Joan Morgan '87 graduated with a double major in African American studies and psychology/ sociology with a concentration in sociology. After leaving Wesleyan, she taught African American literature, English literature, and drama for a short while in New York City. During that time, Joan was trying to decide whether to pursue a career as an actress or to go to law school. In the end, with some influence from a friend who at the time wrote for the Village Voice, Joan unexpectedly wound up as a journalist. Currently, Joan is an editor-at-large for Essence Magazine and the author of When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost: My Life as a Hip Hop Feminist, which is her literary debut. Dwayne Busby '95 recently had the chance to chat with Joan.

DWAYNE: Who is the most influential person in your life?

JOAN: My mom. I would just watch her break bread and feed the world. She had such a never-give-up attitude. She was always doing more and doing better. She's traveled the world, including several trips to Africa, with plans to visit Australia soon. My mom graduated from college at the same time that I graduated from high school; she was still able to put me through college, and to put my little brother through private school. She is a real cool chick!

D: How would you rate your educational experience at Wesleyan?

J: I would give it a nine. It was great.

D: Who was your favorite professor?

J: Alex Dupuy [professor of Latin American studies and chair of the sociology department].

D: How would you rate your social experience at Wesleyan?

J: If you were to ask me that during my junior year I would have answered differently. At the time, I was tired of the scene at Wesleyan, which was similar to my high school experience. So I was ready for a change. I decided to spend a semester during my junior year at Howard University in Washington, D.C. It gave me the opportunity to attend a school in a city, where I was able to live with some anonymity, because I was on an all-black campus. Essentially, for me, Howard was the opposite of Wesleyan. I came back to Wesleyan refreshed and with a whole new perspective. The rest of my time spent at Wesleyan was great. I still hang out and keep in touch with many of my Wesleyan friends. 

D: About the cafe . . . Why are you opening a cafe in Brooklyn?

J: Hmm, several reasons. Brooklyn needed a place where you could go and get some good gourmet coffee and a place where people could go just to hang out. There are plenty of Chinese, Jamaican, and other ethnic-type food places in Brooklyn, but nowhere for people to stop before or after work to get a good cup of coffee, except if you want a plain ol' cup of Maxwell House. I love coffee, and I love to gather around the common theme of food and drinks. The cafe is named Morgi's after my father, because his house was always the place where people from the neighborhood would congregate, eat, and enjoy themselves. His house was the symbol of unity in the community. 

Joan Morgan '87 spoke on campus on Thursday, April 18, 2002, on the topic of feminism, race, gender and the hip hop culture.

Readers interested in having a good cup of coffee and a new place to hang out will soon be able to stop by Morgi's at 51 Lincoln Road, Brooklyn, N.Y. (between Flatbush Avenue and Ocean Avenue, across from Prospect Park).

Excerpts from an article in the Argus by Miriam Gottfried '05 with contributions from Saeyun Lee '93

Among those who supported the annual Legacies of Success event February 23, 2002 were Row 1 (seated): Renee Johnson-Thornton, assistant to the dean of the college, Ciaran Escoffery '00 from Alumni Relations, Camille McGadney '93 from the Career Resource Center. Row 2: Panelist Dacque Tirado'96, Michael Sciola from the Career Resource Center, Frank Kwan from the Office of Community Services, Freddye Hill, dean of the college, Keynote Speaker Kim Cooper'97, Pat St. Germain from Alumni Relations, Panelist Thornell Jones'84 and Panelist Neil Charren'96.

The last weekend in February 2002 offered students opportunities to learn about life after Wesleyan from seven different alumni of color who are succeeding in a broad range of professions. For the third year, the offices of the Dean of the College, Community Services, Alumni Relations, and the Career Resource Center collaborated on Legacies of Success, a day-long program that featured a panel presentation and a special dinner for first-year students of color.

"The idea is to encourage students to see that there's a legacy of people who have come before them," said Director of Community Services Frank Kuan. "We hope that these alumni can give students advice to broaden and maximize their opportunities on campus in order to enhance their careers and hire-ability in the future."

Thornell Jones '84, a marketing consultant for Hidden Beach Recordings; Ziba Kashef '92, a freelance writer and editor; Christhian Escobar '00, a magazine publisher for AOL Time Warner; Melissa Woods '94, an attorney for the NAACP/Legal Defense Fund; Dacque Tirado '96, a teacher at the Peddie School; and Neil Charran '96, a mutual fund representative, returned to campus to share their career expertise and reflect upon the impact that their undergraduate experiences had on their professional decisions.

The coordinators of the event wanted to focus specifically on students of color because of the challenges that minorities continue to face in the workplace.

"Even though it's 2002, there are still issues of racism in the world that these students will have to face, and that may surprise them after the environment of Wesleyan," said Assistant Director of the Career Resource Center Camille McGadney.

"With every job I've had I never imagined that this was what I was going to do. You can't imagine what you are going to be doing; you have to stay open-minded, and don't be afraid to learn," Ziba Kashef said. 

That evening, first-year students of color had the opportunity to share supper and conversation with several panelists and area alumni at a special dinner hosted by Freddye Hill, dean of the college. Alumni attending included Janelle Bryan '99 and Janel Davis '99; senior staff member Judith Brown, provost and vice president for academic affairs, also attended.

Kim Cooper '97 was the keynote speaker, who shared her perspective as follows: "That which does not break you makes you stronger." It was clear that Kim's faith and perseverance are two stones in the foundation on which she built not only a stellar Wesleyan experience but a successful career in publishing as editor of Vanguarde Media/IMPACT Magazine.

Planning has begun for next year's Legacies program-topic and speaker suggestions are welcome! Please send ideas to Pat St. Germain, Office of Alumni Relations, 330 High Street, Middletown, CT 06459, or by e-mail to pstgermain@wesleyan.edu. 

You can read Miriam's Argus article in its entirety online at http://www.wesleyan.edu/argus/archives/aa_archive_feb262002

Neil Charran '96 was one of six alumni who participated in a panel presentation to students on campus in February. Saeyun Lee'93 had the chance to learn more about him.

Neil Charran '96 is a mutual fund liaison representative for American Skandia Advisor Funds.  Before joining American Skandia in January 2000, Neil was a broker for two years at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter and PaineWebber.  

Neil received a bachelor's degree from Wesleyan University in 1996, where he majored in psychology. At Wesleyan he learned how to fence, swim, and ride a bike. He also began martial arts, beginning with Kenpo Karate and then with Tae Kwon Do, for which he has earned a second-degree black belt.

After Wesleyan, Neil continued his education and received a master's degree in industrial-organizational psychology at the University of New Haven. He is currently attending the University of Connecticut for a master's degree in business administration in order to expand his future in finance. In his spare time Neil enjoys writing screenplays, playing video games, watching Star Wars, reading, and hanging out with friends. He continues his training in the martial art Tae Kwon Do and has recently started attending classes in the Chinese martial art Wushu.

Camille McGadney '93, Andy McGadney '92 and big brother Kyle welcomed Maxwell Gerald McGadney on April 9, 2002. Maxwell arrived weighing 7 lbs and 9 oz. Everybody's doing well!

Shawn Dove '84 was one of four panelists featured at a publishing career networking reception in New York City in February, part of an ongoing series co-hosted by Wesleyan and nine other peer colleges.

Daphne Kwok '84, executive director of the APA Institute for Congressional Studies, was a featured speaker on campus recently as part of a joint convocation celebrating both Asian/Asian American Awareness Month and Queer Awareness Days. The series is intended to raise both the voices and issues relevant to the Asian/Asian American and Queer communities on campus.

Several alumni coordinated events to celebrate the Year of the Dragon: David Ly '01 coordinated a dim sum in Boston's Chinatown; Thy Tran '91 coordinated the efforts of a scavenger hunt team that competed with other teams in the streets of San Francisco (while ducking in and out of the parade, yet!); and Daphne Kwok '84 brought alumni and parents together in Washington, D.C., to enjoy a New Year's feast.

Thy Tran '91 has taken a new role as vice-chair of the Wesleyan Club of the Bay Area (thank you and congratulations, Thy!). An active volunteer for several years, Thy recently organized a tour of Creation 2002!, an inaugural exhibit showcasing the talents of more than 18 emerging and established African American artists from the Greater Bay Area. Dinner at the well-known vegetarian restaurant Greens followed.

Have news you'd like to share? We'd like to know! The next issue of the AOC Newsletter is planned for fall 2002. Send news, notes, photos, commentary, etc., by August 1, to

Pat St. Germain in the Office of Alumni Relations, 330 High Street, Middletown, CT 06459, or by e-mail to pstgermain@wesleyan.edu. 

Interested in becoming more involved in the Alumni of Color Network or a specific council?

BAC: Council Chair June Jeffries '75 bac@wesleyan.edu, or junemj@aol.com

LAC: Council Chair José Filpo '91 lac@wesleyan.edu, or jfilpo@theoliverprogram.org

APAAC: Council Chair Saeyun Lee '93-apaac@wesleyan.edu, or sdl18@columbia.edu

General information: Pat St. Germain
pstgermain@wesleyan.edu

by Saeyun Lee '93
Chair, Asian Pacific American Alumni Council (APAAC)

During Homecoming/Family Weekend 2001, I had the opportunity to attend an Open House at Asian/Asian American House, the purpose of which was to gather students, alumni, faculty, administrators, and staff to discuss issues affecting the Asian Pacific American community. Issues discussed included the political presence of the Asian Pacific American Alliance at Wesleyan, student efforts to establish permanent Asian American studies courses, the recruitment and retention of faculty of color, the diversity of the Asian Pacific American student community, and collaboration with other student communities of color. 

The strong student turnout was matched by an equally strong turnout on the part of administrators, faculty, and staff, including: Freddye Hill, dean of the college; David Phillips, Jennifer Pyke, and Vancenia Rutherford, class deans; J. Kehaulani Kauanui, assistant professor of anthropology and American studies; Renee Johnson-Thornton, associate director of the Mellon Minority Undergraduate Program; Sourav Guha '98, assistant dean of admission; and V. Leilani Kupo. The diversity of perspectives presented was phenomenal: students spoke passionately and candidly about their campus experiences; administrators, faculty, and staff spoke about the resources and strategies available to students; and alumni provided the group with a sense of history regarding several of the issues raised. 

Given the energy and excitement generated by the conversation, the participants agreed to create future opportunities for discussion, including the possibility of instituting an annual retreat for students and alumni of color, and regular discussions between students and administrators, faculty, and staff. Special thanks to Ling Ly '03, Bob Kao '03, and Mayuran Tiruchelvam '03 who were pivotal in organizing the event, leading the discussion, and providing community members with the opportunity to develop and nurture ongoing relationships.

In January 2002, the University announced a gift of $1.9 million from the Freeman Foundation of New York City to support the study of Asia and the Asian Diaspora. The grant will allow the University to expand academic opportunities offered through the Center for East Asian Studies and the Center for the Americas in a variety of ways, including: the presence of distinguished Asian American studies scholars on campus for teaching and research residencies; the creation of a two-year post-doctoral fellows program; the establishment of a year-long course and summer research project in Chinese (and, later, Japanese or Korean) culture and language for 15 undergraduates; need-based scholarships for students to spend a summer studying abroad in Asia; the augmentation of language instruction through the recruitment of Asian graduate students to act as foreign language teaching fellows; sponsorship of a conference focused on integrating the study of the Asian Diaspora into the undergraduate curriculum; educational and cultural seminars, public lectures, and performances on Asian and Asian American themes; and the building of library resources in a variety of media in the field of Asian American studies.

Chair: Saeyun Lee ’93
sdl18@columbia.edu or apaac@wesleyan.edu

Chair: June Jeffries ’75
junemj@aol.com or bac@wesleyan.edu

Latino Alumni Council Celebrates
El Dia de Los Reyes/Three Kings Day
by José Filpo '91
Chair, Latino Alumni Council (LAC)

The first Latino Alumni Council event of the New Year brought together a diverse group of friends to celebrate the traditional El Dia de Los Reyes or Three Kings Day. The "Christmas" of Latin America and some of Europe, Three Kings Day is celebrated on January 6, the twelfth day of Christmas, when the three wise men, or magi, found the baby Jesus after following the brightest star in the sky to Bethlehem. This year marked the first time the LAC and University Relations put together an event to bring people together to reflect on and enjoy this Latin American and Caribbean holiday.

Attendees were able to taste some Latin holiday favorites like pastelillos and coquito. The history and significance of the holiday was discussed, and some Wesleyan goodies were won by a lucky few. Alumni present included George Miyake '52, Maria Bowser '81, Jayne Smith '84, José Filpo '91, Lucinda Mendez '92 and daughter Keila, Maria Osorio '92, Elisa Istueta '93, Raya Salter '94, Liliana Santos '98, Anivelca Abreu '99, Melvin Acevedo '99, Valerie Leon '99, Marielis Rivera '99, and Kafayat Alli-Balogun '00.

We are sure this will become a new Wesleyan tradition that grows each year. Special thanks to University Relations for making this event possible and to Jennifer Jurgen from Alumni Relations for joining us in New York City.

Chair: José Filpo ’91
jafago@aol.com or lac@wesleyan.edu

Last updated: 02/17/2009