Dean of Students

I am fascinated with history.  As an African-American studies minor at N.C. State University, my coursework focused on civil rights history and its leaders, student protest movements, the Middle Passage, and the Reconstruction era.    

During spring break, I had the opportunity to spend ten days with a group of talented, thoughtful students and staff on a journey to Selma, Alabama, to learn more about history by visiting civil and human rights museums, parks, churches, and restaurants. 

I’ll mention just a few takeaways from the trip. 

Clinical Psychologist Drew Weis and Counseling Psychologist Nate Page recently unveiled two new workshop series for Carleton students, faculty, and staff: Resilient: Body, Mind, Spirit and Procrastination and Perfectionism. Both workshops grew out of past presentations for the community or at other institutions.

These workshops address a real need on college campuses. According to Nate, “Meta-analyses show that between 80-95% of college students report procrastinating schoolwork on at least a semi-regular basis (e.g. Steele, 2007). … Other research estimates 30% of the US population would meet criteria for perfectionism, and that it is closer to 80-90% in 'gifted' children."

The Career Center’s Scholars Program consists of exploratory industry tours aimed at introducing students to a variety of organizations within a particular field of interest. The program also includes an on-campus symposium, site visits, panel discussions, a networking workshop and reception, and related mandatory curricular components to facilitate students’ learning and career development.  

The Bay Area Careers in Tech Program exposed 15 sophomores and juniors in all majors to careers in tech. Students traveled to California over spring break to visit Evernote, Google, Facebook, Vevo, and Cloudera, and to connect with alumni working in tech at these and other organizations.

A group of 11 Carleton sophomores participated in a three-day seminar in Pennsylvania that introduced students to the concepts of leadership and team building in the context of liberal arts and business careers. Led by Carleton alumnus Jeff Appelquist '80, author of Sacred Ground: Leadership Lessons from Gettysburg & Little Bighorn, this seminar provided students with an opportunity to gain a better understanding of their own unique leadership qualities at one of the most historically important locations in the United States, Gettysburg National Military Park & Battlefield. By applying a historical framework, students walked away with tools that will enable them to effectively lead within a constantly changing environment, and a personal commitment to their continuous leadership development.  

Updates from TRIO/Student Support Services, Residential Life, Student Activities Office, OIIL, GSC, Dacie Moses House, Office of Health Promotion, SHAC, and the Career Center!

During Spring Break, Dean Livingston and 20 students embarked on a 10-day journey across the US, exploring historical sites themed by key moments of the civil rights movement. “Northfield to Selma” participants stopped in Cincinnati, DC, Atlanta, Montgomery, Selma, Birmingham, and Memphis. 

Highlights of the trip included several museums and memorials, restaurants that were significant during the times of the past, and meaningful interactions with several alums along the way.  

Prior to Carleton, Kathy worked for Hennepin County for several years, first with welfare clients and then in child support services. The bulk of her career was with Minneapolis Public Schools, starting in the elementary schools and ending in the central administration office. Her final job was as a tuition specialist, working with the state education office and school districts throughout the state. 

After retiring, she wanted “something to keep me busy”, so she signed up at both St. Olaf and Carleton to work as a temp.  Late in the 2009 school year, she received a call from the Director of TRIO to work as a temporary, part-time administrative assistant. When the school year ended she was given the opportunity to become permanent, and she accepted, “so long as it remained part-time, because I still consider myself to be retired.”