Chicago, Chicago! New Posse Cohort Marks Historic First Year at Dickinson
The 11 members of Dickinson's first Chicago Posse pose for a group shot with their advisors during one of their many on-campus mixers. Photo courtesy of Gracia Johnson '29.
Second cohort of student leaders will arrive this fall
by MaryAlice Bitts-Jackson
When 11 young Chicagoans signed their names to Dickinson’s register this past fall, they ushered in a new era in the college’s quarter-century partnership with the Posse Foundation. One year later, we’re checking in on Dickinson’s inaugural Chicago Posse cohort and celebrating the ways that Posse Leadership Scholars have enriched the college community for 25 years.
A brief history of Dickinson Posse
The Posse Foundation recruits and supports high-achieving public-school students with leadership experience. Through the Posse program, they enroll at prestigious partnering colleges and universities as part of a small, supportive group of fellow students from their home cities.
Posse Leadership Scholars receive pre-college training, free tuition, mentorship and access to a vast Posse career and alumni network. In return, they provide leadership experience and diverse perspectives that enhance academic, extracurricular and co-curricular life at their college.
Dickinson welcomed its first New York Posse to campus in 2001. Four years later, the college became the first East Coast institution to establish a partnership with the Los Angeles Posse. And after 20 years of enrolling L.A. Posse Leadership Scholars, the college opened a Dickinson education to Chicago Posse students for the first time this past fall.
The Chicago Posse bonds during a rock-climbing retreat in Kalamazoo, Mich. Photo courtesy of Gracia Johnson '29.
Culture shock and community
Transitioning from a Midwestern metropolis to an East Coast college town wasn’t always easy, says Chicagoan Gracia Johnson ’29 (international business & management). The food was different. The scenery and vibe were different. In some ways, at first, it was almost like studying abroad.
Johnson responded by connecting with as many people as she could during her first semester on campus. She was elected president of her class, got involved with Student Senate and joined every club and organization that appealed to her. And when her overcommitments became overwhelming, her advisor taught her to prioritize and strategize and suggested Dickinson resources that could help. Support from fellow Posse students was also invaluable.
“Having a group of people who are also experiencing the same things makes it a lot easier to deal with,” Johnson says.
Enduring contributions
That level of engagement is emblematic of Posse Leadership Scholars at Dickinson. Tony Trandafir ’24 (L.A. Posse) was a community advisor and an Admissions Fellow, intern and volunteer when he was a student. Ian Genao ’20 (New York) was an R.A. and member of Kappa Alpha Psi, MANdatory, MOB and the Latin American & Caribbean Club.
As president of Dickinson’s Asian & Asian American Collective, Sarah Jang ’25 (L.A.) helped raise the visibility of Asians and Asian Americans on campus. Jang also served as a global ambassador.
“This is a leadership scholarship, and these young scholars bring experience to campus that includes starting businesses and organizations, leading organizations and engaging in extensive volunteer work when they were in high school,” says George Stroud, vice president and dean of student life, who’s been a Posse liaison since his arrival at Dickinson eight years ago. “They’re looking for opportunities to put their thumbprints on Dickinson, and they do.”
And when these students become alumni, they often continue to make their mark. After graduation, both Trandafir and Genao served two-year terms as Young Alumni Trustees. L.A. native Leslie Alas ’22 is building community as president of Dickinson’s Latinx Alumni Network and as an Alumni Council member.
Judith Rudge ’05, a member of Dickinson’s very first Posse, has returned to campus to share professional insights with students, and she supports Dickinson’s Joyce A. Bylander Scholarship. In an alumni Q&A, she wrote that she enjoys paying it forward and “giving back to keep the circle of goodwill and giving going.”
From mentees to mentors
The Dickinson Chicagoans are carving similar paths, says Stroud. He notes that one year in the Chicago Posse is thriving academically and quickly moving into campus leadership roles, such as Student Senate and all-college committees.
Fresh from participating in Dickinson’s Spanish-language summer program in Malaga, Spain, and completing a judicial internship, Johnson is eager to work as a peer wellness educator this fall and to help advance student initiatives through Student Senate.
She also looks forward to welcoming the new Chicago Posse aboard. Asked what advice she’ll give the incoming students, Johnson recommends that they take full advantage of college resources—and that they bring a bottle of mild sauce to campus, to add a taste of Chicago to mealtimes.
“It’s comforting to know that more people from my area will come here,” Johnson says. “I’m so excited to get to know them all.”
TAKE THE NEXT STEPS
Published August 19, 2026