{"id":249,"date":"2017-10-23T15:13:39","date_gmt":"2017-10-23T15:13:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/160-alumni\/board-members\/"},"modified":"2026-06-24T16:33:46","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T16:33:46","slug":"board-members","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/alumniboard\/board-members\/","title":{"rendered":"Board Members"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Board Leadership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:22% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"546\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/160-alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-4.png\" alt=\"Julie Bailit\" class=\"wp-image-4681 size-thumbnail\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-4.png 546w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-4-241x300.png 241w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 546px) 100vw, 546px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>Julie Bailit \u201993<\/strong><br>President<br>Needham, MA<br><em>Major: Religious Studies<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<accordion-container\n    tag=\"section\"\n    class=\"accordion-group block-container\"\n    >\t\n\t<div class=\"accordion-group__outer\">\n\t    \t    <ul class=\"accordion-group__list\">\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-1\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Learn more about Julie<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><strong><span class=\"C9DxTc\">Describe Mac in three words.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"zfr3Q CDt4Ke\" dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"C9DxTc\">Inclusive. Engaging. Transformative.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"zfr3Q CDt4Ke\" dir=\"ltr\"><strong><span class=\"C9DxTc\">What advice or other thoughts would you share with an incoming student?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"zfr3Q CDt4Ke\" dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"C9DxTc\">Try everything. Be open to possibility. Step outside your comfort zone as often as you can. Engage in deep conversations with people different from you and really listen as they share their passions and beliefs with you. Give yourself permission to make mistakes and learn from each and every one. Recognize the privilege of being part of the Macalester community. Be vulnerable. Have FUN!<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"zfr3Q CDt4Ke\" dir=\"ltr\"><strong><span class=\"C9DxTc\">What\u00a0 gives you passion or motivation in your current occupation?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"zfr3Q CDt4Ke\" dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"C9DxTc\">After many years, degrees and careers, I have found my soul purpose. Using relaxation and visualization to decrease anxiety and prepare clients for surgery is incredibly rewarding work. I feel an instant connection with my clients as they open up to me about their worries and I know that our work together enhances their healing on so many levels. As I watch clients shift out of fear and anxiety to a place of calm where they are partners in their own healing, I know that this is the work that I was always meant to do.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t    <\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/accordion-container>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:22% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"405\" height=\"603\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/suveer.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7121 size-thumbnail\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/suveer.png 405w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/suveer-201x300.png 201w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 405px) 100vw, 405px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>Suveer Daswani \u201918<\/strong><br>Incoming President<br>Washington, DC<br><em>Major: Economics<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<accordion-container\n    tag=\"section\"\n    class=\"accordion-group block-container\"\n    >\t\n\t<div class=\"accordion-group__outer\">\n\t    \t    <ul class=\"accordion-group__list\">\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-1\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Learn more about Suveer<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><strong>How have you utilized the alumni network as an alum?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"zfr3Q CDt4Ke\" dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"C9DxTc\">From finding an apartment to rent, to grabbing drinks in DC, to seeking career advice and support, to building new connections, the Macalester alumni network has never let me down. It works! It\u2019s been awesome.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"zfr3Q CDt4Ke\" dir=\"ltr\"><strong><span class=\"C9DxTc\">What is your favorite Mac memory?<\/span><span class=\"C9DxTc\">\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"zfr3Q CDt4Ke\" dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"C9DxTc\">Too many to choose from. But celebrating festivals from home, Holi: the Indian \u201cfestival of colors\u201d on the lawns or Diwali with catered Indian food and over 150 people was always an amazing time<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"zfr3Q CDt4Ke\" dir=\"ltr\"><strong><span class=\"C9DxTc\">What advice or other thoughts would you share with an incoming student?\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"zfr3Q CDt4Ke\" dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"C9DxTc\">Try to study abroad if you can, do an internship during the semester, take some fun classes, spend a summer (or two, or three) in the Twin Cities, get some ice cream from Grand Ole Creamery, and go for the Diwali dinners!<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"zfr3Q CDt4Ke\" dir=\"ltr\"><strong><span class=\"C9DxTc\">Who was your favorite professor\/lecturer and why?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"zfr3Q CDt4Ke\" dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"C9DxTc\">Tough one. Professor Amy Damon in Economics is definitely one of them. Loved her energy, enthusiasm, and econometrics! Learned both quantitative and qualitative life skills in her classes.<\/span><\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t    <\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/accordion-container>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Board Members<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:22% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"994\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/160-alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2021\/05\/BeckA-1024x994.jpg\" alt=\"Abaki Beck\" class=\"wp-image-3278 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2021\/05\/BeckA-1024x994.jpg 1024w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2021\/05\/BeckA-300x291.jpg 300w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2021\/05\/BeckA-768x745.jpg 768w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2021\/05\/BeckA-1536x1491.jpg 1536w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2021\/05\/BeckA-2048x1988.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/engage.macalester.edu\/portal\/macdirect#\/detail\/838662539\"><strong>Abaki Beck \u201915<\/strong><\/a><br>Missoula, MT<br><em>Major: American Studies<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<accordion-container\n    tag=\"section\"\n    class=\"accordion-group block-container\"\n    >\t\n\t<div class=\"accordion-group__outer\">\n\t    \t    <ul class=\"accordion-group__list\">\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-1\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Learn more about Abaki<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><b>Who is your favorite professor\/lecturer and why?<\/b><b><br \/>\n<\/b>A huge part of my life at Macalester was my involvement with the Department of Multicultural Life (DML). Almost all of my best memories are in the Cultural House, which is both a living space and a community space. I lived there for two years, and worked there, as an event planner, for three years. My favorite event that we planned was an interactive art gallery about students\u2019 experiences with heterosexism, that included a wall-sized mural that anyone could add to. I\u2019m still close friends with many of my DML co-workers.<\/p>\n<p><b>Who was your favorite professor\/lecturer and why?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>My favorite professors were Juliana Hu-Pegues, in American Studies, who taught me that students are producers of knowledge, not just consumers of knowledge; SooJin Pate, in American Studies, who taught me the importance of self-love in fighting for justice; and Katie Phillips, in History, who was the first Native woman professor I ever had and served on my honors thesis committee.<\/p>\n<p><b>What advice or other thoughts would you share with an incoming student? What was the most beneficial thing you experienced you had while at MAC? How do you use this in your current role?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>I encourage all students to get off campus and engage with the Twin Cities community in a meaningful way. One of the things I treasured so much about American Studies was that the professors really emphasized \u201ctaking theory into practice.\u201d Almost all of my classes in American Studies engaged with the Twin Cities in some way or another \u2013 from going to shows at local theaters to helping with research projects for community organizations. My engagement with the Twin Cities communities had a huge impact on my college experience and career goals and made the Twin Cities feel like home.<\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t    <\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/accordion-container>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:22% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/Adan-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7107 size-thumbnail\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/Adan-683x1024.jpg 683w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/Adan-200x300.jpg 200w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/Adan-768x1152.jpg 768w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/Adan-1024x1536.jpg 1024w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/Adan-1365x2048.jpg 1365w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/Adan-scaled.jpg 1707w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>Adan Martinez &#8217;16<\/strong><br>Los Angeles, CA<br><em>Major: Latin American Studies, Political Science<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<accordion-container\n    tag=\"section\"\n    class=\"accordion-group block-container\"\n    >\t\n\t<div class=\"accordion-group__outer\">\n\t    \t    <ul class=\"accordion-group__list\">\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-1\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Learn more about Adan<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><strong>What is your favorite Mac memory?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Going down to the Mississippi River during all four seasons, but especially in the winter. There is something beautiful going down Summit Ave, passing all the mansions and the University of St. Thomas, and taking a seat at the bench near the World War monument, and hearing nothing but the crunch of ice, the whistle of wind blowing through the leafless trees, and the occasional passing of a car. Make sure you are bundled up, though.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What advice would you share with current students?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Whenever you are in doubt as to whether you belong somewhere, run for something, or need to take up space, remember what my First Year Course professor, Adrienne Christiansen, told our class: &#8220;Why not you?&#8221; Do not take your existence lightly, for, relative to the average person, Macalester students and alumni are among the most brilliant and kind people on this Earth. And it&#8217;s that combination, brilliant and kind, that is needed now more than ever, so do it, why not you?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Share what you are doing now.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I am an independent research consultant and policy advisor for the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). I am currently working on a report for the California State Legislature and the Secretary of the CA Labor and Workforce Agency regarding a number of fatalities in the waste industry, predominantly among Latino, undocumented workers, and the links to environmental degradation throughout the state. In my free time, I serve on the Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council Board and the Chicanx Latinx Alumni Association for UC Berkeley, and I canvass for local issues and candidates in Los Angeles, my hometown and current base of operations.<\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t    <\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/accordion-container>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:22% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1009\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/Ben-Dille-1024x1009.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7105 size-thumbnail\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/Ben-Dille-1024x1009.jpg 1024w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/Ben-Dille-300x296.jpg 300w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/Ben-Dille-768x757.jpg 768w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/Ben-Dille.jpg 1110w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>Ben Dille &#8217;82<\/strong><br>Washington, DC<br><em>Major: International Studies<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<accordion-container\n    tag=\"section\"\n    class=\"accordion-group block-container\"\n    >\t\n\t<div class=\"accordion-group__outer\">\n\t    \t    <ul class=\"accordion-group__list\">\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-1\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Learn more about Ben<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><b>What advice would you share with current students? <\/b><\/p>\n<p>Embrace new experiences during or just after college, because it gets tougher as you gain more personal responsibilities like family, work, and mortgage.\u00a0 Stay open to the world of ideas, to others&#8217; views, and to people different than yourself.<\/p>\n<p>How has the Macalester community shaped your life after graduation? Of the various schools I have attended (high school, college, law school, masters, PhD), Macalester has represented the most cohesive education family which I continue to feel closely connected to.\u00a0 I have met and engaged with Mac grads around the world, a tribute to the sense of international service that is a core value at Macalester.<\/p>\n<p><b>What is one experience at Macalester that still stays with you?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Meeting international students at Mac and then participating in two study abroad programs in succession in my junior year (in UK and France) literally opened my mind to a world of possibilities, eventually drawing me to a diplomatic career (lived in 15 countries, visited 83).<\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t    <\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/accordion-container>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:22% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/160-alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2022\/08\/Burke-Strickland-with-Alumni-Service-Award-trophy-576x1024.png\" alt=\"Burke Strickland\" class=\"wp-image-3795 size-thumbnail\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2022\/08\/Burke-Strickland-with-Alumni-Service-Award-trophy-576x1024.png 576w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2022\/08\/Burke-Strickland-with-Alumni-Service-Award-trophy-169x300.png 169w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2022\/08\/Burke-Strickland-with-Alumni-Service-Award-trophy.png 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/engage.macalester.edu\/portal\/macdirect#\/detail\/201804189\"><strong>Burke Strickland \u201969<\/strong><\/a><br>Houston, TX<br><em>Major: Geography<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<accordion-container\n    tag=\"section\"\n    class=\"accordion-group block-container\"\n    >\t\n\t<div class=\"accordion-group__outer\">\n\t    \t    <ul class=\"accordion-group__list\">\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-1\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Learn more about Burke<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><strong>Describe Mac in three words.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Challenging. Inspiring. Fulfilling.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What is your favorite Mac Memory?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>First impressions are lasting impressions: I was sitting in Dr Patricia Kane\u2019s living room a few blocks off campus with a group of other first year students for a book discussion as one of the events of Orientation Week. We were intently reprising what we had gleaned from the assigned books, \u201cAnother Country\u201d\u00a0by\u00a0James Baldwin\u00a0and \u201cThe Other America\u201d<strong><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>by Michael Harrington. Looking around the room, it suddenly clicked \u2013 \u201cwe\u2019re not in high school anymore!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I knew I was in the right place. We were sharing an evening of seriousness and levity at a level way above the immature high jinks of high school. When we got back to the dorm, our conversations continued with others who had different takes on the subjects. Looking back years later, we benefited from many such shared experiences on campus and elsewhere that brought us together to embrace Mac\u2019s core values and develop competencies that are essential regardless of the careers we pursued and life paths each of us had taken.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Who was your favorite professor\/lecturer and why?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Dr. Hildegard Johnson, founder and chair of the Geography Department, was an inspiring teacher with an amazing intellect, a quick wit, and encyclopedic knowledge. She instilled in us a way of looking at the world, inquisitive and analytical, yet recognizing when the time had arrived for action. She pioneered field trips as an integral part of a holistic learning experience in addition to brilliant classroom presentations and engaging small group and one-on-one discussions which often centered around social issues and humankind\u2019s effects on our planet.<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>How have you utilized the alumni network as an alum?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Early on, I benefited from conversations with alumni from the 1940s and 1950s who shared their perspectives on adapting to the world of work while upholding Mac\u2019s core values.<\/p>\n<p>Over the years, I\u2019ve also enjoyed meeting up with alumni as I traveled to other cities including engaging conversations over dinner and impromptu photography expeditions in scenic areas.<\/p>\n<p>MacConnect and other Alumni Engagement pages on the Macalester website have been and continue to be valuable resources.<\/p>\n<p>Paying it forward, I\u2019ve enjoyed facilitating local and regional Mac alumni events, participating in cultural awareness seminars, helping the Athletics Department staff and other alumni recruit scholar athletes from Texas, meeting with students and alumni online and in-person as a Career Helper, and contributing to strategic planning listening sessions.<\/p>\n<p>Connecting and engaging with others from many class years across the decades motivates me to do even more to help expand\/promote these opportunities for members of the Macalester Community.<\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t    <\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/accordion-container>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:22% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"447\" height=\"437\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/Chuck-Bean.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7109 size-thumbnail\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/Chuck-Bean.jpg 447w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/Chuck-Bean-300x293.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 447px) 100vw, 447px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>Chuck Bean &#8217;86<\/strong><br>Washington, DC<br><em>Major: Religious Studies, Political Science<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<accordion-container\n    tag=\"section\"\n    class=\"accordion-group block-container\"\n    >\t\n\t<div class=\"accordion-group__outer\">\n\t    \t    <ul class=\"accordion-group__list\">\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-1\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Learn more about Chuck<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><b>What are you doing now?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>I retired in 2023 after leading the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments for over a decade. Since then I\u2019ve been helping Ukraine, pro bono, with a focus on city planning and metropolitan cooperation.\u00a0 Lot of Zoom calls and travel to Ukraine once a year.\u00a0 I\u2019m finishing a book that offers the American metropolitan planning model as one practical idea for Ukraine\u2019s recovery and EU future.<\/p>\n<p><b>How has the Macalester community shaped your life after graduation?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p>I think grad school carried my career for the first ten years, then Macalester really kicked in for me after that: Mac\u2019s critical-thinking, anthropology-lensing, existentialism-practicing, globalist-thinking vibe.<\/p>\n<p><b>Who was your favorite professor and why?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Chuck Green, who taught Administrative Behavior \u2014 my favorite class at Mac. (Totally geekin\u2019 out!) His focus on asking good questions. I\u2019ve leaned on that a lot.<\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t    <\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/accordion-container>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:22% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/Daniel-Sword-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7111 size-thumbnail\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/Daniel-Sword-768x1024.jpg 768w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/Daniel-Sword-225x300.jpg 225w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/Daniel-Sword-1152x1536.jpg 1152w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/Daniel-Sword-1536x2048.jpg 1536w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/Daniel-Sword-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>Daniel Sword &#8217;05<\/strong><br>Portland, OR<br><em>Major: Physics<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<accordion-container\n    tag=\"section\"\n    class=\"accordion-group block-container\"\n    >\t\n\t<div class=\"accordion-group__outer\">\n\t    \t    <ul class=\"accordion-group__list\">\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-1\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Learn more about Daniel<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><strong>What is your favorite Mac memory?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Easy! It was the first time I met my amazing spouse, Anna Plumb &#8217;05. It was love at first sight (for me at least), and a moment that has shaped the last 20+ years of my life for the better.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Who was your favorite professor and why?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s a three-way tie between Karen Saxe (mathematics), Tom Halverson (mathematics), and my advisor Tonnis ter Veldhuis (physics). They each revealed astonishing beauty through their teaching and were incredibly supportive.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What is one experience at Macalester that still stays with you?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Freeman Dyson came to campus and gave a talk&#8211;a series of parables emphasizing the importance of humility when applying science and technology to social problems. Later that morning, I was walking across the quad as Professor Saxe was escorting a group of students and faculty with Professor Dyson. She flagged me down and asked me if I&#8217;d like to have lunch with them. Of course I accepted, and the meal turned out to be one of those unplanned pivotal moments in life. A short time later, I switched majors from Political Science to Physics and never looked back.<\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t    <\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/accordion-container>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:22% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2025\/08\/ewood-2024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6277 size-thumbnail\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2025\/08\/ewood-2024.jpeg 400w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2025\/08\/ewood-2024-300x300.jpeg 300w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2025\/08\/ewood-2024-150x150.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>Elee Wood &#8217;93<\/strong><br>Everett, WA<br><em>Major: Dramatic Arts<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<accordion-container\n    tag=\"section\"\n    class=\"accordion-group block-container\"\n    >\t\n\t<div class=\"accordion-group__outer\">\n\t    \t    <ul class=\"accordion-group__list\">\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-1\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Learn more about Elee<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><b>Describe Mac in three words.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Lively, collaborative, quirky.<\/p>\n<p><b>Who was your favorite professor\/lecturer and why?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Sears Eldredge was by far my favorite and became an important mentor to me and we kept in touch until he passed away about a year ago. He was a tough instructor, but I think his attention to detail, his own curiosity and search for excellence is what mattered most. He always encouraged me to explore ideas and to put disparate concepts together to find something new.<\/p>\n<p><b>What advice or other thoughts would you share with an incoming student?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Take interesting classes (there are no shortage of those at Mac) even if they don&#8217;t match your major. Find a passion that takes you places you never realized you could go. Lean in to the challenging stuff.<\/p>\n<p><b>What gives you passion or motivation in your current occupation?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Be able to stimulate curiosity\u00a0in others, making a difference in a child&#8217;s life, and creating a pathway for the next future.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t    <\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/accordion-container>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:22% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2024\/07\/Eliza-Rasheed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5731 size-thumbnail\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2024\/07\/Eliza-Rasheed.jpg 800w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2024\/07\/Eliza-Rasheed-300x300.jpg 300w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2024\/07\/Eliza-Rasheed-150x150.jpg 150w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2024\/07\/Eliza-Rasheed-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/engage.macalester.edu\/portal\/MacConnect#\/detail\/847852582\">Eliza Rasheed &#8217;06<\/a><\/strong><br>Saint Paul, MN<br><em>Major: Political Science<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<accordion-container\n    tag=\"section\"\n    class=\"accordion-group block-container\"\n    >\t\n\t<div class=\"accordion-group__outer\">\n\t    \t    <ul class=\"accordion-group__list\">\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-1\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Learn more about Eliza<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><b>Describe Mac in three words.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Community, Connections, and Growth.<\/p>\n<p><b>How has the Macalester community helped you since graduation?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>During my time at Macalester, I made many lifelong friends who have become my chosen family, supporting me through various stages and aspects of my life. I am deeply grateful for these enduring friendships, as they have shaped who I am today.<\/p>\n<p><b>What advice or other thoughts would you share with an incoming student?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Embrace Discomfort: At Macalester, one of the most valuable experiences is engaging with people who look, talk, and think differently from you. Dive into midnight conversations and discussions where you might not be the smartest person in the room. Enroll in a class outside your comfort zone. Try new things and take risks. Make your time at Macalester meaningful by seeking out challenges, being open to correction, and acknowledging the limits of your knowledge. Be open to expanding your horizons<\/p>\n<p><b>What gives you passion or motivation in your current occupation?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>My passions for equity, the arts, and education drive my current work. My motivation is rooted in creativity, purpose, and intention. It fuels my efforts to build a global community and give back to the world. This commitment inspires me to grow into a better version of myself and brings me immense joy.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t    <\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/accordion-container>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:22% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/160-alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2023\/11\/Emma-Senior-77-1024x681.jpg\" alt=\"Emma Runchey\" class=\"wp-image-4675 size-thumbnail\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2023\/11\/Emma-Senior-77-1024x681.jpg 1024w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2023\/11\/Emma-Senior-77-300x200.jpg 300w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2023\/11\/Emma-Senior-77-768x511.jpg 768w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2023\/11\/Emma-Senior-77-1536x1022.jpg 1536w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2023\/11\/Emma-Senior-77-2048x1363.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>Emma Runchey \u201926<\/strong><br>Marshall, MN<br><em>Student Representative<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<accordion-container\n    tag=\"section\"\n    class=\"accordion-group block-container\"\n    >\t\n\t<div class=\"accordion-group__outer\">\n\t    \t    <ul class=\"accordion-group__list\">\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-1\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Learn more about Emma<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><strong>Describe Mac in 3 words.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"zfr3Q CDt4Ke\" dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"C9DxTc\">Diverse. Unique. Inspiring.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"zfr3Q CDt4Ke\" dir=\"ltr\"><strong><span class=\"C9DxTc\">What was your favorite Macalester Memory?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"zfr3Q CDt4Ke\" dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"C9DxTc\">I have so many amazing memories from my first year that it\u2019s hard to choose just one, but one of my favorites was when we had two snow days in February. My friends and I claimed the English Lounge in Old Main for the whole first snow day and it was so much fun to hang out and do homework in such a cozy space with the snow outside. We also had a campus-wide snowball fight that day, and it was so much fun!<\/span><span class=\"C9DxTc\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"zfr3Q CDt4Ke\" dir=\"ltr\"><strong><span class=\"C9DxTc\">Who was\/is your favorite professor\/lecturer and why?<\/span><span class=\"C9DxTc\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"C9DxTc\">\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"zfr3Q CDt4Ke\" dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"C9DxTc\">This is super hard to answer, because every single professor that I\u2019ve had and interacted with at Mac is incredible. But if I had to choose just one professor, I think I\u2019d have to go with Paul Dosh, in the political science department. I took Comparative Politics with him in the spring of 2023 and it was a super interesting and unique class. The way that Paul sets up and leads the class is super engaging and I learned so much. <\/span><span class=\"C9DxTc\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"zfr3Q CDt4Ke\" dir=\"ltr\"><strong><span class=\"C9DxTc\">What advice or other thoughts would you share with an incoming student?\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"C9DxTc\">\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"zfr3Q CDt4Ke\" dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"C9DxTc\">I would tell an incoming student to be open to doing and trying new things. For me, I definitely came to Mac with some expectations about how things were going to go, and most of those things didn\u2019t happen the way I expected them to. But honestly, things worked out better than I could have imagined them, and I\u2019m truly so happy here today. So, just be willing to go with the flow, try new things, and let things happen as they\u2019re meant to.\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"C9DxTc\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t    <\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/accordion-container>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:22% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"480\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2025\/07\/IMG_1184.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6259 size-thumbnail\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2025\/07\/IMG_1184.jpeg 480w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2025\/07\/IMG_1184-240x300.jpeg 240w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>Gary Mainor \u201972<\/strong><br>Eden Prairie, MN<br><em>Major: History<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<accordion-container\n    tag=\"section\"\n    class=\"accordion-group block-container\"\n    >\t\n\t<div class=\"accordion-group__outer\">\n\t    \t    <ul class=\"accordion-group__list\">\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-1\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Learn more about Gary<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><strong>Describe Mac in three words. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Life changing experience.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How has the Macalester community helped you since graduation?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Mac community has kept me motivated and given me joy though working with students at events like Macathon.\u00a0 At times I just walk the campus to remain sane in a troubled world.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>What is your favorite Mac memory?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">I spent my junior year studying at the University of Bristol in the UK with a close friend. There wasn\u2019t a program then&#8211; Dr. Boyd Shafer helped me arrange this. We traveled through much of Europe that year as well.\u00a0 Travel and exposure to different cultures provides prospective and challenges many of your assumptions even more directly than a classroom experience.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>What gives you passion or motivation in your current occupation?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">I just started a new company\u2014Education Impact Advisors\u2014along with 4 other partners last year.\u00a0 Its mission is to improve outcomes in K-12 education.\u00a0 This mission is motivating to me and I love the people I work with.<\/span><\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t    <\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/accordion-container>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:22% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"395\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/160-alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-7.png\" alt=\"Geoffrey Maruyama\" class=\"wp-image-4685 size-thumbnail\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-7.png 395w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-7-247x300.png 247w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 395px) 100vw, 395px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>Dr. Geoffrey Maruyama \u201972<\/strong><br>Saint Paul, MN<br><em>Major: Psychology<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<accordion-container\n    tag=\"section\"\n    class=\"accordion-group block-container\"\n    >\t\n\t<div class=\"accordion-group__outer\">\n\t    \t    <ul class=\"accordion-group__list\">\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-1\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Learn more about Geoffrey<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t    <\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/accordion-container>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:22% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2024\/07\/Jasmine-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5741 size-thumbnail\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2024\/07\/Jasmine-683x1024.jpg 683w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2024\/07\/Jasmine-200x300.jpg 200w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2024\/07\/Jasmine-768x1152.jpg 768w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2024\/07\/Jasmine-1024x1536.jpg 1024w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2024\/07\/Jasmine-1365x2048.jpg 1365w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2024\/07\/Jasmine-scaled.jpg 1707w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/engage.macalester.edu\/portal\/MacConnect#\/detail\/847852582\">Jasmine Ball &#8217;13<\/a><\/strong><br>Tulsa, OK<br><em>Major: Psychology<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<accordion-container\n    tag=\"section\"\n    class=\"accordion-group block-container\"\n    >\t\n\t<div class=\"accordion-group__outer\">\n\t    \t    <ul class=\"accordion-group__list\">\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-1\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Learn more about Jasmine<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><b>What advice or other thoughts would you share with an incoming student?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Be present during these years both mentally and physically. The 4 years go by fast and it\u2019s an experience you\u2019ll never be able to recreate.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What gives you passion or motivation in your current occupation?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">My motivation is to help others and I do that by using finance to help build financial equity, financial literacy, and generational wealth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><b>What was the most beneficial thing you experienced you had while at Mac?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Meeting my lifelong friends and being exposed to new cultures, places, and people I would\u2019ve never met outside of Mac.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>How has the Macalester community helped you since graduation?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">I am constantly inspired by the community of Macalester, the camaraderie that is built among alumni and I always know I have a home there.<\/span><\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t    <\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/accordion-container>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:22% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2025\/07\/IMG_1639-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6263 size-thumbnail\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2025\/07\/IMG_1639-768x1024.jpg 768w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2025\/07\/IMG_1639-225x300.jpg 225w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2025\/07\/IMG_1639-1152x1536.jpg 1152w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2025\/07\/IMG_1639-1536x2048.jpg 1536w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2025\/07\/IMG_1639-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>Jessica (Wenyang) Ding &#8217;22<\/strong><br>Medford, MA<br><em>Major: Psychology<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<accordion-container\n    tag=\"section\"\n    class=\"accordion-group block-container\"\n    >\t\n\t<div class=\"accordion-group__outer\">\n\t    \t    <ul class=\"accordion-group__list\">\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-1\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Learn more about Jessica<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><strong>Describe Mac in three words.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Community, Inclusivity, Creativity.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What is your favorite Mac memory?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Every Sunday, my friends and I would cook international dishes for our weekly meal prep, turning our apartment kitchens into global cafes. We&#8217;d share food and stories as we prepped for the week ahead. It was one of the ways we built community through culture, conversation, and a lot of laughter.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>What other advice or thoughts would you share with an incoming student?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Be courageous. Be curious. Be yourself. Macalester is a place where it&#8217;s okay not to have all the answers &#8212; just be open to the journey.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>What gives you passion or motivation in your current occupation?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Serving on student search committees at Mac sparked my interest in hiring and organizational dynamics. That early exposure led me to pursue a career in human resources and now in executive search consulting for mission-driven nonprofits. I\u2019m passionate about helping organizations find leaders who reflect their values and can drive real impact.<\/span><\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t    <\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/accordion-container>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:22% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2025\/07\/Juliane-Headshot-2-1-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6261 size-thumbnail\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2025\/07\/Juliane-Headshot-2-1-819x1024.jpg 819w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2025\/07\/Juliane-Headshot-2-1-240x300.jpg 240w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2025\/07\/Juliane-Headshot-2-1-768x960.jpg 768w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2025\/07\/Juliane-Headshot-2-1-1229x1536.jpg 1229w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2025\/07\/Juliane-Headshot-2-1-1638x2048.jpg 1638w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2025\/07\/Juliane-Headshot-2-1-scaled.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>Juliane Ray &#8217;01<\/strong><br>Saint Paul, MN<br><em>Major: International Studies<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<accordion-container\n    tag=\"section\"\n    class=\"accordion-group block-container\"\n    >\t\n\t<div class=\"accordion-group__outer\">\n\t    \t    <ul class=\"accordion-group__list\">\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-1\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Learn more about Juliane<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><strong>Describe Mac in three words.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Inspiring, Diverse Community.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Did you study away or travel outside your home country while you were at Mac? What do you think that you have carried with you from your Mac days while you traveled the world?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I had an opportunity to study in South Africa in 2000 as a junior at Macalester.\u00a0 Just 6 years post-apartheid, the wounds were still fresh and the HIV\/AIDS pandemic was creating a new crisis, with an estimated 40% of the population testing positive for HIV.\u00a0 I had the opportunity to engage with CEOs of multinational corporations, government officials, non-profit leaders and several community members and listen to Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Tutu and other inspiring leaders address the nation. The lessons that I learned from that experience and during my time at Macalester have made me a better leader today &#8211; listen more than I talk, be curious, always keep learning and don&#8217;t assume that I already know the answer.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What advice or other thoughts would you share with an incoming student?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>My advice to incoming students is to try new things and be open to new experiences.\u00a0 If you do, you&#8217;ll have an amazing opportunity to learn as much outside of the classroom as you do in your courses.\u00a0 If you ask questions and share your perspective, every experience is an opportunity to learn and to teach others.<\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t    <\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/accordion-container>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:22% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2024\/07\/Kate-D.-Gallagher-photo-1-576x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5733 size-thumbnail\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2024\/07\/Kate-D.-Gallagher-photo-1-576x1024.jpg 576w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2024\/07\/Kate-D.-Gallagher-photo-1-169x300.jpg 169w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2024\/07\/Kate-D.-Gallagher-photo-1.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/engage.macalester.edu\/portal\/MacConnect#\/detail\/847852582\">Kate D. Gallagher \u201916<\/a><\/strong><br>Saint Paul, MN<br><em>Major: Women&#8217;s, Gender and Sexuality Studies<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<accordion-container\n    tag=\"section\"\n    class=\"accordion-group block-container\"\n    >\t\n\t<div class=\"accordion-group__outer\">\n\t    \t    <ul class=\"accordion-group__list\">\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-1\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Learn more about Kate<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><b>Describe Mac in three words.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Transformational, progressive, family<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What advice or other thoughts would you share with an incoming student?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dip your toe into all areas of the college: try to take a class in every building (including the Leonard Center). Build relationships with your professors <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">and<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> the staff. These will be some of the most challenging years of your life, but also the ones you will look back at most fondly. Revel in the ease of access you have to a utopia where your living space, friends, lovers, meals, work, academics, resources, gym, and hobbies are all contained in a couple city blocks; it is a rare and precious environment hard to find outside of a college campus. You will gain a strong critical eye for institutions, including Mac &#8211; the administration knows and is willing to listen to you more than pretty much any other institution you will come up against. The Mac Bubble exists, leaving it is important but can be jarring, however inside is still the &#8220;real world&#8221; too. Macalester is the most supportive place you can experiment and fail, it is okay to allow yourself to do so to figure out better who you are [becoming].<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Who was your favorite professor\/lecturer and why?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It is so challenging to choose one, but Joan Ostrove of the Psychology department was my advisor from my very first to my very last day at Macalester and left an indelible mark on how I view the world and myself. In my First Year Course, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Minding the Body, <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Joan gave me the frameworks to understand disability as an identity and better process all the parts of myself that no one had given me any idea how to understand before that. Her commitment to intersectional, critical identity studies that integrate queer, feminist, disability, and critical race scholarships changed my life. I ended up working with her on multiple independent study projects including my senior project on establishing a Disability Studies Concentration at Macalester that students and faculty after my graduation have continued to pursue. I am so lucky to have been able to keep in touch after graduating and was blessed to have Joan officiate at my wedding (in front of Old Main) to my fellow Macalester &#8217;16 alumna, Emma Swanson.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>How has the Macalester community helped you since graduation?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Much to my dismay, most of my ideas and dreams about how my life was going to go post-graduation have not panned out &#8211; the Macalester community has allowed all these twists and turns to be manageable and for me to find contentment outside of 21-year-old me&#8217;s &#8220;life plan.&#8221; The faculty and staff I&#8217;ve kept in touch with have been more than happy to chat, guide me to resources, and introduce me to other members of the alumni and Macalester community (current students, new faculty &amp; staff). I have grown to realize that my occupation doesn&#8217;t need to bring all fulfillment to my life, so I choose to volunteer with Macalester! This brings me so much gratification that I can participate in a supportive community that I get to both give to and take from. I would be remiss not to mention that many of my friends, acquaintances, neighbors, coworkers, and now family, are made up of Macalester alumni that I get to interact with every day and truly make my life what it is.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t    <\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/accordion-container>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:22% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/160-alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2022\/12\/kim-eng-ky-28-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Kim Eng Ky\" class=\"wp-image-4049 size-thumbnail\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2022\/12\/kim-eng-ky-28-1024x1024.jpg 1024w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2022\/12\/kim-eng-ky-28-300x300.jpg 300w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2022\/12\/kim-eng-ky-28-150x150.jpg 150w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2022\/12\/kim-eng-ky-28-768x768.jpg 768w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2022\/12\/kim-eng-ky-28-1536x1536.jpg 1536w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2022\/12\/kim-eng-ky-28-2048x2048.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/engage.macalester.edu\/portal\/macdirect#\/detail\/549011659\">Kim Eng Ky \u201916<\/a><br><\/strong>Saint Paul, MN<strong><br><\/strong><em>Major: Applied Mathematics and Statistics<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<accordion-container\n    tag=\"section\"\n    class=\"accordion-group block-container\"\n    >\t\n\t<div class=\"accordion-group__outer\">\n\t    \t    <ul class=\"accordion-group__list\">\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-1\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Learn more about Kim<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><b>Describe Mac in three words.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Community, diversity, and connection.<\/p>\n<p><b>How have you utilized the alumni network as an alum?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><\/b>The Mac alumni network is amazing, here in the Twin Cities, outside of the Twin Cities, or in the virtual world. They have become my friends and mentors. I am inspired to become a resource for other alumni\u00a0just as they\u00a0have been to me.<\/p>\n<p><b>What advice or other thoughts would you share with an incoming student?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Friends and connections you make while at Mac are probably just as important, if not more, as your GPA.<\/p>\n<p><b>What gives you passion or motivation in your current occupation?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>While at Mac, I learned the importance of community and giving back. I have made quite a few drastic changes in the industries I work in but I was always gravitating towards a career that centers around helping the communities that I am a part of. This led me to where I am today, Community Development at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.<\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t    <\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/accordion-container>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:22% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/Kwame-1024x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7115 size-thumbnail\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/Kwame-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/Kwame-300x300.jpeg 300w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/Kwame-150x150.jpeg 150w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/Kwame-768x768.jpeg 768w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/Kwame-1536x1536.jpeg 1536w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/Kwame.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>Kwame Fynn &#8217;13<br><\/strong>Brooklyn, NY<strong><br><\/strong><em>Major: Economics, Applied Mathematics and Statistics<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<accordion-container\n    tag=\"section\"\n    class=\"accordion-group block-container\"\n    >\t\n\t<div class=\"accordion-group__outer\">\n\t    \t    <ul class=\"accordion-group__list\">\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-1\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Learn more about Kwame<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><strong>Describe Macalester in three words.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Diverse, Engaged, Transformative<\/p>\n<p><strong>What advice would you share with current students?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Enjoy the college journey, explore the Twin Cities, and invest in relationships with faculty, staff and peers!<\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t    <\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/accordion-container>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:22% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"450\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2024\/07\/Max-Wang-at-Mac-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5739 size-thumbnail\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2024\/07\/Max-Wang-at-Mac-1.jpg 450w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2024\/07\/Max-Wang-at-Mac-1-300x300.jpg 300w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2024\/07\/Max-Wang-at-Mac-1-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/engage.macalester.edu\/portal\/MacConnect#\/detail\/847852582\">Max Wang &#8217;15<\/a><\/strong><br>Pudong, Shanghai<br><em>Major: Philosophy<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<accordion-container\n    tag=\"section\"\n    class=\"accordion-group block-container\"\n    >\t\n\t<div class=\"accordion-group__outer\">\n\t    \t    <ul class=\"accordion-group__list\">\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-1\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Learn more about Max<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><strong>Who was your favorite professor\/lecturer and why?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dick Lesicko &#8217;75, former Director of Forensics, was my favorite professor. Participating in mock trial under his tutelage for four years changed my life. He taught me invaluable skills applicable to any career, in any language or region: analyzing key material from a 200-page case problem, structuring arguments and connecting them with a larger theory, and presenting myself with grace and confidence. More importantly, being part of the Mac Forensics family means I have fellow Mac Scots around the world to rely on.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>What gives you passion or motivation in your current occupation?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The values of a liberal arts education from Mac. As an educator and manager, my mission is to promote these values. To quote our 16th president Brian Rosenberg: &#8220;the ability to step away from one&#8217;s own history and biases, at least for a moment, and see the world through the eyes of another whose history and biases are quite different &#8230; and the ability and willingness to listen with care and respect to the appropriately expressed opinions of those with whom one disagrees and to expression one&#8217;s own opinions with similar care and respect.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>What advice or thoughts would you share with an incoming student?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Be fearless, be critical, and be empathetic. Embrace the endless internationalism and multiculturalism that Macalester will offer you. Step out of your comfort zone and explore the unknown, but always maintain civility and empathy for everyone you encounter. Go Mac!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>How has the Macalester community helped you since graduation?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">I am constantly inspired by the community of Macalester, the camaraderie that is built among alumni and I always know I have a home there.<\/span><\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t    <\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/accordion-container>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:22% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"508\" height=\"676\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2024\/07\/nicki.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5737 size-thumbnail\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2024\/07\/nicki.png 508w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2024\/07\/nicki-225x300.png 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 508px) 100vw, 508px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/engage.macalester.edu\/portal\/MacConnect#\/detail\/847852582\">Nicki Groves \u201994<\/a><\/strong><br>Black Mountain, NC<br><em>Major: Biology<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<accordion-container\n    tag=\"section\"\n    class=\"accordion-group block-container\"\n    >\t\n\t<div class=\"accordion-group__outer\">\n\t    \t    <ul class=\"accordion-group__list\">\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-1\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Learn more about Nicki<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><b>Who was your favorite professor\/lecturer and why?<\/b><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lin Aanonsen, PhD (Biology\/Neuroscience) was and remains the most influential educator I have had in my lifetime.\u00a0 She triggered a lifetime love of l<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">earning and curiosity for neuroscience that ultimately resulted in post-grad work (and meeting my spouse) in a U of MN research lab.\u00a0 I spent countless hours in her lab working and studying; that was my \u201chappy place\u201d on campus.\u00a0 Lin was humble and approachable.\u00a0 She was generous with her time and resources.\u00a0 As a mentor and advisor, she helped you recognize potential in yourself and put into place the next steps so you met that potential.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Jan Serie, PhD (Biology\/Immunology) was the professor that I worked the hardest for. She pushed me to learn immunology to a level of detail and comprehensive understanding that exceeded anything I was taught or expected to know later in medical school.\u00a0 I am forever grateful to the high expectations and standards she set for her classes and students.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><b>Did you study away or travel outside your home country while you were at Mac?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Yes; University of Lancaster in England during fall of senior year.\u00a0 As a science major who was not fluent in a language other than English, study abroad is very difficult.\u00a0 I was able to find this opportunity that included a Biochemistry class in order to meet my major requirements, keep me on track for graduation, and still study abroad.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What do you think that you have carried with you from your Mac days while you traveled the world?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">An ability to learn with and learn from a variety of people from different backgrounds.\u00a0 In a study abroad program, you are tossed into a completely new group of peers, often only sharing the one common interest of choosing the same study abroad program.\u00a0 I was fortunate to find a group of 5 others that were willing to explore and travel together, enriching our time abroad.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What gives you passion or motivation in your current occupation?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Advocacy; helping families navigate care in very broken US health care and education systems to ensure children get what they need despite ever increasing barriers, complacency, and apathy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>What was the most beneficial thing you experienced you had while at Mac? <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The culture of civil discourse and curiosity instead of judgment.<\/span><\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t    <\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/accordion-container>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:22% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"955\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2024\/07\/Pamela-955x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5735 size-thumbnail\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2024\/07\/Pamela-955x1024.jpeg 955w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2024\/07\/Pamela-280x300.jpeg 280w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2024\/07\/Pamela-768x823.jpeg 768w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2024\/07\/Pamela-1433x1536.jpeg 1433w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2024\/07\/Pamela-1910x2048.jpeg 1910w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2024\/07\/Pamela.jpeg 1970w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 955px) 100vw, 955px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/engage.macalester.edu\/portal\/MacConnect#\/detail\/847852582\">Pamela Mazza \u201992<\/a><\/strong><br>Bronx, NY<br><em>Major: Dramatic Arts<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<accordion-container\n    tag=\"section\"\n    class=\"accordion-group block-container\"\n    >\t\n\t<div class=\"accordion-group__outer\">\n\t    \t    <ul class=\"accordion-group__list\">\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-1\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Learn more about Pamela<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><b>How has the Macalester community helped you since graduation?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The relationships I formed with students and teachers while at Macalester have held me in good stead throughout the years. When I need real advice and real support, I go to my Mac friends. Some of my theater cohort formed a theater collective in Minneapolis post graduation that ran for 30 years. For early (and later) career advice and professional references, my former professors were there to assist. Crossing paths with other alums anywhere in the world is like finding long lost family &#8211; we share core values and a fundamental common experience that is singular. I take inspiration from their work, and strive always to do better to live up to our Macalester ideals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What is your favorite Mac memory?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sophomore and Junior year, Sunday Night Italian Dinners on 4th Turck and in 37 Mac (turned vegan coop). To manage east coast homesickness, a friend from NYC and I would spend the afternoon making marinara sauce, pasta, garlic bread, and host a big Sunday night family dinner with friends. The best!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Who was your favorite professor\/lecturer and why?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">David McCurdy, anthropology Professor emeritus, was hands-down one of the best teachers I had throughout my entire education. His position as a Macalester legend and a leader in the field is rightfully earned. Studying anthropology in the early 90s, we were introduced to concepts such and unconscious bias and cultural competence, under different names. When I went to graduate school in the early 2000s that was doing \u201cnew\u201d and \u201ccutting edge\u201d work in these areas, I already had a leg up, due to my Macalester training.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Did you study away or travel outside your home country while you were at MAC? What do you think that you have carried with you from your MAC days while you traveled the world?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">I learned to be a traveler, not a tourist. I made it my business to study other languages, so I could participate, learn, and contribute, not just take up space and resources.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What advice or other thoughts would you share with an incoming student?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1) Take advantage of the great liberal arts education available to you, and add a second major or minor unrelated to your primary major. 2) Pick a study away program sophomore year, because sophomore year can feel a bit rudderless, and double-majoring makes leaving campus junior and senior year more complicated. 3) Take those free bagpipe lessons! Literally everyone who doesn\u2019t later regrets it! <\/span><\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t    <\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/accordion-container>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:22% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"402\" height=\"470\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/160-alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-6.png\" alt=\"Paula Lackie\" class=\"wp-image-4683 size-thumbnail\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-6.png 402w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2023\/11\/Screenshot-6-257x300.png 257w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 402px) 100vw, 402px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>Paula Lackie \u201984<\/strong><br>Northfield, MN<br><em>Majors: International Studies<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<accordion-container\n    tag=\"section\"\n    class=\"accordion-group block-container\"\n    >\t\n\t<div class=\"accordion-group__outer\">\n\t    \t    <ul class=\"accordion-group__list\">\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-1\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Learn more about Paula<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><strong>Did you study away or travel outside your home country while you were at Mac? What do you think that you have carried with you from your MAC days while you traveled the world?<\/strong><br \/>\nI joined Dorothy Dodge\u2019s 1983 summer in the People\u2019s Republic of China. It was reportedly the first undergraduate group allowed into China &amp; set to study political economy in decades. Due to political pressures, we never did get to that curriculum as they had us in groups of 4 or less learning to speak and understand Chinese for 8 hours a day; a necessary precursor to our being allowed to learn about politics and economics, after all. In China that summer I gained the self confidence to take care of myself; not just with food and shelter, but also with learning to trust my analytic skills. Experiencing and observing the effects of \u201cillogical\u201d (to me) but politically motivated governmental policy made real for me how challenging life can be outside of the US and gave me appreciation for the things we took for granted in the US \u2013 in both good and unhelpful ways. I stayed on a few weeks after the rest of the group left and learned even more about the complexities of living in China in 1983. It was an astounding experience, the kind in the brochures. When I returned to Macalester for my senior year, I realized that I\u2019d actually completed my degree requirements and so I graduated a term early. (I now regret missing that last semester of opportunities from Mac \u2013 but I didn\u2019t know any better at the time.) My time in China continued to give me confidence that I could figure out whatever I needed and move on to forge a path for myself \u2013 so I did.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Who was your favorite professor\/lecturer and why?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There were many! I will choose Emily Rosenburg because she most fully encapsulated all that I had hoped to get from Macalester! As a first gen student, I didn\u2019t know it, but I was desperate for a role model. I can\u2019t now recall how many classes I had with her, and I know that I didn\u2019t do enough to engage with her directly, but the fact that she met each of us where we were, and for me, gave me a view of Latin America and US foreign affairs that I needed. It was unvarnished. It was difficult. And she delivered the material with unflinching strength that helped me see how I could be; a \u201cjust deal with the reality of life\u201d attitude that has served me well!<\/p>\n<p><strong>What advice or other thoughts would you share with an incoming student?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Engage with as much of Macalester as you can! Try all new things. Dare to \u201cfail\u201d \u2013 because it will open your eyes to so many more possibilities. Also, go to office hours from the start. Be honest about your challenges and question that which you feel confident in. Find out who you are and what makes you sustainably happy!<\/p>\n<p><strong>What gives you passion or motivation in your current occupation?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I continue to work with undergraduates at another liberal arts college and am motivated by helping them open up to the world. Current generations of students have found their own paths through the isolation and scramble to retool our collective teaching methods over the past 3 years. Many of these coping mechanisms are now proving to be counterproductive and they haven\u2019t necessarily had the experience to realize it. I strive to have compassion for all of them and continue to work to guide them toward expanding their sense of self; encouraging them to explore their edges and open themselves to greater experiences. In particular, the apparent need to appear successful can seriously dampen a person\u2019s curiosity and potential for fulfillment.<\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t    <\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/accordion-container>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:22% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/peter-gartrell.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7117 size-thumbnail\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/peter-gartrell.jpeg 480w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/peter-gartrell-225x300.jpeg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>Peter Gartrell \u201905<\/strong><br>Durham, NC<br><em>Majors: Geography<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<accordion-container\n    tag=\"section\"\n    class=\"accordion-group block-container\"\n    >\t\n\t<div class=\"accordion-group__outer\">\n\t    \t    <ul class=\"accordion-group__list\">\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-1\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Learn more about Peter<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><b>What is your favorite Mac memory?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>My roommates and I pulling off the greatest surprise birthday party of all time senior year. We smuggled in a cover band\u2014The Alfalfa Males\u2014a keg, food and 40 of our buddies into our duplex on Dayton and Fry without tipping off the birthday boy (who lived with us) or the cops. A great time was had by all, and we nearly broke even by selling tickets!<\/p>\n<p><b>Who was your favorite professor and why?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>My advisor, David Lanegran. I was not what you would call a great student, but he saw (and to this day, continues to see) something in me. That belief and support, in addition to his urban geography class, which made me feel like the world was a classroom, will always resonate with me.<\/p>\n<p><b>How has the Macalester community shaped your life after graduation?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>One thing that is great about going to a school with a global vision is that its alumni spread out all over the world. It has been amazing to keep up with and meet Scots almost everywhere I go. In addition, the same qualities that drew me to Macalester\u2014looking beyond campus walls to the world around us\u2014live on in the alumni community.<\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t    <\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/accordion-container>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:22% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"240\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/160-alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2021\/05\/CambridgeR2-rotated.jpg\" alt=\"Richard Cambridge\" class=\"wp-image-3273 size-thumbnail\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2021\/05\/CambridgeR2-rotated.jpg 240w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2021\/05\/CambridgeR2-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/engage.macalester.edu\/portal\/macdirect#\/detail\/779153046\">Dr. Richard Cambridge \u201970<\/a><\/strong><br>Arlington, VA<br><em>Majors: Economics, Political Science<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<accordion-container\n    tag=\"section\"\n    class=\"accordion-group block-container\"\n    >\t\n\t<div class=\"accordion-group__outer\">\n\t    \t    <ul class=\"accordion-group__list\">\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-1\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Learn more about Richard<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><strong>What is your favorite Mac memory?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The day I met my spouse and life partner for the first time. It was on campus at the then Student Center. Magic. We both graduated from Macalester and have been together since that day for more than 50 years ago.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How has the Macalester community helped you since graduation?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In so many ways. I do recall that when I started my career at the World Bank, I was sought out and mentored by a Macalester College graduate who had risen to the senior managerial ranks of the Bank. Richard Johanson had attended and graduated from Macalester long before I did, but he was a part of a broader Macalester community living and working in the Washington D.C area. His coaching and mentoring helped me enormously in making my career and successfully navigating the large international bureaucracy of development finance. I have been forever grateful for his friendship and support. I learned the power of this Macalester ethos and have over my years, tried to replicate the same by reaching out, mentoring, offering internships and summer jobs to as many Macalester graduates as feasible who have sought careers in international development.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Describe Mac in three words.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Diversity. Development. Destiny.<\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t    <\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/accordion-container>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:22% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"745\" height=\"866\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/160-alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2023\/01\/Ron_Bole.jpg\" alt=\"Ron Bole\" class=\"wp-image-4057 size-thumbnail\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2023\/01\/Ron_Bole.jpg 745w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2023\/01\/Ron_Bole-258x300.jpg 258w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 745px) 100vw, 745px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/engage.macalester.edu\/portal\/macdirect#\/detail\/736308302\"><strong>Ron Bole \u201962<\/strong><\/a><br>St. Paul, MN<br><em>Major: Economics<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<accordion-container\n    tag=\"section\"\n    class=\"accordion-group block-container\"\n    >\t\n\t<div class=\"accordion-group__outer\">\n\t    \t    <ul class=\"accordion-group__list\">\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-1\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Learn more about Ron<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><strong>How has the Macalester community helped you since graduation?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It helped me keep in touch with college friends.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What is your favorite Mac memory?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Meeting Betty Rudberg \u201962, who became my wife for 55 years, and running on the track and cross-country teams.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Did you study away or travel outside your home country while you were at Mac? What do you think that you have carried with you from your MAC days while you traveled the world?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I bicycled through Europe after my sophomore year and started the Bicycle Chain 30 years later with my two sons (retail bike store at Lexington\/Larpenteur in St. Paul).<\/p>\n<p><strong>What advice or other thoughts would you share with an incoming student?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Get math and communication skills. These two skill sets will allow you to do anything.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What gives you passion or motivation in your current occupation?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Have a passion for what you choose for vocation.<\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t    <\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/accordion-container>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:22% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"240\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/Ruth-Giron.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7113 size-thumbnail\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/Ruth-Giron.jpg 240w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2026\/06\/Ruth-Giron-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>Ruth Gir\u00f3n &#8217;80<br>Prescott, WI<br><em>Major: Psychology<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<accordion-container\n    tag=\"section\"\n    class=\"accordion-group block-container\"\n    >\t\n\t<div class=\"accordion-group__outer\">\n\t    \t    <ul class=\"accordion-group__list\">\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-1\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Learn more about Ruth<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><strong>What is your favorite Mac memory?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>All of the life long friends I made, the challenging learning environment, band, orchestra and the Hispanic Students Organization (HSO).<\/p>\n<p><strong>What advice would you share with current students?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>You won\u2019t believe how much time you have until you begin your career.\u00a0 Take advantage of everything, be curious, ask questions, and enjoy every moment of your college experience.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Share what you are doing now.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>My last full-time position was with URENCO Ltd where I was Vice President of Human Resources and Public Affairs.\u00a0 Since that time, I\u2019ve been a consultant for a local consultancy firm and through my own company, Ignacio Consulting.\u00a0 In my non-working hours, I continue to play my flute and piccolo with several community based groups, volunteer at our local food pantry, garden, and play golf.<\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t    <\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/accordion-container>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:22% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"668\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2025\/07\/sona-668x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6265 size-thumbnail\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2025\/07\/sona-668x1024.jpg 668w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2025\/07\/sona-196x300.jpg 196w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2025\/07\/sona-768x1178.jpg 768w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2025\/07\/sona-1002x1536.jpg 1002w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2025\/07\/sona-1336x2048.jpg 1336w,  https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/461\/2025\/07\/sona-scaled.jpg 1670w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 668px) 100vw, 668px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><strong>Sona Muzikarova &#8217;09<br><\/strong>Cambridge, MA<br><em>Major: International Studies<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<accordion-container\n    tag=\"section\"\n    class=\"accordion-group block-container\"\n    >\t\n\t<div class=\"accordion-group__outer\">\n\t    \t    <ul class=\"accordion-group__list\">\n\t        \t            <li class=\"accordion-group__list-item\">\n\t                <accordion-container-header\n\t                    tag=\"h3\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-heading\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <accordion-container-header-button\n\t                        class=\"accordion-group__heading-button\"\n\t                        controls=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                        id=\"accordion-group-heading-button-1\"\n\t                    >\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__button-text\">Learn more about Sona<\/span>\n\t                        <span class=\"accordion-group__icon-wrap\">\n\t                        \t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"base-symbol accordion-group__button-icon\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <use xlink:href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/macalester-2020\/dist\/svgs\/symbol-plus-small.svg#icon\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t                        <\/span>\n\t                    <\/accordion-container-header-button>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-header>\n\t                <accordion-container-panel\n\t                    id=\"accordion-group-1\"\n\t                    class=\"accordion-group__item-panel\"\n\t                >\n\t                    <div class=\"accordion-group__item-panel-inner\">\n\t                        <p><p><b>Describe Mac in three words.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Curious. Purposeful. Connected.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>How has the Macalester community helped you since graduation?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">I made lifelong friends at Mac \u2014 especially through the international student and athletic communities. They\u2019ve become my support system across continents. And the professors and peers I met there still set the bar for how I challenge ideas, stay curious, and think about service.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What advice or other thoughts would you share with an incoming student?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Your four years at Mac will be some of the most formative of your life. Make them count. Work hard, build friendships that last, explore \u2014 and push yourself to do the things that scare you a little.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What gives you passion or motivation in your current occupation?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We\u2019re in a moment where you can\u2019t take stability for granted\u2014 democracies are being undermined, alliances tested, technologies weaponized. I\u2019m driven by the possibility of creating change at the systems level to protect the values we hold dearest and re-build for greater resilience. At the same time, I\u2019m excited by the new frontier of technology and where it might take us. I\u2019d say I\u2019m pretty passionate about that.<\/span><\/p><\/p>\n\t                    <\/div>\n\t                <\/accordion-container-panel>\n\t            <\/li>\n\t        \t    <\/ul>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/accordion-container>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Board Leadership Julie Bailit \u201993PresidentNeedham, MAMajor: Religious Studies Suveer Daswani \u201918Incoming PresidentWashington, DCMajor: Economics Board Members Abaki Beck \u201915Missoula, MTMajor: American Studies Adan Martinez &#8217;16Los Angeles, CAMajor: Latin American Studies, Political Science Ben Dille &#8217;82Washington, DCMajor: International Studies Burke Strickland \u201969Houston, TXMajor: Geography Chuck Bean &#8217;86Washington, DCMajor: Religious Studies, Political Science Daniel Sword &#8217;05Portland, ORMajor: [&hellip;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":250,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-249","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/249","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=249"}],"version-history":[{"count":222,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/249\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7123,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/249\/revisions\/7123"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/250"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.macalester.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=249"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}