The Black and African-American population only represents 11% of Goshen College’s student-athletes, and yet, 68% of traditional students who are Black and African-American are student-athletes, according to Justin DeWeese, assistant athletic director of communications. Brielle Agnew is one of the Black athletes on campus, and the only Black woman on the volleyball team.  Agnew, a senior majoring in biology, said that her background in volleyball has been much the same her whole life: mostly “white, skinny, blonde girls with long hair. That’s what it started as, and that is what it was when I first started playing. It’s probably more...

By Kevin Liddell • November 9, 2023 • Sports

For months, the role of director for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) at Goshen College was empty, until last May when the position was filled by Aja Ellington. “The Committee on DEI has responsibility for the campus as a whole — students and employees all together,” said Jody Saylor, chair of the committee on DEI. “We’re gathering resources and information to support people across the institution … Aja Ellington is the face of the student side.” Ellington develops professional trainings on DEI, assists with oversight for affinity groups, works toward education and bias training and serves on the MLK planning...

By Sarah Miller • October 5, 2023 • News

“I volunteered one day and put my arm in and I got a severe allergic reaction that lasted like three days on my whole arm. Never again. Lesson learned.” That’s new Goshen College biology professor Raquel Montañez-González explaining a challenge of mosquito research she became well-acquainted with while obtaining her doctorate: their need for blood — on that day, her blood — in order to reproduce. Montañez-González was hired last year to fill an open spot in the biology department after Jody Saylor moved to an administrative role on campus. She earned her doctorate in genetics at the University of...

By Amelia Witmer-Rich • February 16, 2023 • Features

Goshen College hosted its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day convocation this past Monday at 10 a.m. titled “Hidden Treasure: Untold Stories.” The event’s keynote speaker was Dr. Daryl Heller. Heller serves as the director of the IU South Bend Civil Rights Heritage Center and an assistant professor of women’s and gender studies. As students, staff, and community members filed into and nearly filled up College Mennonite Church, Roy Jennings blissfully played the piano.  Jennings is the founder and artistic director of Arch Angel Productions, a not-for-profit performance company for the presentation of African-American concert music, with a special emphasis...

By Phil Witmer-Rich • January 19, 2023 • News

On Jan. 3, Goshen College men’s volleyball coach Lauren Ford left GC to take a job at Edward Waters University, a historically Black school in Jacksonville, Florida. Ford’s departure was notable for many reasons, including her success with the team. Crucially, though, it marked the latest occurrence of a recent trend: women of color leaving GC. According to Justin Heinzekehr, GC’s director of institutional research and assessment, there were 16 women that were Black, Indigenous or people of color (BIPOC) employed by GC on Nov. 1, 2021.  On Nov. 1, 2022, 11 of those 16 were left.  Moreover, two of...

By Daniel James • January 19, 2023 • News

When Dr. LaKendra Hardware resigned from her position at Goshen College, she launched an immediate and different conversation on campus: Who would take over the work she was doing? Widely known as Dr. LaKendra, she was one of 17% of total full-time administrators and staff of color representing GC’s predominantly white campus. The college is now tasked with filling Hardware’s post. Hardware arrived at GC as a campus pastor in 2018. She soon transitioned to director of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). She held many leadership positions during her tenure, including advising the Black Student Union (BSU) and serving on...

By Jakyra Green • September 30, 2022 • News