Carleton and its local community are deeply interconnected, and the College not only cultivates but thrives on good relations with its neighbors. From the economic impact on Rice County to the current state of student civic engagement, here’s your chance to learn from faculty, staff, and administration about the vibrant connections between Carleton and Northfield (and beyond).
This event took place on December 12, 2025.
About the Speakers
Rika Anderson ’06 is an associate professor of biology and has taught at Carleton since 2016. Her research focuses on microbial evolution and deep-sea hydrothermal vents. In collaboration with CCCE she has organized Science Night, an annual event that connects Carleton students with elementary schoolers in Northfield through games, crafts, and interactive demonstrations of scientific concepts.
Sinda Nichols ’05 is the director of Carleton’s Center for Community and Civic Engagement (CCCE), a position that she has held since 2020. CCCE supports students, faculty, staff, and partners in collaborative work that advances the public good; it coordinates the College’s Academic Civic Engagement courses as well as student-led community volunteer programs and community-based work study.
Since 2020, Eric Runestad has served as Carleton’s Vice President and Treasurer. He oversees the budgetary, financial, facilities, human resource, and campus operations of the College.
Erica Zweifel P’21 is the Assistant Director of Community Impact in Carleton’s Center for Community and Civic Engagement office. She served on the Northfield City Council from 2009 to 2020 and is currently the Mayor of Northfield.
