Stories

Dr. Dina Zavala has been named to the inaugural position of vice president for inclusion, equity and community at Carleton, following a national search and interview process that included involvement and input from students, faculty, staff and alumni. She will begin her new role on June 1, joining the President’s Cabinet and leading a new Office of Inclusion, Equity and Community.

Diversity in higher education enhances critical thinking, bolsters interpersonal skills, and encourages cultural engagement and a concern for the public good. But a pending Supreme Court decision could upend decades of precedent and make it more difficult for colleges to ensure a holistic admissions process.

Phil Chan’06 returned to Carleton this fall as a visiting professor of dance. He’s teaching a course that explores over 300 years of “exotic” portrayals of “Orientals” on the Western ballet and opera stages, as well as the geopolitics that impacted how society views Asian people and cultures to this day.

The fifth Multicultural Alumni Network Gathering (Sept. 30–Oct. 2) brought alumni of color back to campus for a weekend of rest, reconciliation and revival. They reconnected with old friends, explored both new and familiar Carleton spaces and engaged with a campus community that is undergoing significant reflection, change and growth.

Northfield’s fourth annual Hispanic Heritage Month celebration runs Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, a stretch when many Latin American countries celebrate their independence. Northfield’s celebration was organized by the Northfield Public Library and co-sponsored by Carleton’s Center for Community and Civic Engagement (CCCE).

Carleton College has announced Marcy Averill as its inaugural Indigenous communities liaison. The newly-created position will strengthen the college’s ability to enact its land acknowledgement commitments, partner with tribal governments and Native organizations, and promote the well-being of Native members of the campus community.

Carleton has joined 32 peer institutions in signing an amicus curiae brief, filed with the U.S. Supreme Court, in support of the legality of a “race-conscious” admissions process. The effort was initiated and coordinated by Amherst College.

Dr. Denise Lajimodiere’s week-long residency on campus increased visibility for Native students and prompted thoughts of healing and honest storytelling for attendees.

Indigenous students — in collaboration with select faculty members, staff representatives, and leaders of the Prairie Island Indian Community — are working to help the college address their collective strengths, traditions, and needs.