Mission
The goal of the Maryville College Alumni Association Community & Belonging Taskforce is to strengthen connections between the campus and alumni from historically underrepresented and marginalized communities, while actively promoting diversity and social justice on campus and beyond.
The Alumni Community & Belonging Taskforce works to advance “a welcoming and diverse community of belonging for all” (Faith and Learning Statement) by fostering meaningful relationships among alumni and with current students and the broader campus community–celebrating the richness of identities including race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, ability, religion, and more.
Storytelling Initiative
The Community & Belonging Taskforce has launched a storytelling initiative in partnership with campus leadership including Aja Rodriguez ’04, Director of Community & Belonging, in order to:
- Lift up the profiles and voices of diverse alumni,
- Provide a forum for all alumni to open up about times they witnessed microaggressions, unfairness or injustice on campus and their response(s), and
- Highlight all alumni who experienced a transformation related to inclusion while on campus or after graduation.
The CBTF hopes that the sharing of these lived experiences (the entire truth whether good, bad, or in between) will be a catalyst for needed action and culture change to enhance campus community. The initiative could expand in the future to include students, staff, and faculty. We seek to explore and understand:
- What has the college done over time to be more inclusive?
- How has MC successfully supported diverse students on campus?
- Where has the college fallen short in helping students feel included and welcomed on campus?
- What opportunities does the college need to address to ensure accessible and inclusive experiences for all students, staff and faculty?
Tony Murchison ’03: Alumni Story
Dr. Jerica Johnson-Hall ’13: Alumni Story
LeSean Brannon ’11 and Dr. Jerica Johnson-Hall ’13: KT Award for Young Alumni 2025 Honoree Video
Jonika Dhima Hoomes ’02: Alumni Citation 2025 Honoree Video
Denise “Blinky” Hines ’80: Alumni Citation 2023 Honoree Video
Are you interested in making an impact? Do you have an experience that needs highlighted? Are you willing to share your story? If so, please take a few moments to complete the survey linked here and a Taskforce representative will reach out to discuss further. We will work with you to schedule the interview for an in-person or virtual time at your convenience.
Contact Us
Feel free to contact us at alumni.belonging@maryvillecollege.edu with any questions, comments, or feedback.