On Move-In Day 2025, Oxford College welcomed some 545 talented and accomplished students from around the country and the world, selected from the largest applicant pool in the school’s history.
Orientation Week.
The Journey Begins.
Oxford embraced a new class of creative, inquisitive, and community-minded students—the campus alive with the sounds of rolling suitcases and happy chatter. Bolstered by hellos and hugs, they unpacked boxes, met future friends, and took the first steps to begin charting their own paths on a transformational journey.
“Move-In Day is the first chapter of an unwritten story that is unique to each student and is one of my favorite moments of the year,” says Darleny Cepin, senior associate dean of Campus Life and chief Student Affairs officer. “It is when our campus comes alive with possibility, when strangers become neighbors, and when each student begins a journey of discovery surrounded by a community that truly cares for them. At Oxford, students belong from day one.”
A Solid Foundation
Nearly 100 first-year students participated in Ignite, an optional five-day program designed to develop leadership skills and foster community. Through Ignite, they explored the cities of Oxford and Atlanta, met faculty and staff, and connected with second-year mentors.
Oxford first-year students during Ignite.
Oxford first-year students during Ignite.
Students in the inaugural Oxford Launch: London program also arrived early to prepare for their semester abroad, getting a preview of the campus life they will return to for second term.
Students preparing for the London Launch Toast.
Students preparing for the London Launch Toast.
Incoming first-years participating in Ignite.
Incoming first-years participating in Ignite.
Dean Badia Ahad with the first Oxford Launch: London cohort.
Dean Badia Ahad with the first Oxford Launch: London cohort.
Moving In and Moving On
Student leaders greeted the incoming class and their families, unfurling banners and showing what it means to be “Ox-cited.” Second-year guides shared history and tradition on campus tours, and new students and their families were treated to the fresh and delicious fare in the Oxford Dining Hall.
Oxford Orientation Leaders welcoming the incoming class and their families on Move-In Day 2025.
Oxford Orientation Leaders welcoming the incoming class and their families on Move-In Day 2025.
Students also got a taste of the range of Oxford resources available to bolster their academic and social lives, physical and mental health,and overall well-being. Dozens of special interest clubs, athletic programs, and administrative and academic departments invited students to sign up, dig in, and explore at the Oxford Resource Fair.
Incoming students at the Oxford Resource Fair.
Incoming students at the Oxford Expo Resource Fair.
Incoming Oxford students and their families moving in.
Incoming first-years participating in Ignite.
Oxford Resource Fair.
Oxford Resource Fair.
Honoring Timeless Traditions
Coke Toast
The annual Coke Toast both honors the past and imagines the future. This year’s toast was led by Associate Professor of English Gwendolynne Reid, who shared a question posed by the poet Mary Oliver: “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” While a liberal arts education is a perfect way to address this question, Reid reminded students that it’s an ongoing process and that “you don’t have to do the hard stuff alone.” Before students said goodbye to their families and prepared to settle into college life, she reminded them to take advantage of all that Oxford has to offer. “Your future self will thank you,” Reid said. “And on a sidenote: Call your family every once in awhile—THEY will thank you.”
Associate Professor of English Gwendolynne Reid led the 2025 Coke Toast.
Associate Professor of English Gwendolynne Reid led the 2025 Coke Toast.
Oxford Olympics
Teams wearing different colored shirts competed for glory at the annual Oxford Olympics,sponsored by the Healthy Eagles. The time-honored events included the 3-Legged and Hippity Hop relays, Hungry Hungry Hippos, and the ever-popular Basket Ball (not to be confused with “basketball”). The Light Blue team took top honors, while the Red and Yellow teams shared second place. The Dark Blue team was crowned “most spirited.” No matter which team students participated on, there was plenty of laughter and friendly competition to make it a fun evening for all.
Light Blue team takes top honors at the 2025 Oxford Olympics.
Light Blue team takes top honors at the 2025 Oxford Olympics.
New Beginnings
Convocation
Just one day into the academic year, the Oxford community gathered for Convocation. Students fresh from their first day of classes, faculty in full regalia, and alumni and staff coming together to officially welcome the Oxford Class of 2029 and kick off the new academic year.
In her remarks, Dean Badia Ahad shared, “The ceremony is not only a marker of the beginning but a call to community.” This year, we welcome 548 new students, an extraordinary group chosen from the largest applicant pool in Oxford’s history—over 23,000 applicants. Among them, 45 pioneers have started their journey, further expanding the global reach of our community by beginning their Oxford experience in London through the London Launch program. Dean Ahad also shared that students arrive from 38 states and 16 countries, speaking nearly 40 languages, adding a rich diversity of perspectives and experiences.
“Here at Oxford, you will be guided by faculty whose highest priority is nurturing your curiosity and providing opportunities to explore your values and interests, both inside and outside the classroom. They will inspire you to ask your own questions and encourage you to open your hearts and minds to the joy of discovery. As you begin this journey, you are encouraged to take the time to develop yourself—not only intellectually, but physically and emotionally—cultivating a sense of balance as you find your place within this vibrant campus community.”
Dean Badia Ahad
Emory Chancellor Gregory L. Fenves says students “will experience The Oxford Effect.” He describes it as a powerful sense of connection that links Oxford students and alumni through unique experiences. Chancellor Fenves urges students to “Jump right in and immerse yourself in the discovery of knowledge!” Here at Oxford, you will learn from each other, support each other, and grow together in ways that will influence your lives long after your time in the classroom.
Emory Chancellor Gregory L. Fenves delivering Convocation remarks.
Emory Chancellor Gregory L. Fenves delivering Convocation remarks.
Quoting Henry David Thoreau, Chancellor Fenves shares a line that reads, “Take time by the forelock. Now or never. You must live in the present—launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in the moment.” He adds, “I think those are words to live by—and words to guide you during your time here at Oxford.”
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Lanny S. Liebeskind.
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Lanny S. Liebeskind.
To new members of the Class of 2029, Lanny S. Liebeskind, Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Emory University, shared, “Oxford is a magical place of scholarship, wisdom, and knowledge, and now you’re a part of it.” He also expressed excitement in welcoming the Class of 2029 into the community. He explains that students starting here gain access to something truly unique. He says, “Here at Oxford, you’ll find a close-knit intellectual community with the intimacy of a small liberal arts college, yet just a short distance away, the resources of a world-class research university in Atlanta are fully at your fingertips.”
Just like Chancellor Fenves, he urges the Class of 2029 to do something. He encourages them to commit to the great work ahead, to the community that will support them, and to their own intellectual courage. “Be bold,” he exclaimed. “Enroll in classes that expand your thinking and challenge your assumptions. Make space for authentic connections—with your peers, your professors, and with yourself. And above all, take the time to consider not just what you want to become, but who you want to become.”
Oxford faculty and staff at Convocation.
Oxford faculty and staff at Convocation.
Convocation 2025.
Convocation 2025.
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Erin C. Tarver, Chair, Humanities Division, Professor of Philosophy, reminded us of the beauty of a liberal arts education in her keynote speech, inviting not only the students but everyone to view every aspect of our existence as worthy of reflection and to consider that every person we encounter is a potential conversation partner, regardless of background, belief, or perspective. The liberal arts are more than academic disciplines; they represent a way of life—one that is curious, self-critical, and unwilling to settle for the status quo. It is a way of life that can be frustrating at times, but it is absolutely worth embracing.
“Our world today needs precisely what this kind of education promotes: critical thinking, thoughtful communicators, empathetic neighbors, and responsible citizens. Immersing yourself in this tradition will not only help you understand the world more fully, but also your unique place within it.”
Erin C. Tarver
She ends her speech the same way Frederick Douglass once did in a speech titled The Blessing of Liberty and Education, saying, “A ship at anchor, with halyards broken, sails mildewed, hull empty, her bottom covered with seaweed and barnacles, meets no resistance. She lies perfectly still; but when she spreads her canvas to the breeze, turns her prow to the open sea, and sets out on her voyage, the higher shall be her speed, the greater shall be her resistance.” Dr. Tarver addressed the crowd, saying, “You will meet resistance and difficulties now, because now, more than ever, you are fitting yourself and your world for a higher life. Embrace it.”
Senior Associate Dean of Campus Life and Chief Student Affairs Officer Darleny Cepin and Oxford SGA President Jack Steffen 26Ox.
Senior Associate Dean of Campus Life and Chief Student Affairs Officer Darleny Cepin and Oxford SGA President Jack Steffen 26Ox.
As the ceremony ended, Senior Associate Dean of Campus Life and Chief Student Affairs Officer Darleny Cepin, along with Oxford SGA President Jack Steffen 26Ox introduced students to the tradition of donning Emory pins to welcome them to their class officially.
She also asked students to consider the Emory shield as a symbol of the rich learning community they have joined. “The shield contains two emblems, a torch and a trumpet.” She says, “The torch shines the light in the darkness, and at Oxford it symbolizes curiosity. The trumpet amplifies voices; it reminds us that your ideas and passions are not to stay here. At Oxford, you are called to use your voice and uplift your peers, to celebrate your accomplishments, and to proclaim your own route.” The success of the pinning marks the beginning of students' journey as they join the Emory family and community—a reminder for students to keep their flame alive and to lift their voice as well as others.
During the program, Dean Ahad also welcomed four extraordinary new professors into the tenure and teaching track:
Elise Blasingame, PhD, Assistant Professor of Political Science
Ross Cawthon, PhD, Assistant Professor of Physics
Danielle Griffin, PhD, Assistant Professor of English
Lyndsey Prosser, PhD, Assistant Teaching Professor of Chemistry
Six Oxford faculty members were also promoted:
Anouar El Younssi, PhD, Associate Professor of MESAS and Arabic
Jessica Ham, PhD, Associate Professor of Anthropology
Sarah Higinbotham, Associate Professor of English
Emily McLean, PhD, Associate Professor of Biology
Simba Nkomo, PhD, Associate Professor of Chemistry
Cristina Tarazona, MS, Associate Teaching Professor of Spanish
In closing, College Chaplain Brent Huckaby shared, “In the beauty of this place, bolstered by the faith of this community and in all of the grandness and complexity of the world in which we live, we begin this journey together.”
College Chaplain Brent Huckaby giving closing remarks.
College Chaplain Brent Huckaby giving closing remarks.
Candlelight Procession
Each year following Convocation, second-year students gather by candlelight in a circle in front of Phi Gamma to welcome first-year students. This year, the tradition was led by Chaplain Huckaby and Senior Associate Dean Cepin. As they stood together beneath the clear evening sky and the cool Oxford breeze, their faces illuminated by the warm glow of flickering flames, they looked inward toward the new students at the heart of the circle, many of whose faces were filled with excitement, curiosity, and wonder.
For returning students, it was a moment of reflection; a chance to remember their own first steps into the community just a year earlier. Now, in a quiet yet powerful gesture, they symbolically passed the torch, offering light, support, and a legacy to those who are just beginning their journey.
Oxford College of Emory University | September 3, 2025
Designed by Kristine Gonsalez. Written by Carrie Harmon and Tarrell Mitchell. Video by Amber Tallent. Photos by Amber Tallent, Paul Beezley, Griffin Byrd 26Ox, Emily Meffe 26Ox, and David Zhou 26Ox .
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