November 1, 2024
Ariana Chiapella ’12, a faculty member with the Rubenstein School of the Environment
and Natural Resources at the University of Vermont, will present the Fall 2024 Elizabeth
and Lawrence Vadnais Environmental Issues Lecture at 7 p.m., on Thursday, Nov. 14,
in MCLA’s Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation.
“The Environmental Studies Department is excited to welcome Dr. Chiapella to campus
to discuss ‘The Implications of Contaminants for Aquatic and Human Communities,’”
said Dr. Daniel Shustack, MCLA professor of environmental science. “The threats that
contaminants pose to our waterways is one of today’s most pressing environmental issues.”
The lecture will be preceded by a 6 p.m. reception celebrating the 50th anniversary
of the Center for Resourceful Living, a program started by Professor Vadnais.
These events are free and open to the public. Call 413-662-5224 or email advancement@mcla.edu
for more information. This annual lecture series is named for Professor Lawrence H.
Vadnais and is sponsored by the Vadnais Endowment.
About MCLA
At MCLA, we’re here for all — and focused on each — of our students. Classes are taught
by educators who care deeply about teaching, and about seeing their students thrive
on every level of their lives. In every way possible, the experience at MCLA is designed
to elevate our students as individuals, leaders, and communicators, fully empowered
to make their impressions on the world. In addition to our 130-year commitment to
public education, we have fortified our dedication to equitable academic excellence.
MCLA has appeared on U.S. News & World Report’s list of Top Ten Public Colleges for
10 consecutive years, earning the No. 6 spot on the list of Top Public Liberal Arts
Schools in the nation for 2025, after earning the No. 7 spot the prior three years.
The College’s focus on affordable education and economic prosperity is reflected in
additional 2025 U.S. News rankings: No. 5 for Top Performer on Social Mobility for
liberal arts colleges in the state and No. 2 for Top Performer on Social Mobility
for public liberal arts colleges in the country. These rankings measure how well schools
graduate students who receive Federal Pell Grants.
Learn more at www.mcla.edu.
