A president’s perspective
President Suzanne M. Rivera contributed a chapter to Tough Decisions:The University President’s Journey, a new book offering a behind-the-scenes look at the complex challenges facing college and university presidents. Drawing on firsthand experiences from current and former presidents, the book explores the moral, political, financial, and personal crossroads that shape leadership in higher education.
Dr. Rivera’s chapter is titled: “When the Campus Erupts: Free Speech, Protest, and Community Values.” The book is intended for aspiring and current higher education leaders, trustees, policy makers, and anyone interested in how major decisions are made in the ivory tower.
Preserving Old Main
A new grant will help preserve Macalester’s oldest and most historically significant building. The Minnesota Historical Society awarded the college a $200,000 Minnesota Historical & Cultural Heritage grant to support critical roof restoration of Old Main.
Prizewinning papers on surveillance and survivor services
Two sociology students won undergraduate research paper prizes in the annual Caroline Rose student paper competition sponsored by the Sociologists of Minnesota. Lesly Hernandez ’27 won first place for the paper “Always with Family: Navigating Surveillance as U.S.–born children in mixed-status families.” Julia Goh ’28 received honorable mention for the paper “Barriers to Victim Services Among Sexual Assault Survivors: Evidence from the National Crime Victimization Survey.”
Rethinking the campus lawn
Macalester’s campus became a living laboratory for a study on sustainable landscaping and environmental education. Published in Ecology and Evolution, the research examined how replacing traditional turfgrass with native plantings and expanding tree cover could improve campus sustainability while creating hands-on learning opportunities.
The research began in summer 2020 with mentorship from lead author Christine O’Connell, a former Macalester environmental studies professor now at Chapman University. Student researchers Shannon Hahn ’21 and Evelyn Jauregui ’21 collaborated with faculty and staff from across campus. Contributors included Mike Frazier (facilities), Mary Heskel (biology), Anika Bratt and Christie Manning (environmental studies), and Megan Butler (Sustainability Office).
Objects in mirror
Ruthann Godollei, DeWitt Wallace Professor of Art, presented a new body of work in a solo exhibit at Northeast Sculpture Gallery in Minneapolis. The exhibit was based on work done during her Spring 2026 sabbatical.
“For these works, I prefaced each one with the concept ‘in hindsight…’ and let my bleak sense of humor drive things from there,” she said. “Using the quintessential icon of consumer culture, the car, with bits sourced from the ultimate symbol of capitalistic decay, the auto junkyard, I altered automobile side and rearview mirrors with printed texts about the current cultural traffic jam.”
A prize for putting patients first
Family Tree Clinic, which got its start at Macalester, won a $250,000 Bush Prize. The award celebrates organizations with a track record of solving community challenges. The flexible grant can support anything from building reserves to testing new ideas. The Bush Foundation praised the clinic’s innovative approach to providing affordable, accessible reproductive and sexual health care.
The clinic’s roots trace back to 1971, when John Beattie ’70 heard from female students at Macalester and elsewhere who struggled to access birth control and other sexual health services. Working with campus leaders and alumni, Beattie developed a business plan, recruited volunteers, and raised about $25,000 to open the clinic. Karla Ekdahl ’69 cofounded the clinic and served as its first executive director.
Many Macalester alumni and students serve as employees, interns, and board members. Many have gone on to careers in medicine, public health, and research.
How to be considered for future Maccolades
If you or someone you know recently earned an award, fellowship, or honor and would like it to be considered for inclusion in next month’s Maccolades, please let Communications & Marketing know by filling out this Maccolades form. For recent book publications, please use this book publication form.