Ut Prosim, The Exhibition at Plymouth State University through February 2027
Plymouth, N.H. (November 5, 2026) - At Plymouth State University, the idea of service isn't reserved for special occasions. It's woven into everyday life, shaping how students learn, how faculty teach, and how the University connects with the community that surrounds it.
The exhibition Ut Prosim: That I May Serve, currently on display at the Silver Center for the Arts through February 2027, brings that spirit to life through art, storytelling, and a celebration of the enduring partnership between Plymouth State and the region it calls home.
Inspired by Plymouth State's motto, Ut Prosim ("That I May Serve"), the exhibition explores what it means to give of oneself in service to others. Through a collection of works submitted by the White Mountain community that reflect generosity, connection, and community engagement, the exhibition invites visitors to consider the many ways service impacts our lives and strengthens the places we belong.
For Eden Unger Bowditch, Ph.D., Plymouth State teaching lecturer who has volunteered to act as director of the Museum of the White Mountains, the exhibition arrives at a meaningful moment for both the Museum and the University.
"The Ut Prosim: That I May Serve exhibition is inspired by the bond that PSU has with the Plymouth community," said Unger Bowditch. "It embraces the idea that giving is vital and is literally the motto of this university. We give so much in so many ways."
That commitment to service extends beyond individual acts of generosity. It reflects a broader belief in the University's ability to adapt, persevere, and continue serving the region despite challenges facing higher education across the country.
"That relentless commitment and effort is how, against staggering odds, I believe Plymouth State University will thrive," Unger Bowditch said.
Ut Prosim art on Display, Fall 2026
The exhibition also represents a new chapter for the Museum of the White Mountains.
Ut Prosim art on Display, Fall 2026
The decision to close the Museum’s dedicated building because of staffing and funding limitations was difficult news for many who valued the space and its role in celebrating the history, culture, and artistic legacy of New Hampshire’s White Mountains.
“When we learned that the small, but significant MWM building would close, we were devastated,” Unger Bowditch said.
Rather than seeing the closure as an ending, Museum leaders chose to embrace a new vision. Instead of remaining in a single location, the Museum’s programs and exhibitions will expand across Plymouth State’s campus, creating new opportunities for engagement and discovery.
“But instead of closing the museum, like so many public universities have done, we committed to expanding across the campus,” Unger Bowditch explained. “The campus will be alive with celebrations of the White Mountains and the artists we embrace here. We are so fortunate to have brilliant, creative, forward-thinking professors like Sarah Parrish and Kimberly Ritchie so that generations of our students will have the opportunity to be a part of this re-imagining.”
That vision is already taking shape. Visitors will encounter exhibitions and collections throughout campus, from archival art and artifacts displayed in Lamson Library to student artwork in Speare Administration Building, the return of the Karl Drerup Gallery in Hyde Hall, and annual exhibitions at the Silver Center for the Arts.
The Ut Prosim exhibition exemplifies this new approach. Situated in one of the University's most visible cultural spaces, it invites students, employees, community members, and visitors to engage with art while reflecting on the values that define Plymouth State.
Group photo of faculty and students in New Mexico, October 2023 during the annular eclipse
One featured project in the exhibition highlights the power of collaboration across disciplines and communities. Plymouth State art professors Kimberly Ritchie and Erin Sweeney, alongside meteorology professor Eric Kelsey, led interdisciplinary teams of 17 students to New Mexico in 2023 and northern New Hampshire in 2024 to document the annular and total solar eclipses through a NASA-funded research project. The teams launched weather balloons to collect atmospheric data while also engaging local schools and community members through public outreach and education.
Group photo of faculty and students in New Mexico, October 2023 during the annular eclipse
Bringing together students from meteorology, climate studies, art, and political science, the project demonstrated how scientific research and creative expression can work hand in hand. Students documented their experiences through photography, video, and artwork, culminating in exhibitions at the Museum of the White Mountains and the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord.
"I was excited to be part of a project that brought together the arts and sciences through education and my own artistic practice, while creating meaningful student experiences and community connections," said Ritchie. "This has been one of the highlights of my career and represents one of the most rewarding ways my colleagues, students, and I put Ut Prosim, That I May Serve, into action."
About Plymouth State University: Established in 1871, Plymouth State University serves the state of New Hampshire and the world beyond by transforming our students through advanced practices where engaged learning produces well-educated undergraduates, and by providing graduate education that deepens and advances knowledge and enhances professional development. The Plymouth State Cluster Learning Model emphasizes open, integrative, and project-based experiences. With distinction, we connect with community and business partners for economic development, technological advances, healthier living, and cultural enrichment with a special commitment to service to the North Country and Lakes Region of New Hampshire. To learn more about Plymouth State University, visit www.plymouth.edu.
