Imagine: what does it mean to be globally engaged?

Global perspectives are at the heart of Macalester’s values. We were the first college to fly the United Nations flag on campus, and today's students represent more than one hundred countries. Throughout our history, Macalester students, faculty, and staff have fostered opportunities for self-reflection and self-exploration to impact social change. Join in a discussion about how Macalester's global focus helped shape worldviews, and explore what it looks like to prepare students to be global leaders.

Join President Suzanne M. Rivera with Dr. Hui Wilcox, dean of Kofi Annan Institute for Global Citizenship and Mihir Desai ’90, president and CEO at Dexis Consulting Group, as they reflect on moments of transformation, struggle, and joy while exploring our past and building toward the future in this limited series, Imagine. The Washington, DC, regional alumni chapter will host a reception prior to the program.

Hui Wilcox is the Dean of Kofi Annan Institute for Global Citizenship at Macalester College. As a sociologist, a dance artist, and a first-generation immigrant, Hui is passionate about educating global citizens who understand structural inequalities, embrace cultural differences, and dare to imagine a just world. She believes in the transformative and healing potential of education, especially when we challenge the rigid separation between academia and community, theory and practice, global and local. Mindful of the power dynamics inherent in the construction of these false dichotomies, Hui has researched and written on transnational feminisms, sociology of immigration, race and ethnicity, Asian American studies, and global performance studies.

Prior to joining Macalester in July 2023, Hui was a Professor of Sociology at St. Catherine University (2004-2023). Hui is a co-editor and author (with Dr. Ananya Chatterjea and Dr. Alessandra Williams) of the 2022 book Dancing Transnational Feminisms: Ananya Dance Theatre and the Art of Social Justice. 
 

Mihir Desai is founder and CEO of Dexis, a professional services firm that manages programs for US foreign assistance focused agencies including USAID, State Department, Center for Disease Control and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency and provides expertise in regional conflict prevention, justice sector reform, private sector engagement and performance monitoring. Dexis’ 500-plus full time staff put their passion to work on the ground, and have worked in nearly 80 countries in the last three years.

A former World Bank investment specialist, Mihir has traveled to and worked with government clients in over forty countries in Africa, Middle East, Latin America and East Asia. Dexis has been featured in the Washington Post for its cross-cultural employee focus and Mihir has been featured by American Express in its global firm leader series. Mihir is an active supporter of performance and community arts in the Washington DC metro area. He holds an MBA from the George Washington University and a BA from Macalester. Mihir is a member of Macalester Board of Trustees since 2022. 
 

Bring your stories to share and help us imagine the next 150 years with alumni, parents, and the global Macalester community. We hope you can join us on Feb. 8 in Washington, DC.