During her presidency (1988-2001), Claire Gaudiani reconnected Connecticut College with New London, the college's home city, whose citizens through grassroots fund raising and donations of land established the college in 1911. Through an emphasis on service-learning, community outreach, and an education not for oneself as well as economic investments in the revitalization of downtown New London, Connecticut College established a model that Gaudiani hoped other colleges would follow. Yet opposition to the investment of College funds to redevelop downtown New London led to Gaudiani's departure after a majority of Connecticut College's tenured professors signed a petition calling for her ouster. Though not entirely successful in achieving her economic redevelopment agenda, Gaudiani deserves credit and praise for establishing engagement and service-learning initiatives that continue to manifest the ideals expressed by Connecticut College's initial founding mission and promise.