lulu Chow Wang Campus Center, the Knapp Media and Technology Center, the Knapp Social Science Center and the Newhouse Center for the Humanities. Walsh is a 1966 graduate of Wellesley, where she majored in English. At Boston University, she earned an M.S. degree in journalism (1971) and a Ph.D. in health policy from the University Professors Program (1983). She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and currently serves on the boards of Amherst College and the State Street Corporation.

Palmer is a writer, teacher, and activist who focuses on issues in education, community, leadership, spirituality, and social change. His work spans a wide range of institutions, colleges and universities, public schools, community organizations, religious institutions, corporations, and foundations. He serves as senior associate of the American Association of Higher Education, as senior advisor to the Fetzer Institute, and is the founder and senior advisor for the Center for Courage & Renewal. Palmer has published a dozen poems, more than 100 essays and numerous books, including several best-selling and award-winning titles. His work includes: *The Company of Strangers: Christians and the Renewal of American Public Life* (1983), *To Know as We are Known: Education as a Spiritual Journey* (1983), *The Courage to Teach: Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teachers Life* (1998) and *A Hidden Wholeness: The Journey Toward an Undivided Life *(2004). Palmer has been awarded eight honorary doctorates and several national awards, including two Distinguished Achievement Awards from the National Educational Press Association, an Award of Excellence from the Associated Church Press, and major grants from the Danforth Foundation, the Lilly Endowment and the Fetzer Institute. The Leadership Project, a 1998 U.S. survey of 10,000 administrators and faculty named Palmer one of the 30 most influential senior leaders in higher education and one of 10 key agenda-setters of the past decade.

In addition to leading Shirim since 1985 and Naftule's Dream since 1996, Clarinetist Glenn Dickson won a 1997 Massachusetts Cultural Council Artist Grant for Composition and has studied and performed with microtonal jazz legend Joe Maneri. He was a featured soloist on the soundtrack of Sidney Lumet's *A Stranger Among Us* and wrote the music Shirim performed on the soundtrack of Woody Allen's *Deconstructing Harry*. Michael McLaughlin, piano and accordion, is an educator, performer and noted composer. He performs with Naftule's Dream and composes much of their music. He has won two awards from the American Composers Forum Boston and received a 2001 Mass Cultural Council Fellowship Award in Composition. His works have been performed by Trio Capriccio, The Chameleon Arts Ensemble, The Niagara Symphony, The Newton Symphony and the Boston Chamber Ensemble. Guitar and banjo player Brandon Seabrook performs with Naftule's Dream, Paul Brody's Sadawi, the Klezmer Conservatory band and Klezperanto. Tuba player Jim Gray studied at Boston University with J. Samuel Pilafian. He has performed with the Canton Symphony, The Cleveland Pops Orchestra, the Paramount Brass, and the Jazz Composer's Alliance Orchestra. Jim is a founding member of the avant-klezmer experience: Naftule's Dream. Eric Rosenthal, drums, has developed a prominent career playing jazz and improvised music, recording and performing internationally with the big band Either/Orchestra, Roswell Rudd, Anthony Braxton, blues artist David Maxwell, John Voigt, Bhob Rainey, Jack Wright and others. He is currently a member of the Charlie Kolhase Quintet, the Dave Bryant Quartet and the avant klezmer groups Naftule's Dream and Paul Brody's Sadawi based in Berlin.