halley k harrisburg Recognized with a Polar Bear Award

For the last 20 years, the Alumni Council has annually presented the Polar Bear Award to recognize an alum’s extraordinary service to Bowdoin, demonstrated through significant personal contributions and deep dedication to the College. The Alumni Council has selected halley k harrisburg, a member of the Class of 1990, as one of this year’s recipient of the Polar Bear Award.

halley has provided vision, expertise, and support to the College, particularly in the area of the arts, in ways that have made a massive impact on campus and the Bowdoin community at large. halley serves with distinction on the Bowdoin College Museum of Art Advisory Council and has been a valuable advisor to the Museum’s directors, curators and staff for three decades. Along with her husband Michael, she created the halley k harrisburg ’90 & Michael Rosenfeld Artist-in-Residency Program, which year after year brings significant artists to campus to engage with students and faculty, and to create and display original work. They have supported the renovation of the Museum of Art and have contributed significant works of art, many by important artists who were not previously represented in Bowdoin’s collection.

halley and Michael have hosted Bowdoin events at the Michael Rosenfeld Gallery in New York City, providing opportunities for alumni and parents to make meaningful personal and professional connections over their shared interest in the arts. This October, they will again welcome the Bowdoin community to the Gallery for a celebration of 50 years of Africana Studies, the African American Society, and the John Brown Russwurm African American Center.

The award was presented on campus by President Clayton Rose on Friday, June 28 at a reception and dinner celebrating the opening of Art Purposes: Object Lessons for the Liberal Arts.

For all of these contributions and others, which demonstrate her deep commitment to the arts, creativity, and diversity at our College, she is a truly deserving recipient of this award. Congratulations halley!