many college programs’ Midnight Madness, incorporating lessons learned from previous events to make an even better experience. “We’re embracing the fact that they build resilience by learning from failure,” says Catlin. “The worst thing we can do to them in these leadership roles is to give them roles where they don’t have any skin in the game, where they don’t have any ownership, where they don’t have any risk in it. Leading is really hard, and if we make leading easy, that’s a disservice to them.” Leadership training played a role in the proctors’ growth. Proctors take a semester-long course with Catlin, including training on communication, inclusivity, and conflict resolution. But the real learning came when they applied those lessons day after day. “Being a proctor isn’t just about having a title,” says Catlin. “It’s about making the people around you feel safer, more connected, more supported.” As the year came to a close, faculty and students alike praised the proctors for raising the bar. “They set a tone,” Catlin says. “And now we have a foundation to build on for years to come.”
They didn’t just ask, ‘What should we do?’ They asked, ‘What do we want our community to feel like?’ And then they made that happen.” —SARAH CATLIN, DIRECTOR OF STUDENT AFFAIRS
WINTER 2026
19