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Alumni Voices

Hear from Black alumni from a range of class years about their experiences at Swarthmore. Do you have a memory or reflection to share? Let us know

  • Marissa Davis '08

    “My mother always did her best to give my sisters and me the world, but she was often relegated only to the piece of the world she could afford. As a single parent, she made countless sacrifices so that we could dare to dream of the world she only experienced in the abstract. When I entered Swarthmore, it was the first time in my life my dreams had no bounds. If I had a dream or a vision for my future, I was not only given the tools and resources to nurture them into reality, but also encouraged to dream even bigger than before. When I graduated, I left filled with an unrelenting commitment to realize my dreams but simultaneously encourage others stifled by inequality to do the same. Swarthmore undoubtedly changed my life and I will be forever grateful for such an opportunity.”

    Alumni Spotlight

    Marissa Davis '0
  • Maurice Eldridge '61

    “My experience of Swarthmore as a student, even when it hurt, increased my self-confidence, my capacity to understand others, and my ability to forgive. I learned that my humanity is more than my intellect and that my heart and soul are its partners in finding the paths to balance and fullness. I came here believing happiness lies in what you do for others and the experiences then and over the last 25 years affirm and sustain that belief. And a word of tribute and gratitude for the faculty who taught me so much through their disciplines and as models for living: Helen North, Dan Hoffman, Elizabeth Wright, Larry Lafore, Hilde Cohen, and Gil Stott.”

    Alumni Spotlight

    maurice