Welcome from the Associate Dean for Academic and Campus Life
Welcome to the Marshall Center for Intercultural Learning. At Wheaton College we recognize that individuals have complex identities formed by biology, society, history and choice. These varied facets shape who we are, form our uniqueness, and contribute to the rich educational community that is Wheaton College. The Marshall Center exists to affirm these unique identities, to build a community that draws from them and to cultivate leaders who will introduce to the world the value of human diversity. Each and every member of the Wheaton community has a role and responsibility in this process. We look forward to getting to know you and learning what you will contribute to our work.
To share with you a piece of our history, the Wheaton College Marshall Center for Intercultural Learning, located at 19 East Main Street, is considered an historic house in the town of Norton, Massachusetts. Throughout the 1970's the house was used as a student residence, housing male students attending Wheaton as visitors or exchange students. Later, the house served as on-campus housing for faculty. In the 1980's and 1990's, the house was most frequently used as an open and accessible multipurpose space. A variety of social events, meetings, and similar gatherings were regularly held at the house. The transition of the space from a "house" into a true "center" began in 2001 with the creation of administrative offices and the movement of the first staff persons into the building. This signaled the beginning of the Wheaton College Multicultural Center and marked the first steps in the development of a Multicultural Center program. The center was named for outgoing College President Dale Rogers Marshall in May 2004, in honor of President Marshall's commitment to diversity.
The Marshall Center for Intercultural Learning works collaboratively and in consultation with many individuals and offices on campus. You might meet us at an evening cultural event, co-sponsored by the Office of Student Life or student organizations. You might attend our lunch workshops, offered by staff members from our collaborative advising centers that will be integral to your success at Wheaton College. You might join a graduate school cohort, developing relationships with faculty and other student scholars, in order to best prepare for life after Wheaton. Or, you might drop in to talk with a staff member about how some of your academic courses are challenging you to think more deeply about your identity and your place in the world. Regardless of how you get involved, we believe you will find yourself enriched and challenged by the people you meet here, and in turn will enrich their lives as well.
Alex Vasquez
Associate Dean for Academic and Campus Life