Board Members

Who is your favorite professor/lecturer and why?
A huge part of my life at Macalester was my involvement with the Department of Multicultural Life (DML). Almost all of my best memories are in the Cultural House, which is both a living space and a community space. I lived there for two years, and worked there, as an event planner, for three years. My favorite event that we planned was an interactive art gallery about students’ experiences with heterosexism, that included a wall-sized mural that anyone could add to. I’m still close friends with many of my DML co-workers.

Who was your favorite professor/lecturer and why?

My favorite professors were Juliana Hu-Pegues, in American Studies, who taught me that students are producers of knowledge, not just consumers of knowledge; SooJin Pate, in American Studies, who taught me the importance of self-love in fighting for justice; and Katie Phillips, in History, who was the first Native woman professor I ever had and served on my honors thesis committee.

What advice or other thoughts would you share with an incoming student? What was the most beneficial thing you experienced you had while at MAC? How do you use this in your current role?

I encourage all students to get off campus and engage with the Twin Cities community in a meaningful way. One of the things I treasured so much about American Studies was that the professors really emphasized “taking theory into practice.” Almost all of my classes in American Studies engaged with the Twin Cities in some way or another – from going to shows at local theaters to helping with research projects for community organizations. My engagement with the Twin Cities communities had a huge impact on my college experience and career goals and made the Twin Cities feel like home.

What is your favorite Mac memory?

There are too many to mention, but the memory that most clearly comes to mind is of the night before graduation.  That night, my roommates and I climbed onto the roof of our house. We hung out for hours, listening to favorite songs, reliving victories on the football field, reminiscing about late-night dance parties on campus and bleary-eyed mornings in Cafe Mac. We remain close to this day, and a big part of the reason why I love Macalester is that my friends embody the community support system unique to our school.

Did you study away or travel outside your home country while you were at MAC? What do you think that you have carried with you from your MAC days while you traveled the world?

I studied abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark the spring semester of my junior year. That experience helped instill a passion for travel but more importantly, a passion for finding shared interests across cultures. Studying abroad helped me find ways to connect with others, no matter their background or our location, and the interactions I have today with new Mac students and alumni remain as interesting and engaging as they were when I was meeting new friends the first week of school in the Turck Hall lounge.

How has the Macalester community helped you since graduation?

The Macalester community has always been there as a helping hand throughout my career. My first job out of Mac was as an AmeriCorps Member at College Possible, where my manager was a Mac alum. Later, I moved to New York, where a Mac grad mentored me through a leadership development program and encouraged me to take the leap to move to Chicago and open a new site of the nonprofit I was working at. And, in my recent move to Michigan, an established Macalester community welcomed me with open arms.  It is my hope that I can pass on the same wisdom and support I have had the good fortune to receive to future Mac grads.

Describe Mac in three words.Challenging – Inspiring – Fulfilling

What is your favorite Mac Memory?

First impressions are lasting impressions: I was sitting in Dr Patricia Kane’s living room a few blocks off campus with a group of other first year students for a book discussion as one of the events of Orientation Week. We were intently reprising what we had gleaned from the assigned books, “Another Country” by James Baldwin and “The Other America” by Michael Harrington. Looking around the room, it suddenly clicked – “we’re not in high school anymore!”

I knew I was in the right place. We were sharing an evening of seriousness and levity at a level way above the immature high jinks of high school. When we got back to the dorm, our conversations continued with others who had different takes on the subjects. Looking back years later, we benefited from many such shared experiences on campus and elsewhere that brought us together to embrace Mac’s core values and develop competencies that are essential regardless of the careers we pursued and life paths each of us had taken.

Who was your favorite professor/lecturer and why?

Dr. Hildegard Johnson, founder and chair of the Geography Department, was an inspiring teacher with an amazing intellect, a quick wit, and encyclopedic knowledge. She instilled in us a way of looking at the world, inquisitive and analytical, yet recognizing when the time had arrived for action. She pioneered field trips as an integral part of a holistic learning experience in addition to brilliant classroom presentations and engaging small group and one-on-one discussions which often centered around social issues and humankind’s effects on our planet. 

How have you utilized the alumni network as an alum?

Early on, I benefited from conversations with alumni from the 1940s and 1950s who shared their perspectives on adapting to the world of work while upholding Mac’s core values.

Over the years, I’ve also enjoyed meeting up with alumni as I traveled to other cities including engaging conversations over dinner and impromptu photography expeditions in scenic areas.

MacConnect and other Alumni Engagement pages on the Macalester website have been and continue to be valuable resources.

Paying it forward, I’ve enjoyed facilitating local and regional Mac alumni events, participating in cultural awareness seminars, helping the Athletics Department staff and other alumni recruit scholar athletes from Texas, meeting with students and alumni online and in-person as a Career Helper, and contributing to strategic planning listening sessions.

Connecting and engaging with others from many class years across the decades motivates me to do even more to help expand/promote these opportunities for members of the Macalester Community.

Did you study away or travel outside your home country while you were at MAC?

Yes, I was part of the London/Florence study abroad program during the spring of my Junior year. It is hard to imagine now, but I only called home twice in 6 months! My mother kept all of the letters which I mailed home during that time and I recently had the wonderful experience of reliving my experience through my own words. What a time of patience, resourcefulness and adventure!

What do you think that you have carried with you from your MAC days while you traveled the world?

I learned to look more, listen more… and began to develop cultural competency skills that would serve me later in life. I remember going to see Kofi Annan speak at Opening Convocation at Macalester in 1994. I still hear his insightful words and it augmented what I had already come to learn through my life and travels, “ Never walk into an environment and assume that you understand it better than the people who live there.” It came from his own experience in coming to Macalester from his home in Ghana. He had refused to wear ear muffs in the cold Minnesota winter, despite advise to the contrary. He soon learned his mistake and concluded the Minnesota natives knew what they were doing.

Who was your favorite professor/lecturer and why?

My favorite professor at Macalester was Dr. Jim Smail. I had taken every one of his classes and had gone on an interim trip with him: Biology of the Hawaiian Islands. To me, he was the perfect combination of artist and scientist. I later told his wife that I modeled my life after his, where I valued my artistic side as much as my deep love of science. He was a true Renaissance man and he opened my world to the possibility of using all of my talents in my career path.

Where has your career taken you and what is your career highlight so far?

I have experienced much in my career; it has been rich and rewarding and very full. It has been extremely difficult at times but it has always given me great satisfaction and secret joy. It truly has been a journey, from working overseas for a small start-up, to joining a large consulting company and worldwide travel, to Director of a large research facility. Although I had been an advisor to a former EPA Administrator, my career highlight is relatively recent. In a realization that is still hard to wrap my head around even now, I am the primary force which has allowed Renewable Natural Gas (biomethane) into the gas pipeline grid. As a consequence of a project I initiated over 15 years ago, RNG is a now viable “green” product. But maybe the work started earlier in my life; maybe while I was at Mac, I made the choice to make a difference. Mac indulges you. You are allowed to vision.

Describe MAC in three words

Community, Connections, and Growth

How has the Macalester community helped you since graduation?’

During my time at Macalester, I made many lifelong friends who have become my chosen family, supporting me through various stages and aspects of my life. I am deeply grateful for these enduring friendships, as they have shaped who I am today.

What advice or other thoughts would you share with an incoming student?

Embrace Discomfort: At Macalester, one of the most valuable experiences is engaging with people who look, talk, and think differently from you. Dive into midnight conversations and discussions where you might not be the smartest person in the room. Enroll in a class outside your comfort zone. Try new things and take risks. Make your time at Macalester meaningful by seeking out challenges, being open to correction, and acknowledging the limits of your knowledge. Be open to expanding your horizons

What gives you passion or motivation in your current occupation?

My passions for equity, the arts, and education drive my current work. My motivation is rooted in creativity, purpose, and intention. It fuels my efforts to build a global community and give back to the world. This commitment inspires me to grow into a better version of myself and brings me immense joy.

Describe Mac in 3 words:

Diverse- Unique- Inspiring

What was your favorite Macalester Memory?

I have so many amazing memories from my first year that it’s hard to choose just one, but one of my favorites was when we had two snow days in February. My friends and I claimed the English Lounge in Old Main for the whole first snow day and it was so much fun to hang out and do homework in such a cozy space with the snow outside. We also had a campus-wide snowball fight that day, and it was so much fun! 

Who was/is your favorite professor/lecturer and why?  

This is super hard to answer, because every single professor that I’ve had and interacted with at Mac is incredible. But if I had to choose just one professor, I think I’d have to go with Paul Dosh, in the political science department. I took Comparative Politics with him this past semester (Spring 2023) and it was a super interesting and unique class. The way that Paul sets up and leads the class is super engaging and I learned so much.  

What advice or other thoughts would you share with an incoming student?  

I would tell an incoming student to be open to doing and trying new things. For me, I definitely came to Mac with some expectations about how things were going to go, and most of those things didn’t happen the way I expected them to. But honestly, things worked out better than I could have imagined them, and I’m truly so happy here today. So, just be willing to go with the flow, try new things, and let things happen as they’re meant to.  

What is your favorite MAC memory?

My favorite memories at Mac would have to be the first time that I arrived at Macalester College from California. Coach Doug Bolstorff picked me up from the airport and we headed straight for the Old Mac Field house to see the then new Tartan basketball court!!!! Afterwards I strolled across campus and got a look at the peculiar dorms on the way to finding where I would eventually stay. Kirk, Dayton, Dupree, Doty, and Turk Hall were the names that I noticed as I passed. I was to meet a young man by the name of Bruce 2X coming my way with what looked to me like a hand full of record albums(vinyl LOL!!!). We talked and he advised me to go with him to a place known as the Black House. We eventually arrive at our destination, and upon entering the black house the aroma of fried chicken,collard greens, and macaroni and cheese filled my nostrils!!!!! I then began to say to myself” I think I am going to like it here”

Memorial moment in 1973-74 when the Macalester College Scotsmen handed St. Thomas Tommies our arch rival a resounding defeat with NBA Legend George Miken in the stands, watching his son Terry, before a pack stadium on that same Tartan floor, in the Mac Field house.. How sweeeeeet it was!!!!!!

Who was your favorite professor/lecturer and why?

Professor/ lecturer Mahmoud El-Kati ,James Stewart, and Doug Bolstorf ,were the three gentlemen that had a profound impact on why I do what I do today. Mahmoud El-Kati who gave to us smooth, articulate, and insightful lectures about the importance of knowing your own history, as well as all others, so you can obtain an accurate understanding of the truth. He also instilled in us, the knowledge of the responsibility we had in being advocates for change, in the area of equality, education, civil rights and criminal and social justice.. James Stewart , professor of American History, whose amusing lecturers eventually aroused my curiosity to dig deeper in my quest to satisfy my thirst for reasons why things happened the way they did in American History. Doug Bolstorf, Physical Education professor, whose guidance and encouragement inspired me to want to enter the coaching profession and be part of a game that has shaped an developed me personally as both player and as a coach. Encouraging all athletes to work hard and give it your all and not get caught up in the results. It’s the Journey that only a few will see.” Trust the process and the process will reward you.”

What gives you passion or motivation in your current occupation?

What gives me the passion an motivation to do what I do ? First God ……God is the reason. He has guided me through and given me the fortitude to face all the struggles, challenges, and mishaps that a young Black kid from South Central Los Angeles, via of Pomona Ca,. has had to overcome to achieve success, in spite of the odds……..He ‘s responsible for my surviving the rigorous curriculum and challenges of the academic world at Macalester College looking back…. The rich diverse faculty, coaches, counselors, fellow classmates, teammates, community, food service managers, all have played a vital part in my passion and motivation to give back. To pay it forward.. I believe in our youth. Just like the aforementioned believed in me. When I was young growing up in the inner city, The Boy’s and Girl’s Club Staff, the Parks and Recreation Staff, gave me a chance… Family was also my motivation. Instilling the value of education, being a good person, respecting others, and just to staying humble. I hope my life experiences both professionally and academically will be of value as we move forward as a Alumni Board.

Favorite Quote:

“I believe that children are our future, treat them well and let them lead the way, show them all the beauty they possess inside, give them a sense of
pride and make it easier, let the children’s laughter remind us how we use to be”
…
The Greatest Muhammad Ali

What is your favorite Mac Memory?

There are so many. I really enjoyed the post-concert celebrations in the African Music Ensemble. The instructor would invite us to his house and treat us with a filling Ghanaian meal. It was also quite special to stay up late with your friends/FYC class to finish essays and projects. The next day is always rough, but it feels nice to have people in the same boat and some support group.

What was the most beneficial thing you learned and/or experience you had while at MAC? How do you use this in your current role? How have you utilized the alumni network as an alum?

The most beneficial thing I learnt is to take the time to know people. Growing up, my friends all had similar backgrounds. Macalester provides a very diverse student body. Many international students come from countries that I have only heard about on the news. Even though we all ended up in St. Paul, people’s path here is very different. Initially I found it a bit intimidating to talk to people with so much expertise in areas I know nothing about. As time went on, I started to realize that it is a fascinating exercise, and people are very open to share their stories. I carry the lesson post-Mac whenever I meet new people. Work gets a lot more enjoyable when my coworkers are also friends.

Where has your career taken you and what is your career highlight so far?

Since graduation, I have been working at an economic consulting firm called the Brattle Group. My profile is featured on the company website, which is quite neat. On one of my projects, I got the opportunity to present to a Nobel Prize laureate. The coolest thing though, is to have Hillary Clinton as the next-door neighbor. I graduated in 2016, and she was the presidential nominee. I managed to snap a few selfies with her, land some free campaign stickers, and have her sign the “What happened” book after the election.

What advice or other thoughts would you share with an incoming student?

Be present during these years both mentally and physically. The 4 years go by fast and it’s an experience you’ll never be able to recreate.

What gives you passion or motivation in your current occupation?

My motivation is to help others and I do that by using finance to help build financial equity, financial literacy, and generational wealth.

 What was the most beneficial thing you experienced you had while at MAC?

Meeting my lifelong friends and being exposed to new cultures, places, and people I would’ve never met outside of Mac.

How has the Macalester community helped you since graduation?

I am constantly inspired by the community of Macalester, the camaraderie that is built among alumni and I always know I have a home there.

What is your favorite Mac memory?I really enjoyed the International Roundtable, the speakers were always interesting but I really enjoyed the student sessions, it was a great opportunity to see what other students were passionate about and it always provoked fascinating discussions. I facilitated three sessions, one of which was an early version of an Indigenous land mapping project that I’ve continued to work on.

Describe Mac in three words.

Inclusive- Engaging- Transformative

What advice or other thoughts would you share with an incoming student?

Try everything. Be open to possibility. Step outside your comfort zone as often as you can. Engage in deep conversations with people different from you and really listen as they share their passions and beliefs with you. Give yourself permission to make mistakes and learn from each and every one. Recognize the privilege of being part of the Macalester community. Be vulnerable. Have FUN!

What  gives you passion or motivation in your current occupation?

After many years, degrees and careers, I have found my soul purpose. Using relaxation and visualization to decrease anxiety and prepare clients for surgery is incredibly rewarding work. I feel an instant connection with my clients as they open up to me about their worries and I know that our work together enhances their healing on so many levels. As I watch clients shift out of fear and anxiety to a place of calm where they are partners in their own healing, I know that this is the work that I was always meant to do. 

Describe Mac in three words.

Transformational, progressive, family

What advice or other thoughts would you share with an incoming student?

Dip your toe into all areas of the college: try to take a class in every building (including the Leonard Center). Build relationships with your professors and the staff. These will be some of the most challenging years of your life, but also the ones you will look back at most fondly. Revel in the ease of access you have to a utopia where your living space, friends, lovers, meals, work, academics, resources, gym, and hobbies are all contained in a couple city blocks; it is a rare and precious environment hard to find outside of a college campus. You will gain a strong critical eye for institutions, including Mac – the administration knows and is willing to listen to you more than pretty much any other institution you will come up against. The Mac Bubble exists, leaving it is important but can be jarring, however inside is still the “real world” too. Macalester is the most supportive place you can experiment and fail, it is okay to allow yourself to do so to figure out better who you are [becoming].

Who was your favorite professor/lecturer and why?

It is so challenging to choose one, but Joan Ostrove of the Psychology department was my advisor from my very first to my very last day at Macalester and left an indelible mark on how I view the world and myself. In my First Year Course, Minding the Body, Joan gave me the frameworks to understand disability as an identity and better process all the parts of myself that no one had given me any idea how to understand before that. Her commitment to intersectional, critical identity studies that integrate queer, feminist, disability, and critical race scholarships changed my life. I ended up working with her on multiple independent study projects including my senior project on establishing a Disability Studies Concentration at Macalester that students and faculty after my graduation have continued to pursue. I am so lucky to have been able to keep in touch after graduating and was blessed to have Joan officiate at my wedding (in front of Old Main) to my fellow Macalester ’16 alumna, Emma Swanson. 

How has the Macalester community helped you since graduation?

Much to my dismay, most of my ideas and dreams about how my life was going to go post-graduation have not panned out – the Macalester community has allowed all these twists and turns to be manageable and for me to find contentment outside of 21-year-old me’s “life plan.” The faculty and staff I’ve kept in touch with have been more than happy to chat, guide me to resources, and introduce me to other members of the alumni and Macalester community (current students, new faculty & staff). I have grown to realize that my occupation doesn’t need to bring all fulfillment to my life, so I choose to volunteer with Macalester! This brings me so much gratification that I can participate in a supportive community that I get to both give to and take from. I would be remiss not to mention that many of my friends, acquaintances, neighbors, coworkers, and now family, are made up of Macalester alumni that I get to interact with every day and truly make my life what it is.  

Describe MAC in three words.

Community, diversity, and connection.

How have you utilized the alumni network as an alum?

The Mac alumni network is amazing, here in the Twin Cities, outside of the Twin Cities, or in the virtual world. They have become my friends and mentors. I am inspired to become a resource for other alumni just as they have been to me.

What advice or other thoughts would you share with an incoming student?

Friends and connections you make while at Mac are probably just as important, if not more, as your GPA.

What gives you passion or motivation in your current occupation?

While at Mac, I learned the importance of community and giving back. I have made quite a few drastic changes in the industries I work in but I was always gravitating towards a career that centers around helping the communities that I am a part of. This led me to where I am today, Community Development at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.

How has the Macalester community helped you since graduation?The Macalester community has been a constant source of inspiration and motivation for me in the years since I have graduated. It is easy to forget the barriers and adversity that many Macalester students today have had to overcome before they even make it to campus is astonishing. I am consistently impressed by the resilience and fortitude of students I meet when I return to campus.   Similarly, learning that so many of the people I have looked up to, learned from, and modeled myself after as I started my professional career got their start at Macalester has kept me ambitions. Seeing how other alumni take their Macalester education and live the ethics and values of the college in the real world is profound.  Knowing I am a part of that Macalester tradition has helped ward off complacency and pushed me to be even more engaged in my community.

What gives you passion or motivation in your current occupation?

As a health care attorney and lobbyist I focus much of my practice on representing provider organizations that serve Medicaid enrollees.  That means that the community health clinics, chemical and mental health treatment providers, and long-term care and disability service organizations I represent serve some of the most vulnerable populations in Minnesota. Knowing the important work that my clients are doing in the community every day makes it much easier for me to find energy for my legal representation and enthusiasm for my legislative advocacy.

What advice or other thoughts would you share with an incoming student? What was the most beneficial thing you learned and/or experience you had while at MAC? How do you use this in your current role? How have you utilized the alumni network as an alum?

Think of Macalester as the next step in life’s journey and not as an endeavor in and of itself. No one expects you to know what you want to do with your life when you graduate and it is highly unlikely that the job you get right out of college will be anything like what you settle into as an adult. Use your time at Macalester to learn as much as you can about the things that excite you and meet as many different kinds of people as possible. Those connections and the commonality that comes from time at Macalester will open doors for you around the globe. Soak in what you can and enjoy the experience fully.

Who was your favorite professor/lecturer and why?

Dick Lesicko ’75, former Director of Forensics, was my favorite professor. Participating in mock trial under his tutelage for four years changed my life. He taught me invaluable skills applicable to any career, in any language or region: analyzing key material from a 200-page case problem, structuring arguments and connecting them with a larger theory, and presenting myself with grace and confidence. More importantly, being part of the Mac Forensics family means I have fellow Mac Scots around the world to rely on.

What gives you passion or motivation in your current occupation?

The values of a liberal arts education from Mac. As an educator and manager, my mission is to promote these values. To quote our 16th president Brian Rosenberg: “the ability to step away from one’s own history and biases, at least for a moment, and see the world through the eyes of another whose history and biases are quite different … and the ability and willingness to listen with care and respect to the appropriately expressed opinions of those with whom one disagrees and to expression one’s own opinions with similar care and respect.” 

What advice or thoughts would you share with an incoming student?

Be fearless, be critical, and be empathetic. Embrace the endless internationalism and multiculturalism that Macalester will offer you. Step out of your comfort zone and explore the unknown, but always maintain civility and empathy for everyone you encounter. Go Mac!

How has the Macalester community helped you since graduation?

I am constantly inspired by the community of Macalester, the camaraderie that is built among alumni and I always know I have a home there.

What is your favorite MAC memory?

My favorite Mac memory isn’t a single event, but the compilation of my time spent with Mac Tennis. These are my favorite memories because they involved both the highs and the lows of competition. And through everything Mac Tennis was always there; we were truly a team and the memory of Mac Tennis will stay with me for the rest of my life.

What advice or other thoughts would you share with an incoming student? What was the most beneficial thing you experienced you had while at MAC? How do you use this in your current role?

My advice for incoming students is to simply; explore. Mac offers such a wide variety of academic experiences, non-academic experiences, and everything in between. Mac also heavily encourages and facilitates cross-disciplinary learning; which was definitely one of the most beneficial things I experienced at Mac. While I spent lots of time in Oin-Rice, Mac encouraged me to take classes in other disciplines which shaped how I approached my job as a software engineer. To be the best software engineer I can be, I use the cross-disciplinary learning skills I acquired at Mac; these help me understand the big picture and make better decisions.

Describe MAC in three words

Home. Transformative. Unique.

Who was your favorite professor/lecturer and why?

1. Lin Aanonsen, PhD (Biology/Neuroscience) was and remains the most influential educator I have had in my lifetime.  She triggered a lifetime love of 
2. Learning and curiosity for neuroscience that ultimately resulted in post-grad work (and meeting my spouse) in a U of MN research lab.  I spent countless hours in her lab working and studying; that was my “happy place” on campus.  Lin was humble and approachable.  She was generous with her time and resources.  As a mentor and advisor, she helped you recognize potential in yourself and put into place the next steps so you met that potential. 
3. Jan Serie, PhD (Biology/Immunology) was the professor that i worked the hardest for. She pushed me to learn immunology to a level of detail and comprehensive understanding that exceeded anything I was taught or expected to know later in medical school.  I am forever grateful to the high expectations and standards she set for her classes and students. 

Did you study away or travel outside your home country while you were at MAC? 

Yes; University of Lancaster in England during fall of senior year.  As a science major who was not fluent in a language other than English, study abroad is very difficult.  I was able to find this opportunity that included a Biochemistry class in order to meet my major requirements, keep me on track for graduation, and still study abroad. 

What do you think that you have carried with you from your MAC days while you traveled the world?

An ability to learn with and learn from a variety of people from different backgrounds.  In a study abroad program, you are tossed into a completely new group of peers, often only sharing the one common interest of choosing the same study abroad program.  I was fortunate to find a group of 5 others that were willing to explore and travel together, enriching our time abroad.  

What gives you passion or motivation in your current occupation?

Advocacy; helping families navigate care in very broken US health care and education systems to ensure children get what they need despite ever increasing barriers, complacency, and apathy.

What was the most beneficial thing you experienced you had while at MAC? The culture of civil discourse and curiosity instead of judgment.

How has the Macalester community helped you since graduation?

The relationships I formed with students and teachers while at Macalester have held me in good stead throughout the years. When I need real advice and real support, I go to my Mac friends. Some of my theater cohort formed a theater collective in Minneapolis post graduation that ran for 30 years. For early (and later) career advice and professional references, my former professors were there to assist. Crossing paths with other alums anywhere in the world is like finding long lost family – we share core values and a fundamental common experience that is singular. I take inspiration from their work, and strive always to do better to live up to our Macalester ideals. 

What is your favorite MAC memory?

Sophomore and Junior year, Sunday Night Italian Dinners on 4th Turck and in 37 Mac (turned vegan coop). To manage east coast homesickness, a friend from NYC and I would spend the afternoon making marinara sauce, pasta, garlic bread, and host a big Sunday night family dinner with friends. The best!

Who was your favorite professor/lecturer and why? 

David McCurdy, anthropology Professor emeritus, was hands-down one of the best teachers I had throughout my entire education. His position as a Macalester legend and a leader in the field is rightfully earned. Studying anthropology in the early 90s, we were introduced to concepts such and unconscious bias and cultural competence, under different names. When I went to graduate school in the early 2000s that was doing “new” and “cutting edge” work in these areas, I already had a leg up, due to my Macalester training.  

Did you study away or travel outside your home country while you were at MAC? What do you think that you have carried with you from your MAC days while you traveled the world?

I learned to be a traveler, not a tourist. I made it my business to study other languages, so I could participate, learn, and contribute, not just take up space and resources. 

What advice or other thoughts would you share with an incoming student?

1) Take advantage of the great liberal arts education available to you, and add a second major or minor unrelated to your primary major. 2) Pick a study away program sophomore year, because sophomore year can feel a bit rudderless, and double-majoring makes leaving campus junior and senior year more complicated. 3) Take those free bagpipe lessons! Literally everyone who doesn’t later regrets it!

Did you study away or travel outside your home country while you were at MAC? What do you think that you have carried with you from your MAC days while you traveled the world?
I joined Dorothy Dodge’s 1983 summer in the People’s Republic of China. It was reportedly the first undergraduate group allowed into China & set to study political economy in decades. Due to political pressures, we never did get to that curriculum as they had us in groups of 4 or less learning to speak and understand Chinese for 8 hours a day; a necessary precursor to our being allowed to learn about politics and economics, after all. In China that summer I gained the self confidence to take care of myself; not just with food and shelter, but also with learning to trust my analytic skills. Experiencing and observing the effects of “illogical” (to me) but politically motivated governmental policy made real for me how challenging life can be outside of the US and gave me appreciation for the things we took for granted in the US – in both good and unhelpful ways. I stayed on a few weeks after the rest of the group left and learned even more about the complexities of living in China in 1983. It was an astounding experience, the kind in the brochures. When I returned to Macalester for my senior year, I realized that I’d actually completed my degree requirements and so I graduated a term early. (I now regret missing that last semester of opportunities from Mac – but I didn’t know any better at the time.) My time in China continued to give me confidence that I could figure out whatever I needed and move on to forge a path for myself – so I did.

Who was your favorite professor/lecturer and why?

There were many! I will choose Emily Rosenburg because she most fully encapsulated all that I had hoped to get from Macalester! As a first gen student, I didn’t know it, but I was desperate for a role model. I can’t now recall how many classes I had with her, and I know that I didn’t do enough to engage with her directly, but the fact that she met each of us where we were, and for me, gave me a view of Latin America and US foreign affairs that I needed. It was unvarnished. It was difficult. And she delivered the material with unflinching strength that helped me see how I could be; a “just deal with the reality of life” attitude that has served me well!

What advice or other thoughts would you share with an incoming student?

Engage with as much of Macalester as you can! Try all new things. Dare to “fail” – because it will open your eyes to so many more possibilities. Also, go to office hours from the start. Be honest about your challenges and question that which you feel confident in. Find out who you are and what makes you sustainably happy!

What gives you passion or motivation in your current occupation?

I continue to work with undergraduates at another liberal arts college and am motivated by helping them open up to the world. Current generations of students have found their own paths through the isolation and scramble to retool our collective teaching methods over the past 3 years. Many of these coping mechanisms are now proving to be counterproductive and they haven’t necessarily had the experience to realize it. I strive to have compassion for all of them and continue to work to guide them toward expanding their sense of self; encouraging them to explore their edges and open themselves to greater experiences. In particular, the apparent need to appear successful can seriously dampen a person’s curiosity and potential for fulfillment.

What is your favorite MAC memory?

The day I met my spouse and life partner for the first time. It was on campus at the then Student Center. Magic. We both graduated from Macalester and have been together since that day for more than 50 years ago.

How has the Macalester community helped you since graduation?

In so many ways. I do recall that when I started my career at the World Bank, I was sought out and mentored by a Macalester College graduate who had risen to the senior managerial ranks of the Bank. Richard Johanson had attended and graduated from Macalester long before I did, but he was a part of a broader Macalester community living and working in the Washington D.C area. His coaching and mentoring helped me enormously in making my career and successfully navigating the large international bureaucracy of development finance. I have been forever grateful for his friendship and support. I learned the power of this Macalester ethos and have over my years, tried to replicate the same by reaching out, mentoring, offering internships and summer jobs to as many Macalester graduates as feasible who have sought careers in international development.

Describe MAC in three words

Diversity. Development. Destiny

How has the Macalester community helped you since graduation?

It helped me keep in touch with college friends.

What is your favorite Mac memory?

This is a difficult question to answer because I have tons of favorite Mac memories – my first Springfest, my first Scottish festival, my first Summit Avenue run, my first all-nighter (study binge), my first Interim, et al.  However, I will never forget my first snow day at Macalester.  Growing up in the South, in the metropolitan Atlanta area, I was awed by the first snowfall over two inches in St. Paul. In Atlanta, when there was a hint of icy precipitation, the entire city would shut down and come to a standstill.  It was the rarest occasions where we would see snow over two inches. So when my roommate and I, who also happened to be from the South, experienced snowfall over two inches, we ran outside, fell to the ground and made snow angels!  We were wet, it was freezing cold but it was an exhilarating experience, one  indicative of my freshman year at Macalester!

Who was your favorite professor/lecturer at Macalester and why?

Professor Mahmoud El Kati was my favorite professor at Macalester.  History is one of my favorite subjects and Professor El-Kati had a breadth and depth of history that was “unsurpassed by none”.   I appreciated his passion for the subject matter and the teaching resources that he shared with his students – from books and data sources to living history in his friends and relationships.  Professor El Kati was a great story teller, I thoroughly enjoyed his class and had an occasion to attend his community lectures post-graduation. I will always be grateful for the experience and inspiration.

Did you study away or travel outside your home country while you were at Mac?  What do you think that you have carried with you from your Mac days while you traveled the world?

I did not study abroad while at Mac but participated in the Urban Studies program in Chicago.  As a result of my studies and lifelong friendships developed at Macalester, I’ve travelled to more than 35 countries for business and personal travel.  I’ve learned and speak multiple languages and was a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala.  As a Peace Corps volunteer, I’ve met numerous volunteers from Mac and Minnesota.  On business travel to Ghana, I was actually in Kumasi at the same time as Mac alum and former Secretary General Kofi Anan.  I was on a hospital visit with board members from the nonprofit organization where I work, MedShare, talking to hospital officials about the medical supplies and equipment sent by MedShare.  Mr. Annan and his delegation had toured and visited the hospital system in Kumasi, Ghana the previous day.

As I think about my key takeaways from Mac, it would include a quality education and a foundation for being a global citizen, living a life that makes a difference and having an impact on others.

have you utilized the alumni network as an alum?

From finding an apartment to rent, to grabbing drinks in DC, to seeking career advice and support, to building new connections, the Macalester alumni network has never let me down. It works! It’s been awesome.

What is your favorite MAC memory? 

Too many to choose from. But celebrating festivals from home, Holi: the Indian “festival of colors” on the lawns or Diwali with catered Indian food and over 150 people was always an amazing time. Rain or shine.

What advice or other thoughts would you share with an incoming student? 

Try to study abroad if you can, do an internship during the semester, take some fun classes, spend a summer (or two, or three) in the Twin Cities, get some ice cream from Grand Ole Creamery, and go for the Diwali dinners!

Who was your favorite professor/lecturer and why?

Tough one. Professor Amy Damon in Economics is definitely one of them. Loved her energy, enthusiasm, and econometrics! Learned both quantiative and qualitative life skills in her classes.