Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center renovation and expansion to begin in January

An architectural rendering of the Arts Commons, which will be built as part of the Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center renovation and expansion project.

Funding and Board of Trustees approval has been secured to move forward with the first phase of the Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center renovation and expansion project. Construction is to begin in January 2011; a campus celebration of the project will be held on Monday, Nov. 15.

The college has raised $16.5 million towards a $24 million fundraising goal for the project. "We absolutely could not do this project without the generosity of alumni and friends of the college," said President Rosenberg. "Our ability to move forward at a time when many colleges across the country are pulling back on capital projects will give our community a distinct advantage in attracting talented artists — both students and faculty."
· Read the press release
· View architectural renderings and learn how you can support the project

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Partners in Health founder Paul Farmer opens school year

Paul Farmer delivered Macalester's opening convocation address.

Paul Farmer, the founder of the international health and social justice nonprofit Partners in Health, delivered this year's opening convocation on Sept. 14 to a standing-room only audience in the Alexander G. Hill Ballroom of Kagin Commons.

In his talk, he described his work through Partners in Health to build the healthcare infrastructure in Haiti and other nations. While he was on campus, Paul Farmer received an honorary degree from Macalester for his 30 years of work to bring first-rate medical care to some of the poorest people on earth.
· Watch Paul Farmer's convocation address on YouTube
· More about his honorary degree

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Author Kao Kalia Yang speaks to students about The Latehomecomer

Watch Kao Kalia Yang's speech

Kao Kalia Yang's book The Latehomecomer was chosen as this year's common reading for first-year students and the broader Macalester community. She spoke on campus on Sept. 23.

In her talk, she described the paths she took to write her book, her deep and profound connections to her family, and her thoughts on being the first Hmong author to publish a book about Hmong people. While on campus, she was interviewed by Macalester student Collin Calvert '13, who later wrote on the student blog The Orange,"...From meeting her, from speaking with her, I feel that I've changed, that I finally know what the opportunity is that college, that Macalester, presents us. It allows us to open our heart, to risk ourselves, in order to grow."
· Watch Kao Kalia Yang's talk on YouTube
· Watch Calvert's interview with the author

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Professors Karine Moe and Lin Aanonsen named as endowed professors

Professors Karine Moe and Lin Aanonsen.

President Rosenberg and Provost Kathleen Murray named Professor Karine Moe as the F.R. Bigelow Endowed Chair in Economics and Professor Lin Aanonsen to the O.T. Walter Endowed Professorship in Biology. Both of these endowed professorships were established in the 1960s.

One goal of the Step Forward campaign is to raise $26.5 million for endowed professorships. So far campaign donors have created six endowed professorships. The remaining goal is to raise enough to endow four more.
· Learn more about endowed professorships at Macalester
· More about endowed professorships of Moe and Aanonsen

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Mansco Perry III named Macalester's new CIO

Mansco Perry III

Mansco Perry III will be Macalester's Chief Investment Officer starting November 1. As CIO, Perry will oversee the college's $587 million endowment, which ranks 14th among U.S. liberal arts colleges. The endowment supports financial aid for students, and academic and co-curricular programs, among other college priorities.

"We're delighted to welcome Mansco to Macalester," said President Rosenberg. "He brings broad and deep experience in investment management and is passionate about the liberal arts. He'll be a great fit and wonderful addition to our team."

Since 2008, Perry has been the CIO for the Maryland State Retirement Agency, where he oversaw a $33 billion pension plan portfolio. Macalester's current CIO, Craig Aase '70, announced his plans to retire last spring.
· More about Mansco Perry III

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Scots Watch: Two golfers earn All-MIAC honors

Student golfers Nick Santrach '11 and Grace Caird '13.

A pair of Macalester golfers played to All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) status Oct. 2-4 at the conference tournament at Bunker Hills Golf Course in Coon Rapids. Nick Santrach '11 placed fifth in the men's competition with a score of 222 on rounds of 74, 72, and 76, and in the women's tournament, Grace Caird '13 finished in ninth place on rounds of 87, 84, and 85 for a 54-hole tally of 256.
· Read more Mac Athletics news

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Career Exploreship program for students expands to D.C.

Building upon the success of last year's job shadowing program, the Career Exploreship program for Macalester sophomores expands to include the D.C. and Twin Cities metro areas in January 2011.

Alumni living in these regions are invited to offer a Macalester sophomore one of the following career experiences: an extended informational interview, a full day of shadowing, two to three days of shadowing, a week-long job shadowing experience, or a three-week formal academic internship. Sophomores will be matched up with job shadowing opportunities later this fall.

This program is sponsored by the Alumni Board Student Support committee, the Career Development Center, and the Internship Program.
· Sign up to volunteer as a Career Exploreship host

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MaryBeth Grewe '10 wins Sylvia Forman Prize for best undergraduate paper in feminist anthropology

MaryBeth Grewe '10

MaryBeth Grewe '10 won the Sylvia Forman Prize from the Association for Feminist Anthropology, a section of the American Anthropological Association, for best undergraduate paper. For winning the award, Grewe will receive $500 and a summary of her paper will be published in Anthropology News.

Grewe's paper, "Keeping the Mother in Maternal and Child Health: Infant Feeding Policy, Child Malnutrition, and Maternal Experience in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa," drew on work she conducted during a study abroad program. She developed the paper in her Anthropology Senior Capstone Seminar led by Professor Dianna Shandy.

"I'm most delighted that MaryBeth Grewe has received this award," said Shandy. "The research she conducted in South Africa about mothers and breastfeeding was top rate. She worked really hard on this project and deserved to be recognized."
· More about Grewe and her award

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Job Opening: Associate Director of Alumni Relations

Do you enjoy planning events, networking with alumni, and connecting volunteers with meaningful opportunities? Then you may want to apply to be Associate Director of Alumni Relations at Macalester. Applications are due October 18.
· View job description and apply

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Five alumni to be inducted to M Club Hall of Fame

The M Club will induct five new members to its athletic Hall of Fame at its annual dinner on Saturday, October 16. The 2010 M Club Hall of Fame class is made up of Adam Burke '92 (swimming), Mark Abboud '92 (soccer), and sisters Nikki Epperson '96 (soccer/basketball), Brook Epperson '98 (soccer/basketball), and Tawni Epperson '99 (soccer).

All former Macalester student athletes are welcome to attend the M Club Hall of Fame dinner. Cost to attend is $30 per person.
· Register to attend the M Club Hall of Fame dinner

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Macbassador of the Month: Melvin Collins '75

Melvin Collins '75 is Macbassador of the Month.

The Macbassador of the month for October is Melvin Collins '75. Melvin has volunteered for every opportunity on campus from serving as a host family for Macalester students of color to hosting first-year dinners, from serving on the Alumni Board to serving on the Board of Trustees. He is known in some circles as "Mr. Macalester." He was a 2007 Alumni Award recipient and continues to be a steadfast Macalester volunteer in activities that directly make a difference in the lives of Macalester students.

One example of his work for the college is his participation in last year's pilot run of the new Career Exploreship program that connects Macalester sophomores with alumni for job shadowing opportunities. Melvin hosted a psychology major at Securian Financial and said of the experience, "I really enjoyed spending time with Igor and learning more about him, his interests and aspirations. He was very engaging and came prepared with good questions. We plan to meet again."

Collins is also a loyal financial contributor, giving to Macalester for many years. Join us in congratulating Melvin Collins for being Macbassador of the Month!
· Sign up to be a Macbassador
· View previous Macbassadors of the Month

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