Theme: Discussing the Experiences of High Achieving College Students of Color; A Starting Point for Continuing Conversations on Challenges Facing Underrepresented Students at Prestigious Academic Institutions

Macaulay Honors College at The City University of New York hosted a conference in the Spring 2012 semester exploring a critical aspect of diversity in higher education:  What unique issues do high-achieving students of color face at the University level?  Notable Macaulay Honors College alumni, CUNY faculty and other higher education experts explored racial diversity and the challenges facing underrepresented students at prestigious academic institutions at the conference on February 10, 2012 from 9:00am to 1:30pm at Macaulay Honors College at 35 West 67th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue.

The conference, Supporting Excellence: Discussing the Experiences of High Achieving College Students of Color; A Starting Point for Continuing Conversations on Challenges Facing Underrepresented Students at Prestigious Academic Institutions, was initiated by two Macaulay students:  Shekeima Dockery ’13 and Ana Billingsley ’13 (both of Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College). The students say the idea for the conference was sparked by real experiences of students of color.

“As honors students of color studying issues of race, our college experiences have made us aware of the need to confront the meaning of diversity at the University level,” they said.  “This awareness has prompted us to work with members of the Macaulay administration to create a more formal space to have discussions about racial diversity and academic achievement in higher education.”

The students worked closely with Drew Adair, Macaulay’s Associate Director of Student Development and Mike Lamb, Ph.D., Associate Director of Immersive and Personalized Education, on organizing the conference. Mr. Adair is Macaulay’s chief student affairs officer and holds both an MSEd in Counseling from Fordham University, and a dual BA in English and Theater from Antioch College. His previous positions have included Director of Student Life, Rockefeller College, Princeton University; Director of Diversity/Director of Community Service, Friends Seminary; and International Student/Scholar Advisor, University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Lamb develops programming at Macaulay to encourage critical thinking, intellectual camaraderie, and the development of cultural capital–ideally in festive settings. He has published articles in Cartographica, Urban Affairs Review, Arcade, Nonprofit Quarterly, and other journals.