Posse 1 with Candace Howes, the Ferrin Professor of Economics, the group’s mentor.
Posse 1 with Candace Howes, the Ferrin Professor of Economics, the group’s mentor.

POSSE Mission

Since 1989, the Posse model has worked for both students and college campuses and is rooted in the belief that a small, diverse group of talented students—a Posse—carefully selected and trained, can serve as a catalyst for individual and community development. As the United States becomes an increasingly multicultural society, Posse believes that the leaders of the 21st century should reflect the country’s rich demographic mix. The key to a promising future for our nation rests on the ability of strong leaders from diverse backgrounds to develop consensus solutions to complex social problems. Posse’s primary aim is to train these leaders of tomorrow.

In 2009, Connecticut College became a national partner with the Posse Foundation, Inc. The first cohort, a group of 12 scholars from Chicago, came to campus.

POSSE Program Goals

  1. To expand the pool from which top colleges and universities can recruit outstanding young leaders from diverse backgrounds.
  2. To help these institutions build more interactive campus environments so that they can be more welcoming for people from all backgrounds.
  3. To ensure that Posse Scholars persist in their academic studies and graduate so they can take on leadership positions in the workforce.