More events and details are in the works! Dates and times listed below are subject to change.
Black Alumni Welcome Table
Open Friday, 1–8 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Office of Admission, Stewart M. Reid House
All attendees should stop by to pick up your nametags, meal tickets, and weekend packets.
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The Pathways to Public Health
With Joyce Hall ('78) DrPHc, MPH
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12:15–1:15 p.m.
Usdan University Center, Rm 108Over the past two decades, Public Health, Population Health, and Global Health have increased in popularity. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased everyone’s knowledge and awareness of the importance of public health and community health in keeping communities and people healthy and safe. As a result, many students have expressed interest in these areas. Join two public health practitioners, Joyce Hall (’78) MPH, DrPH, and Brian Gilchrist, PhD, MPH, who have experience and expertise in the areas of adolescent health, maternal and child health, academia, community health, social and behavioral health, local government, and organization capacity building, as they speak about their pathways in public health. These panelists will speak about their educational paths, their decision to pursue a public health career, and past/current public health practice and specialization, shedding light on the scope and importance of public and community health programs along with opportunities within these two important fields of practice.
Presented by:
Gordon Career Center—Health Professions ProgramCo-Sponsors:
American Medical Student Association
Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students
National Organization on Rare Diseases Student Association of Connecticut
Pre-Veterinary Medicine Club
Wesleyan Pre-Dental Society
Black Undergraduate Medical Association
EMT Club -
Welcome Happy Hour
4–5 p.m.
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The Vanguard Lounge, Center for African American Studies
Appetizers and refreshments will be servedWelcome home to Wesleyan! Join us for a happy hour as we celebrate coming back together as a family. We'll reconnect amidst an exhibition of creative works by Black alumni. Alumni are encouraged to bring a copy of their creative works to display. (Note: A few books by Black alumni authors will be available for purchase at Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore on Main Street throughout the weekend.)
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Black Alumni and Ujamaa/Black Student Union Dinner and Meet + Greet
5–7:30 p.m.
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Malcolm X House, Basement
Dinner and refreshments will be servedWe will break bread with current Black students in the newly renovated Malcolm X House basement. Come for the fellowship and grab a bite to eat too!
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Black Raspberry Live Student Performance
7:30–9:30 p.m.
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Malcolm X House Basement
Featuring Black Raspberry, Wesleyan's first and only Black arts collectiveJam to the sounds of the all-Black student-run band known as Black Raspberry, composed entirely of current Wesleyan students.
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Wesleyan Black Alumni "Human Library" (unofficial) + Continental Breakfast
9–10:30 a.m.
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Daniel Family Commons, Usdan University CenterMembers of the Wesleyan Black Alumni community want to have an honest conversation about the journey to success—not the destination thereof, per se. You can fail the Medical College Admission Test and still someday make chief resident. You may be a sociology major now but decide to work as a Hollywood producer later. Plans change too and that's okay. This gathering is about the embrace of a journey you design as well as the courage to take some chances to have the life that you desire. So come, let's talk it over.
Rather than a traditional alumni career panel—wherein we (or you) amplify our successes–we're going to open up about the crazy-beautiful journey we're on (or were on), the impossible decisions we made, surprising detours we took or the crystallizing moment when we finally figured out what we wanted to do with our adulting lives.
Each Wesleyan Black alumni will be positioned at their own bistro table with a placard that speaks to the experiences they are there to share. Sample placards: "Quit my dream tech job, started a regenerative farming business and play with dirt all day now," or, "Was an RA at WES, worked for the U.S. State Department, and am now a stay-at-home parent."
We welcome you to hear and then briefly engage with the personal-professional stories of participating Wesleyan Black Alums—our veritable "human books"—in small groups or one-on-one.
Current students, seniors and recent alums are encouraged to come "check out" a "human book" from our WBAC Human Library (unofficial event); and stay open-minded about your post-WES path too.
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31st Dwight L. Greene Symposium
Striving for Access and Opportunity in Education
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11 a.m.–noon
Memorial Chapel and on ZoomParticipants include:
- Amin Abdul-Malik Gonzalez '96, Vice President and Dean of Admission and Financial Aid
- Clifford Thornton, former Associate Dean of Admission, Wesleyan University
- Shereem Herndon-Brown '96, Author, The Black Family's College Guide to Admission
- Tanya Greene '91, Director U.S. Programs, Human Rights Watch
- Theodore Shaw '76, Hon.'14, Julius L. Chambers Distinguished Professor of Law and Director of the Center for Civil Rights, University of North Carolina
The Supreme Court's recent decision to end affirmative action has real-world implications for Black and other under-represented students seeking to pursue their higher education goals at Wesleyan and at colleges/universities around the country. Some are projecting that the Supreme Court's decision is likely to devastate the number of Black students admitted to colleges and universities in the coming years.
In this year's Dwight L. Greene Symposium, experts in this space will not only reflect on the SCOTUS decision and impact on families but also share their views on ways that Wesleyan might work to build and also protect a more racially diverse, equitable and inclusive student body in the future.
Now entering its 31st year, the Dwight L. Greene Symposium honors Dwight L. Greene '70 as a memorial and tribute to his life and work as a professor of law, mentor and friend. Each year, presenters are selected from among Wesleyan's alumni, faculty, and friends who have distinguished themselves in their professions, to share on topics of importance for Black alumni, alumni of color, and the Wesleyan community at large.
This symposium provides an opportunity to hear from a diverse set of voices while facilitating networking and reconnecting with members of the Wesleyan community. with each other and ensures that diversity remains an important part of the Wesleyan experience.
Historically sponsored by the Black Alumni Council and Alumni of Color Council, the symposium serves as a long-standing campus tradition and a time to reflect on where we were, where we are, and most importantly…where we are headed.
Overflow seating will be available in Judd Hall, room 116. The symposium can also be watched on Zoom.
Webinar ID: 954 2042 4672
Passcode: 355379
Find your local numberWatch last year's Dwight L. Greene Symposium which took place virtually on November 15.
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Celebration Lunch
Noon–1:30 p.m.
Welcome and Overview of Programs in the Office for Equity & InclusionApril Ruiz, dean for academic equity, inclusion and success and Demetrius Colvin, director of the Resource Center
Daniel Family Commons, Usdan University Center
Registration is closed for this event.
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Gallery Exhibit: No Title: Relays + Relations
Works by Renée Green '81 and Sol LeWitt
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Noon–5 p.m.
Ezra and Cecila Zilkha GalleryThis exhibition brings together artworks by Renée Green ’81 and Sol LeWitt (1928–2007). As a student at Wesleyan, Green participated in a course taught by Professor of Art History Emeritus John Paoletti that focused on LeWitt’s art collection, which resulted in the exhibition NoTitle: The Collection of Sol LeWitt in the Davison Art Center (October 21 through December 20, 1981). Describing this experience as a seminal moment in her experience as an emerging artist, Green is also interested in what similar acts of aesthetic exchange and support could be offered to younger artists today, thereby extending the transmission of conceptualism in new directions. For the exhibition, Green will place some of her recent work. The exhibition will also feature three wall drawings by LeWitt with installation by current students at Wesleyan. An array of public programs and engagement opportunities will accompany the exhibition.
All are welcome at curator talk and walkthrough on Saturday, October 28 at 2 p.m.
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David Robinson '85 Memorial Tailgate Party
2–3:30 p.m.
More on the memorial tailgate
Andrus Field by third base of the baseball diamond.
Refreshments availableJoin us as we cheer on the Cardinals! During half-time, Wesleyan will honor and recognize members of the 1990s All-Decade football team, including the following Black alumni:
- Brother Rome Riddick '00 (Posthumously)
- Brother Terry Sears '00 (Captain 1999)
- Brother Ross Stafford '99 (Captain 1998)
- Brother Christopher Richardson '93 (Captain 1992)
- Jon-Rene Glover '92 (Captain 1991)
- Scott Hatter '92 (Captain 1991)
- Greg Baldwin '91 (Captain 1989–1990)
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Resource Center Open House
2–3 p.m.
More on the open house
167 High StreetCome and meet Demetrius Colvin, director, to learn more about the ways the Resource Center provides resources and support to underrepresented and marginalized students on campus.
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Flashback Dance Party
Featuring alumni DJs Ian Friday '87 and Marc McKayle '88
More on the dance party
7:30–10:30 p.m.
Beckham Hall
Hosted by the Black Alumni Council, Ujamaa/Black Student Union, and the Alumni of Color CouncilIt's an old school Malcolm X House "basement" Dance Party in a new school location. Join us at Beckham Hall to dance to the incredible sounds of TWO alumni DJs! DJs Ian Friday '87 and Marc McKayle '88 will share the night. Dress to sweat!
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Mindfulness Yoga with Kailer Brothers '25
9–10 a.m.
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Fayerweather Dance Studio, Room 108Incorporating elements of breathing exercises and bodily movement, join Kailer Brothers, class of 2025, for a morning movement session designed to bring awareness to the mind and body.
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Closing Brunch
10–11:30 a.m.
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Daniel Family Commons, Usdan University Center
Advance registration requiredNicole L. Stanton, Wesleyan University's provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs, professor of dance, professor of African American studies, and professor of environmental studies, will headline the Black Alumni Celebration’s Closing Brunch. Come bid farewell to your fellow alums and hear from Dr. Stanton.
Michele Barnwell '89 and Joy Rhoden Lewis '92, P'25
Wesleyan Black Alumni Council Co-Chairs
Save the Dates: Future Alumni of Color Celebrations
Wesleyan Latine Alumni: November 1–3, 2024
Wesleyan Asian Pacific American Alumni: October 24–26, 2025