Join your fellow Black alumni at Homecoming + Family Weekend! This year's Alumni of Color programming will focus on the distinctive culture of Black alumni. Together, let's celebrate, embrace, and elevate our legacy at Wesleyan.

Co-sponsored by the Black Alumni Council and the Alumni of Color Council. Note: register for Homecoming + Family Weekend, including the Saturday lunch following the Dwight Greene Symposium and Sunday Brunch. Registration for Saturday night dinner is seperate and listed within the schedule below.

Register today


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.

Friday, October 27

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    The Pathways to Public Health

    With Joyce Hall ('78) DrPHc, MPH
    12:15–1:15 p.m.
    Usdan University Center, Rm 108

    More on Pathways to Public Health

    Over 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 Program

    Co-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

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    Welcome Happy Hour

    4–5 p.m.
    The Vanguard Lounge, Center for African American Studies
    Appetizers and refreshments will be served

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    Welcome 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.
    Malcolm X House, Basement
    Dinner and refreshments will be served

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    We 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.
    Malcolm X House Basement
    Featuring Black Raspberry, Wesleyan's first and only Black arts collective

    More on the performance

    Jam to the sounds of the all-Black student-run band known as Black Raspberry, composed entirely of current Wesleyan students.

Saturday, October 28

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    Morning Movement

    8–8:45 a.m.
    Dance Studio Fayerweather

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    Continental Breakfast | Wesleyan Black Alumni "Human Library" (unofficial)

    9–10:30 a.m.
    Daniel Family Commons, Usdan University Center

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    31st Dwight L. Greene Symposium

    Striving for Access and Opportunity in Education
    11 a.m.–noon
    Memorial Chapel and on Zoom

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    Participants 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.

    Watch on Zoom

    Webinar ID: 954 2042 4672
    Passcode: 355379
    Find your local number

     

    Watch last year's Dwight L. Greene Symposium which took place virtually on November 15.

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    Celebration Lunch

    Opening Remarks by April Ruiz, interim vice president for equity and inclusion
    Noon–1:30 p.m.
    Daniel Family Commons, Usdan University Center
    Pre-registration required for this lunch

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    Gallery Exhibit: No Title: Relays + Relations

    Works by Renée Green '81 and Sol LeWitt
    Noon–5 p.m.
    Ezra and Cecila Zilkha Gallery

    More on No Title: Relays + Relations

    This 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.
    Andrus Field by the base of Foss Hill in between Alumni/Parent tailgate section and Wyllys Avenue
    Refreshments available

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    Join 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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    The Launch of Something Big

    Join us at the McKelvey Green Tent
    4–6 p.m.
    All are invited to this very special community-wide event. Join us for performances, remarks, and refreshments as we celebrate the launch of somethig big!

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    Black Alumni Dinner and Private Meeting

    6–7:30 p.m.
    The Forum, Public Affairs Center
    Registration required

    RSVP for the dinner

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    X House Flashback Dance Party

    Featuring alumni DJs Ian Friday '87 and Marc McKayle '88
    7:30–10:30 p.m.
    Beckham Hall
    Hosted by the Black Alumni Council, Ujamaa/Black Student Union, and the Alumni of Color Council

    More on the dance party

    It'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!

Sunday, October 29

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    Morning Movement

    9–10 a.m.

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    Closing Brunch

    10–11:30 a.m.
    Daniel Family Commons, Usdan University Center
    Advance registration required

    More on the brunch

    Nicole L. Stanton, 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.

Wesleyan Black Alumni Council Celebration Planning Committee

Michele Barnwell '89 and Joy Rhoden Lewis '92, P'25, co-chairs


Save the Dates: Future Alumni of Color Celebrations

Wesleyan LatinX Alumni: November 1–3, 2024

Wesleyan Asian Pacific American Alumni: October 24–26, 2025

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    BLACK ALUMNI (WBAC) FACEBOOK GROUP
    Join our Facebook group to connect with fellow Wesleyan Black alumni.

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    ACCOMMODATIONS
    There are a handful of hotels located within 15 minutes of Wesleyan. Please consult the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce for a comprehensive list of area lodging, which also provides up-to-date listings in the Middletown area.