The Campus Programs office has a new face.

New Assistant Director of Campus Programs for Multicultural Life Mattie White began work at Macalester on March 15.

White is replacing Anita Doddi, who resigned at the end of the fall semester.

White received her graduate degree from the University of Ohio in higher education college student personnel. White also received an undergraduate degree in journalism from the University of Ohio.

White will serve as advisor to the cultural organizations, coordinate programs in the Cultural House and will help organize other multicultural events on campus. She will also work closely with the Lealtad-Suzuki Center.

“Because she is a part of Campus Programs and Multicultural Life, we will work together in a lot of ways,” Director of the Lealtad-Suzuki Center Karla Benson-Rutten said. “We already do a lot of collaboration with Campus Programs, so this is kind of a natural link.”

White said that one such activity on which she will work with the Lealtad-Suzuki Center is the creation of a campus committee for planning events during cultural heritage months. “We want collaboration to be more efficient and effective,” she said.

White said that she was initially attracted to Macalester when she learned about the college at an American College Personnel Association conference in Minneapolis. “I had the opportunity to meet Ramon Knox [Assistant Director of Residential Life] and Myra Garnes [Assistant Dean of Students] while at the conference. They are really great people who spoke well of Macalester. Also, I’ve always liked the city of Minneapolis.”

White said she has felt welcome on the Macalester campus. “I really like my position because it offers me a challenge,” she said. “With that challenge, my supervisors have provided me with a lot of support. I have felt very welcome.”

White also said that she is excited about working with the Macalester community. “I am really looking forward to getting to know students and working with student organizations,” she said. “I hope to be a bridge for the Macalester community and I encourage students to stop by my office and talk to me.”