Messages from Dr. Rivera
2022-2023 Academic Year
- 2022 Election: Make a Voting Plan – The upcoming U.S. midterm election is next week, on Tuesday, November 8. I write today to encourage all eligible voters in our community to make a voting plan…. (November 1, 2022)
- Macalester Board of Trustees Approves Our Strategic Plan – Today we write to share our newly approved strategic plan, along with our gratitude and congratulations. On Friday, October 7, during the fall meeting of the Macalester Board, trustees unanimously approved our most recent draft of the strategic plan. The approved plan and a one-page overview are posted on the Imagine, Macalester website. The plan amplifies what makes us distinctive… (October 11, 2022) This message was sent from President Rivera and Provost Anderson-Levy.
- Our New Strategic Plan: Draft for Your Review & Feedback – We see incredible opportunity ahead for Macalester, and for all in our community. We’re looking forward to working together to build on the college’s many strengths and to create the future we have imagined together. We believe this draft reflects the themes we’ve heard from all of you over the past nine months, and capitalizes on the opportunity to make the Macalester experience even more distinctive… (August 23, 2022) This message was sent from President Rivera and Provost Anderson-Levy.
2021-2022 Academic Year
- More Speech—Not Less—Is Vital to Learning – In her “Sounding Board” column for Macalester Today, President Rivera discusses the imperative for Macalester to support respectful dialogue and welcome a diversity of viewpoints. (July 18, 2022)
- On the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade – On June 24, President Rivera shared the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade… (June 24, 2022)
- Imagine, Macalester: May Update – As we look back on the past nine months, one of the things that makes us most proud of the Imagine, Macalester planning process is the degree to which it has engaged the whole community, providing everyone with the opportunity to participate. This was possible because of the tireless leadership of our Strategic Planning Champions. So, once again, we’d like to extend our gratitude to them… (May 20, 2022)
- Investing in Access – In her “Sounding Board” column for Macalester Today, President Rivera reflects on the college’s long-standing commitment to access. (April 21, 2022)
- Imagine, Macalester: March Update – Over the past four months, the Strategic Planning Champions have worked hard to create opportunities for you to share your thoughts and feedback as we dream about the future of the college. Along with members of the senior leadership team and our strategic planning liaisons, the Champions have met regularly to review the input from our campus kick-off meetings in mid-November, the town halls with alumni and parents in late January… (March 30, 2022) This message was sent from both President Rivera and Provost Anderson-Levy.
- Imagine, Macalester: February Update – A huge thanks to our Strategic Planning Champions who have spent the past few months asking for your input and listening to your suggestions. And thanks to all of you for your participation in our Imagine, Macalester process so far. In this message we highlight additional opportunities for engagement as the next stage of the process approaches… (February 16, 2022) This message was sent from both President Rivera and Provost Anderson-Levy.
- Imagine, Macalester – In her “Sounding Board” column for Macalester Today, President Rivera talks about the strategic planning process. (January 25, 2022)
- Imagine, Macalester: December Update – Heartfelt thanks to the many of you who already have participated in our Imagine, Macalester strategic planning work. It’s energizing and exciting to hear your thoughts and dreams about the future of the college. We write today with an update on that work, and an invitation to those of you who have not participated yet to please do so… (December 13, 2021) This message was sent from both President Rivera and Provost Anderson-Levy.
- Onward, Together – President Rivera’s “Sounding Board” column for Macalester Today includes excerpts from her October 9 inauguration remarks. (November 17, 2021)
- Inauguration Thank You and Strategic Planning Invitation – Thank you to all of you who were able to join us virtually or in person for Inauguration. What a weekend…We also were excited to share more about our strategic planning process (“Imagine, Macalester”) during last Thursday’s Big Questions event…Your input and participation will be critical to creating a strong and inspiring strategic plan that will be used to guide Macalester into the future… (October 11, 2021) This message was sent from both President Rivera and Provost Anderson-Levy.
- Cultivating Excellence: Snapshots of Five Fall Courses – Each year, our first-rate faculty and staff members offer more than 800 courses for our students. These rigorous and wide-ranging courses challenge our students and help them grow. Academic excellence is a key component of the Macalester experience, and I’m inspired by the work that our faculty and students put in together, as teachers and learners. Here are snapshots of five courses being offered during the fall semester that began Sept. 1… (September 17, 2021)
- Imagining Macalester’s Future – As my second year at Macalester begins, I am focused on our shared future. In conversations, webinars, comments in meetings, and your direct correspondence to me, you have conveyed a common message: you see amazing potential at Mac, and you are eager to work together to realize it. I write today to share information about the process we have chosen to chart the future of our college. It offers everyone the chance to participate, and encourages all of us to bring our energy, creativity, wisdom, and insights to the endeavor. It will take about a year and will involve every constituency of the college, including those who live and work on campus as well as alumni, parents, and residents of St. Paul neighborhoods… (September 13, 2021)
- Welcoming Students Back to Campus – When students return to campus this month for in-person learning, in addition to observing these COVID-aware plans, we will welcome the second-largest incoming class in Macalester’s history. We also will re-welcome our sophomore class, whose orientation and first year were altered by the pandemic. I’m proud of the new and creative ways we are building community and connection among students―and applying some COVID-year learnings to programming… (August 12, 2021)
Meet Dr. Rivera
Dr. Rivera talks about her background and describes what drew her to Macalester College.
Meet Dr. Rivera
Dr. Rivera talks about her background and describes what drew her to Macalester College.