Vision Statement
The MANdatory program is an academic enrichment and leadership development program for male identified students of color at Dickinson including those who self-identify racially and ethnically as African-American, Asian-American, Latino, Multiracial and/or Native American. MANdatory is a gender inclusive program that welcomes agender, cisgender, and transgender men.
Weekly Meetings & Topics
MANdatory meets weekly on Monday evenings and Friday evenings in East College and Landis House. Each week’s meetings mix resource presentations with open conversation topics. Meetings are held by the Student Leaders. Some common themes include the following:
- Academic achievement & success
- Community service and civic engagement
- Health and wellness
- High Impact Educational Practices
- Leadership skills
- Social identity
- Undergraduate research opportunities
- Invitations to educational sessions addressing topics like academic success, career development, social identity, and leadership skills, among others
MANdatory 2022 Students with Former Harrisburg Councilman and PSC Director
MANdatory 2021 Students with new shirts
Benefits
- Exclusive access to a supportive peer group and caring adults to ensure their success
- An end-of the year graduation ceremony
- Membership in an on and off campus MANdatory alumni network
Rituals
Each year, in addition to weekly meetings, the men of MANdatory engage in various annual rituals including the following:
- MANdatory Initiation
- Back to the future Reflection
- Fall and Spring Reunion
- MANhunt
- White Elephant
- Mandatory End of the Year Bonfire
- Spring graduation
Making of the 2022 Vision Statement
MANdatory Baltimore Outing 2022
In 2015, Vincent Stephens began working at Dickinson College as the Director of the Popel Shaw Center, which included serving as MANdatory’s adviser. Under his leadership, the group has expanded the scope of its curriculum to include topics related to undergraduate research opportunities, community service, servant leadership, and preparing for graduate school. MANdatory also shifted from being a fall program to include fall and spring programming, culminating in a spring graduation ceremony. In fall 2016, Jason Rivera (Director Institutional Research) joined as a Co-Adviser.
History: A legacy of leadership
Norm Jones (former Associate VP for Diversity) founded MANdatory in fall 2010 as a resource for men of color at Dickinson College. From the beginning, the group has met weekly on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings, to focus on student development topics related to academic enrichment and leadership development. After completing the fall curriculum, the men of MANdatory graduated in a ceremony, open to the entire campus, held in December. After Jones left Dickinson, Pavan Purswani (Residential Education, Shippensburg University) advised the group in an interim capacity in fall 2014.
Men of MANdatory continually build on the knowledge and skills they acquired in the group and translate these skills into campus leadership roles. Some of the achievements of MANdatory alum include making the Dean’s List (3.7 GPA +), serving as mentors for the Emerging Leaders Program, being selected to work on the Residence Life & Housing staff, leading service trips, serving as First Year Mentors for First Year Interest groups (FiGs), and receiving Latin Honors during graduation, among many others. MANdatory alumni are also inductees in such prestigious Dickinson organizations as the Order of Scroll & Key (Gray Hat Society) and the Queer Cap Society, and recipients of campus awards including the Shuman Prize (awarded to sophomores during Convocation) and Student Employee of the Year.
Faculty/Staff Advisers
Rev. Yvette B. Davis (2021-Present)
Vincent Stephens (2015-2019)
Jason Rivera (2016-2018)
Pavan Purswani (2014)
Norm Jones (2010-2014)
Fall 2022 Monday Academics: East College 303 (4:30-6pm)
September 12, 19, 26
October 3, 10, 24
November 7, 14
December 5, 12
Fall 2022 Wednesday Meetings: Landis House Basement (4:30-6pm)
Student Leaders
Each year MANdatory invites all former members to apply to serve as student leaders. Student leaders promote MANdatory to incoming students, plan weekly sessions, lead discussions, manage social media, engage in archival research and informally mentor members. Below are previous student leaders:
2022-23 | Fofang Atanga ('25) Isaiah Bañuelos ('25) Gabriel Carrillo ('25) |
---|---|
2021-22 | Alvero Munoz ('24) Cristian Meneses ('24) |
2020-21 | Danyall Khalil ('23) Allan Farfan Canales ('23) |
2019-20 | Nuhan Abid ('22) Cristian Tineo ('22) |
2018-19 | Alejandro Rodriguez ('21) Angelo Tarzona ('21) |
2017-18 | Rogelio Cuevas (’20) Kevin Ssonko (’20) |
2016-17 | John Adeniran (’19) Liam Stenson (’19) |
2015-16 | D’Andre Battle (’18) Karem Mathiang (’18) |
MANdatory Fall 2022 Retreat
MANdatory alumni (2011-present)
2021-22 GraduatesGabriel Carrillo ('25) 2020-21 GraduatesChakra Sokhomsan ('24) 2019-20 GraduatesNana Agyeman ('23) 2018-19 GraduatesNuhan Abid ('22) 2017-18 GraduatesAlejandro Rodriguez ('21) 2016-17 GraduatesRogelio Cuevas (’20) |
2015-16 GraduatesJohn Adeniran (’19) Fall 2014 GraduatesEli Barongozi ('18) Fall 2013 GraduatesJaime Delgado (’17) Fall 2012 GraduatesMamadou Balde (’16) Fall 2011 GraduatesAngel Acosta (’15) Fall 2010 GraduatesKali Avins ('11) |