Connecticut College adds a second Posse
Connecticut College will welcome a new group of Posse students from New York City in the fall of 2020, expanding a partnership with The Posse Foundation that has brought Posse Scholars from Chicago to the Conn campus for a decade.
Posse Scholars are chosen for their academic and leadership potential by the Posse Foundation and admitted to a select group of private colleges and universities that provide full scholarships along with strong mentoring and support. The Posse model 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.
“Connecticut College has welcomed more than 100 Posse Scholars from Chicago and we couldn’t be happier that Posse scholars from New York City will now be able to attend this outstanding institution as well,” said Posse Foundation President and Founder Deborah Bial.
“What a wonderful way to celebrate a 10-year collaboration between Connecticut College and Posse. We so appreciate President Katherine Bergeron’s leadership and the excellent team that makes this partnership so strong.”
Since 2009, Connecticut College has welcomed a Posse of at least 10 students from Chicago each fall. This spring, the seventh cohort of Posse students will graduate, bringing the number of Posse graduates from the College to nearly 70 students. The Posse class of 2019 includes a Pickering Fellow and Critical Language Scholarship recipient, a Jeff Ubben Posse Fellow, and a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Scholar, among other highly accomplished scholars and campus leaders.
“Our Chicago Posse Scholars have made a lasting impact on our campus and we are so proud of their accomplishments as students and alumni,” said Dean of the College Jefferson Singer, who oversees the College’s Posse program. “We are thrilled to be building on this longstanding, mutually beneficial partnership with the Posse Foundation and look forward to having Posses from both Chicago and New York as part of our campus community.”
To support the launch of the Posse NYC program, the College received a $500,000 gift from John Zeiler ’74.
“As a public high school teacher in the South Bronx, I have seen firsthand what a strong commitment to equality in education—like Conn’s—can do for inner city youth,” said Zeiler.
“I’m pleased to be able to support the launch of the New York City Posse Program at Connecticut College and to expand opportunities for dynamic student leaders from diverse backgrounds to access the life-changing educational experience that Conn offers.”
The NYC Posse also heralds a deepening partnership between the College’s Office of the Dean of the College and the Office of Institutional Equity and Inclusion in supporting Posse scholars. Beginning with the next selection of scholars in December 2019, Dean of Institutional Equity and Inclusion John McKnight will join Singer and Associate Dean of the College Marina Melendez along with Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Andy Strickler and Associate Director of Admission and Coordinator of Multicultural Admission Mily Munez Torres for the Chicago selection process. McKnight, Singer and Melendez, along with Admissions team members, will also conduct the first New York Posse scholars’ selection. Both offices will work together in helping the scholars thrive through their years at Connecticut College.
