Middlebury Magazine

Essays

Writing & AI

I used to identify as a writer. Now that’s changing.

By Paul Barnwell '04, MA English '14
Illustration by Petra PeterffyFebruary 8, 2026

Alone Together

A Middlebury psychology professor flips the script on “the loneliness epidemic.”

By Virginia Thomas
Illustration by Daniel LievanoJanuary 20, 2026

Shear Madness

A yarn shop owner with no livestock experience takes an unlikely detour.

By Lindsey Spoor, MA French ’08
Illustration by Ben KirchnerApril 4, 2025

Apocalypse Now?

The “A” word is getting tossed around more and more. What could that mean?

By Erik Bleich and Christopher Star
Illustration by Sandro RybakApril 4, 2025

Wired for Service

Examining the myriad ways Middlebury students and alumni continue to engage in an enduring tradition: giving back to others.

By Laurie L. Patton
Illustration by Montse BernalNovember 11, 2021

What to Wear Now

Through accrued life experiences, a writer discovers that a common question has become a statement of identity.

By Samantha Hubbard Shanley ’99
Illustration by Naomi ClarkeMarch 11, 2021