Director's Note

Director's Note

Edward L. Henry Professor Dr. Matt Lindstrom

"Despite the Covid-19 limitations, the McCarthy Center continues to support students through our mentor program, numerous lectures and panels, undergraduate research and civic volunteer opportunities, social media engagement, and, finally, through a robust voter engagement effort centered on the 2020 elections. "

Is 2020 over yet? Some may say…. As the fall semester wraps up at CSB/SJU, the McCarthy Center is pleased to present this magazine. Despite the Covid-19 limitations, the McCarthy Center continues to support students through our mentor program, numerous lectures and panels, undergraduate research and civic volunteer opportunities, social media engagement, and, finally, through a robust voter engagement effort centered on the 2020 elections.

This fall the McCarthy Center is pleased to welcome Victoria M. Evens as our first-ever Civic Fellow. Evens is a recent graduate of the University of Minnesota-Morris and brings a rich liberal arts background to the McCarthy Center as well as many skills and a wonderful positive, creative mindset.

The 2020-21 student leadership of the McCarthy Center is among our finest. They represent diverse majors, ages, professional interests, and political ideologies. As the articles in this magazine illustrate, the work of the McCarthy Center team inspires and engages students in a variety of ways.

As this magazine illustrates, things haven’t slowed down with the McCarthy Center. Dr. Christi Siver, Joseph P. Farry Professor of Political Science, continues to bring not only awareness of global and local policy issues but also direct opportunities for students to get involved. This includes research and volunteer opportunities related to the 19th amendment and women’s suffrage as well as the U.S. Census and the 2020 elections.

The 2020 elections resulted in historic voter turnout across the country, including among CSB and SJU students. With the CSB/SJU Votes Coalition and their many partners, student enthusiasm led to extensive support for students to get registered, get informed, and get to the polls or mailboxes.

The 14th annual McCarthy Lecture with Dr. Kathleen Hall Jamieson was the first major campus event this fall. One benefit of doing the event online is people could watch from wherever in the world. As a result, we had a big online crowd of CSB/SJU community members and friends from afar. If you missed the talk or would like to hear again, go to the McCarthy Center YouTube page where almost all our events are viewable.

We are grateful for all the support we receive from so many of you. Your encouragement, involvement and ideas help us improve and keep us going, especially during these challenging times.

Thank you!

D R . M A T T L I N D S T R O M

Director