iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

What happens when no #highered institution wants to be the tallest blade of grass? Wesleyan University's @msroth.bsky.social and @ianbassin.bsky.social turn that metaphor into an urgent argument about collective action and the importance of standing together. Watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPKq...

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

It was an honor to speak with Gloria Steinem before she accepted her honorary degree at Wesleyan University. She helped change the course of American history. As the father of a young girl, I am heartened to know that Gloria made my daughter’s future that much brighter. May her memory be a blessing.

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

A whirlwind trip in and out of Los Angeles was worth it to have Wesleyan University president @msroth.bsky.social bring his defense of higher education to @realbillmaher.bsky.social tonight. 👏 (now for a red eye back to CT) #highered

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Home sweet home, if only for a day 🌴☀️

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Great to have had Wesleyan University's @msroth.bsky.social join Stephen Dubner's new show, "Better in Person," to talk about leading in #highered at such an inflection point for all institutions in America. Full episode: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnr1...

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

“McMahon misidentifies the myriad ways higher education already serves the nation and the opportunities the sector has to do more and do things differently…we offer these alternative recommendations to presidents and boards…” 👉 drive.google.com/file/d/1s-52... #HigherEd @alliancehighered.bsky.social

A Call for Unity in the Aftermath of the
A Call for Unity in the Aftermath of the
Department of Education’s
Department of Education’s
“National Call to Action”
“National Call to Action”
On Aug. 3, 2026, Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon sent a letter to the
presidents and governing boards of the country’s 4,000 colleges and universities, calling
for action on admissions, hiring, free expression, research, affordability and technology to
better serve the nation.
We agree that higher education should be transparent, accountable, inclusive, rigorous and
responsive to public concerns. But McMahon misidentifies the myriad ways higher
education already serves the nation and the opportunities the sector has to do more and do
things differently.
Educational opportunity remains unevenly distributed, limiting access to the institutions
that most influence economic mobility, political leadership and civic participation. This
administration, however, is misusing continuous improvement models for political control,
rather than to uplift family earnings or innovations in science and technology. And
affordability remains an issue despite the fact that many institutions — two-year colleges
and regional public universities among them — model strategies to keep education costs
low.
We can collectively fix these issues, but any collaboration requires transparency about the
tensions between partners. The government’s adversarial posture is impacting students,
families and communities — not just our institutions. For the good of the country, higher
education leaders must not only consider the moment’s politically expedient posture
but also the long-term needs of their communities and the nation. When we need to put
time and energy into maneuvering around the administration’s political and rhetorical
attacks, we cannot focus on the substance of bettering the nation through higher
education. This is all by design and part of the administration’s political strategy.
As a resu…

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Thrilled to see MCC Theater’s run of “Birthright” add one final performance to the run before closing, due to popular demand. Keeps selling out. ❤️ mcctheater.org/tix/birthrig...

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Couldn’t miss Jennifer Nettles at PAC NYC in her new musical “Giulia: The Poison Queen of Palermo.” Also gave us a chance to finally visit the 9/11 memorial. #TheatreSKY

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Couldn’t resist reading Amy Bloom’s new book, appropriately checked out from Wesleyan University’s library. I’m in my power player bios and Hollywood history nonfiction reading era, so it’s been ages since I dipped back into fiction. A murder mystery set at an elite Connecticut college? Yes, please!

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Provocative and powerful! What a perfect day in the city. #TheaterSKY

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Wesleyan University’s @msroth.bsky.social speaking with @sfstandard.com on the increased importance of a liberal arts degree in this age of artificial intelligence. #highered

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Had to pay for a Yankees app to watch the game from CT 👀 #Dodgers 💙⚾️

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Last night’s storm here in Connecticut was 😵‍💫

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Celebrating America’s 250th from the comfort of #Connecticut. History is watching. Don’t give up on fighting for the next 250, America. #NoKings (Also, go Dodgers!)

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

My favorite George Washington interpreter remains Dean Malissa at Mount Vernon.

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

“The issue in the United States right now about #HigherEd is the same issue around civil society. We are being undermined by an effort to promote autocracy from the White House.” — Wesleyan University's @msroth.bsky.social speaking at @aspenideas.bsky.social

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Reading the photo caption in the now-retracted NPR story on Justice Alito, I'm guessing the news wasn't meant to be announced until Friday? (Thanks, Wayback Machine: web.archive.org/web/20260630...) #SCOTUS

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Feeling validated in parenting decisions after bringing my boys to see Toy Story 5 today and realizing the “weird” stigma is put upon a girl trying to play with old fashion toys by drone-like screen-obsessed kids. Again, stay fiercely weird and imaginative, my kiddos!

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

As someone that has made plenty of errors adding stories to a CMS, I appreciate when the preeminent @newyorker.com has a glitchy moment.

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

For a dose of Pee-wee Herman, tonight I’m showing my boys “Back to the Beach.” No better way to kick off summer 🏄

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Happy days are here again. www.npr.org/2026/06/12/g...

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Think Bari Weiss is watching CBS tonight? #TonyAwards

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Happy #Pride! Wesleyan University was out and proud in Middletown, #Connecticut 🏳️‍🌈

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Late to the “Hacks” finale. Be still my heart.

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

“You will get to decide, in your early life, whether the cult of efficiency wins or whether exploration still has a role in American lives.” — @chrismurphyct.bsky.social delivers Wesleyan University's 194th Commencement address www.wesleyan.edu/about/news/2... #HigherEd

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

No night before commencement at Wesleyan University is complete without President @msroth.bsky.social joining the band for a jam session under the tent!

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Wesleyan University President @msroth.bsky.social joined @cnn.com's @audiecornish.bsky.social to address the topic of grade inflation at Harvard, noting there are bigger issues the media should be focusing on #highered.

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Great to see playwright Lynn Nottage celebrated yesterday at Yale with an honorary doctor of letters degree. news.yale.edu/2026/05/18/y... #TheaterSKY #highered

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

This game is unreal. Those poor Angels. 😈 #LetGoDodgers

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Eight years ago tonight we opened the world premiere of “Soft Power” from David Henry Hwang in Los Angeles. Its depiction of Trump’s America was prophetic and disturbing. Its hopefulness for the promise of democracy keeps me going. The power of theatre is undeniable.

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Dan: "I was trying to use Jonah for intelligence." Selina: "That's like trying to use a croissant as a f**king dildo.”

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Latest Wesleyan University tour stop with President @msroth.bsky.social in conversation with alumni on the impact of Wesleyans in the world brought us to Boston for former FCC chair and @mitmedialab.bsky.social director @jrosenworcel.bsky.social and Harvard Law School’s dean John Goldberg.

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Thrilled to announce that Wesleyan University has named our new black box theater the Lin-Manuel Miranda Theater, in honor of Lin-Manuel Miranda ’02, Hon. ’15. www.wesleyan.edu/about/news/2... #TheaterSKY

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Down to DC for a Wesleyan University conversation with @msroth.bsky.social and alum Theodore M. Shaw discussing why the world needs more Wesleyan. Especially poignant to hear this talk about diversity and representation in our nation’s capital at a time when those values are under threat. #highered

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

On the road for Wesleyan University with tonight’s stop bringing us to NYC for a talk between President @msroth.bsky.social and Wes alum / @nytimes.com journalist Hannah Dreier about why the world needs more Wesleyan.

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

I have made my summer reading selection 🫡

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

@katiephang.bsky.social recently spoke with Wesleyan University President @msroth.bsky.social about our initiative to get students across the country involved in the midterm elections. #highered @meidastouch.com

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Too soon to start planning summer travel to Donnyland?

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

“Keep Hollywood in Hollywood. Get the tax structure in place before the industry offshores what remains of the real thing. Because what I want my kids to appreciate is not just movie stardom but movie labor.” open.substack.com/pub/simsjame... #movies #films

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

“After waiting for politicians to do something, a group of industry people decided to take matters into their own hands, and they created a movement called Stay in LA.” @kcrw.com #film #hollywood www.kcrw.com/shows/kcrw-r...

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

1994: A Very Fine Year. boxd.it/TB4lC

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

“HBO’s The Pitt, as Noah Wyle recently argued at a hearing organized by @schiff.senate.gov in Burbank, proves production can still be anchored in Los Angeles—that jobs can still be local, that a show can still function as a stable employer instead of a content burst.”

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James Sims @simsjames.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

I love that my wife is bringing her crafty charm to the resistance ❤️🧵🪡 #NoKings #quilting #quiltsky

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