2025 Alumni Award Recipients

Congratulations to the 2025 Alumni Award Recipients. These ten alumni were honored by the Macalester community at the Grand Celebration at Reunion 2025 on Saturday, June 7, 2025.

Young Alumni Award

The Young Alumni Award recognizes alumni who have graduated in the past 15 years. This award pays tribute to those who are making an effective contribution to the communities in which they live, or moving forward rapidly in their careers, and living the kind of unselfish, caring life for which their Macalester education prepared them.

Magdalena Mora ’13

As an illustrator and designer, Magdalena Mora ’13 has built a career at the intersection of art, storytelling, and social justice. Her bold and evocative illustrations have brought to life children’s books such as The Notebook Keeper and Tomatoes in My Lunchbox, offering young readers meaningful reflections on themes such as immigration, cultural identity, and family.

“Beyond her artistic accomplishments, what stands out most about Magdalena is her heart,” her nominator writes. “Her design philosophy stems from her belief in art as a form of activism, a means to challenge the status quo, and a platform to celebrate the beauty of diversity.”

Mora is committed to making children’s literature more accessible and representative—particularly for Latinx and immigrant communities.

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Catharine Lealtad, Class of 1915, Service to Society Award

The Catharine Lealtad Service to Society Award is given to alumni of color who have used their education to distinguish themselves in service to the community.

Brian Bull ’91

Brian Bull ’91, a member of the Nez Perce tribe, is a journalist dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices. Throughout his public radio career—including at stations in South Dakota, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Oregon—he earned numerous awards for work with NPR and National Native News.

“I wish more people knew how much importance we put into being sensible, balanced, and accurate reporters,” he says.

Bull is now a senior reporter for Buffalo’s Fire, a Native American-led media outlet covering Indian Country with depth and authenticity—from environmental stewardship to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons crisis. For 25 years, he mentored aspiring journalists through NPR’s NextGeneration Radio Project. “Knowledge is like a fire that can be shared between people,” he says.

Macalester’s commitment to diversity, activism, and global awareness gives him hope for greater understanding. “I’ve made lasting friendships at Mac and am better for knowing so many generous, passionate people,” he says.

His nominator writes: “Brian was an outstanding student in my psychology class, and I have admired his career ever since.”

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Distinguished Citizen Award

The Distinguished Citizen Award recognizes alumni who have exercised leadership in civic, social, religious, and professional activities. It is given because the Macalester community believes that a college education should be the training and inspiration for unselfish and effective service to the community, the nation, and the world. Recipients demonstrate a practical acceptance of these obligations in their lives and work.

Richard (Dick) Lesicko ’75

Richard “Dick” Lesicko ’75 brought together students from across the country and the world to represent Macalester in forensics. His innovative coaching led to numerous championships and national titles. More importantly, many describe him as their favorite teacher, coach, and mentor of all time.

Lesicko led Macalester’s forensics program for over 30 years, expanding it to include multiple forms of debate, mock trial, ethics/bioethics bowl, and Model UN. “These events are outstanding laboratories for students to develop teamwork and soft skills every employer and graduate program values,” he says.

Though he could have pursued research, law, or the private sector, Lesicko chose to stay with his students and his calling to teach. “Watching someone go from being afraid to give a speech to transforming into an incredibly accomplished public speaker was something that got me up in the morning,” he says.

His nominator writes: “It is as hard to be legendary as it is to be beloved, but Dick is a beloved legend, which is hardest of all.”

Kathleen Pinkett ’75

From high school—where she managed Sonia Sotomayor’s class presidential campaign—to the boardroom—where she mentored executive leaders—Kathy Pinkett ’75 has spent her life lifting others. “Helping others achieve their full potential brings me joy,” she says.

Pinkett began her career as a social worker before transitioning to Securian Financial Group, where she became the first person of color in the C-suite. As Chief Human Resources Officer, she strengthened diversity programs, helped propel the company into the Fortune 500, and remained a trusted adviser even after retirement.

In true Macalester spirit, Pinkett has embraced the principles of giving back through leadership roles on the boards of United Way, YWCA, and more. She brings that same energy to Macalester and has served on the Alumni Board and Board of Trustees. In 1999, she co-chaired the first Alumni of Color Reunion, which reengaged scores of alumni and helped spark the American Studies Department and The Department of Multicultural Life.

“Macalester taught me to think expansively, critically, and respectfully,” she says. “To ask, ’why not?’ instead of ’why.’”

Dr. Richard Solazzi ’75

Richard Solazzi, a 1975 Macalester College graduate, has been honored with the Distinguished Citizen Award for his outstanding leadership and service.

In 2008, Solazzi co-founded Seattle Anesthesiology Outreach (SAO), now Resolute Health Outreach (RHO), demonstrating his commitment to addressing global health needs. As president and board chairman, Solazzi has been the driving force behind the organization, which focuses on building a sustainable medical aid model in Ethiopia.

Solazzi’s leadership involves coordinating volunteers, soliciting donations, and building relationships to support Resolute Health’s mission. His efforts have significantly impacted Ethiopia’s medical community, reflecting the values of service and making a positive impact in the world.

Dr. Matthew Johnson ’89

Matthew Johnson ’89 is a global leader in scientific and technological efforts to understand and improve Earth’s climate.

As a professor of atmospheric chemistry at the University of Copenhagen, Johnson has combined academic excellence with entrepreneurial innovation. He’s played a leading role in six clean technology start-up companies, including one based on his invention of an indoor air purification system that mimics Earth’s natural atmospheric processes.

Another company, Ambient Carbon, is commercializing systems to eradicate methane — a powerful greenhouse gas Johnson identified as a major driver of climate change. His work has appeared in Nature, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and a book from Cambridge University Press. Johnson has consulted for the Environmental Protection Agency, NASA, and testified for the National Academies report on methane. He holds a dozen patents and has nearly 50 collaborators in every continent on the globe.

Raised by a Presbyterian minister, Johnson sees no conflict between science and spirituality. “The idea that science is crushing religion or spirituality makes me itchy,” he says. “I think they work together, powerfully, and are just different aspects of the same human spirit.”

Beth Miller ’10

Beth Miller ’10 has devoted her career to advocating for Palestinian human rights, shaped by her time living in Palestine and Jordan, her Jewish background, and her experience in grassroots organizing.

As political director of JVP-Action, the political and advocacy sibling organization of Jewish Voice for Peace—the largest progressive Jewish organization in the United States—she develops strategies to build congressional support for Palestinian rights.

Her efforts have helped introduce groundbreaking bills around conditioning U.S. military funding to Israel. This work, Miller says, ties into all of our humanity and movements for justice: “So long as we allow atrocities against Palestinians to continue with the support of our government, we are allowing attacks and dehumanization against any and all of us.”

She says Macalester’s global outlook drew her to the school and continues to make her proud to be part of its community.

Her nominator writes, “Beth’s work embodies what it means for someone with Macalester’s values to meet the challenges of our extremely perilous moment.”

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Alumni Service Award

The Alumni Service Award is presented to alumni of Macalester whose significant service and consistent loyalty to the college has set an outstanding example of volunteerism. Awardees were nominated and selected by Macalester staff.

Melvin Collins ’75

Melvin Collins ’75 learned firsthand about community engagement from his mother, who led his school’s parent-teacher association, then served as an alderman in St. Louis local government. “She was my shining example,” he says. “She always told us, ’Do what you can to make a difference—you have gifts and skills that others don’t, and you need to share.’”

Collins carried that inspiration into a career path focused on nonprofit organizations, as a community leader, and through five decades of extraordinary dedication to Macalester. In 1999, he co-chaired the first Alumni of Color Reunion, shaping a meaningful gathering that spurred renewed engagement among many alumni of color. After that, Collins served for six years on the Alumni Board, then six more on the Board of Trustees. His many committee roles include co-chairing the Class of 1975’s 50th Reunion Engagement Committee this year. His nominators marvel at his inclusive, visionary leadership style, and his ability to harness a group’s energy and ideas to reach everyone’s goals.

He’s motivated by ensuring future Macalester students have the same opportunities he did. “On this journey, how do we continue to add joy and add value?” he says. “Volunteering has been one way I knew I could do that.”

Daymond Dean ’90

Every few weeks on Saturday mornings, you can find Daymond Dean at the Good Day Cafe in Golden Valley with a group of Mac classmates—a tradition illustrating his deep belief in the power of relationships and community.

Dean’s nominators call him an exceptional connector who has remained deeply connected to campus life since graduation—serving on the Alumni Board and as a Strategic Planning Champion, volunteering with the M Club, nurturing intergenerational connections, recruiting committee volunteers, coaching football, and even working in Admissions and Alumni Engagement. He started at Mac with the Class of 1990 and graduated with the Class of 1991, but is so connected to both classes that he often helps plan both Reunions. It’s no wonder he’s earned the nickname “Mr. Macalester” from peers.

Along the way, Dean has found that opportunities to learn and grow at Macalester extend far beyond graduation. “I’ve developed my voice through volunteering, and this community is a great space to practice leadership,” he says. “When you find such a caring community, you want to give your time to help sustain its mission and values.”

Josh Aaker ’05

If you’re a Macalester alum in Chicago, you’ve likely encountered Josh Aaker ’05 at Mac events—especially the Nog and Glögg holiday party for alumni and parents that Aaker started in 2013 with his classmate Jeremy Barr. After the first gathering drew alumni spanning 30 years, Nog and Glögg has grown into a tradition—and the longest-running volunteer-led event in the Mac alumni community.

It’s also just one example of Aaker’s deep dedication to building community across generations. In addition to his leadership in the Chicago chapter, he has hosted Mac in Your City events, served as a Class Agent, and helped shape Scots Pride programming in meaningful ways including planning Scots Pride Reunions. He has also served on four class Reunion committees, including for his 20th Reunion this year. In Aaker’s words: “What inspires me and brings me joy is seeing the alumni network as a living, breathing community. It is amazing to watch brand-new grads swap ideas with those Golden Scots who’ve been flying the tartan for decades. That’s the collaboration that makes Mac special and keeps me proud to be part of it.”