'At first I was afraid to come here because
Middlebury was a foreign place, and I didn't
know how people would react to me.'


At Middlebury College, we believe it's possible for people from all over the world, of every race, religion, political leaning, sexual orientation, or economic stratum, to thrive here. We believe it is possible to come to Middlebury and not only learn about other people but also discover a lot about yourself — if you wish for the kind of adventure and challenge the College offers.

Not long ago, a group of students, faculty, and staff took a break from work to talk about their experiences in the Middlebury community. Click on an image or a self-description below to see their thoughts and stories.

Perhaps you have something in common with someone here.


I love women of color. We are so beautiful, and it is time we recognize that and embrace it!


Relief worker for victims of Hurricane Katrina


One of the madrinas, godmothers, of ALIANZA, the organization of Latino students on campus

Competitive swimmer and skier

A specialist in Chinese history

Former editor-in-chief of 'Skin Deep' magazine

Three-sport athlete (ice hockey, soccer and lacrosse)

Extraordinarily passionate about my family

Passionate about my majors

Parents of young children

President of the Roosevelt Institution, a student think tank

A feminist in progress

Self-taught computer techie

Singer in an all-male a capella group

Master's degree recipient from Harvard Divinity School

Volunteer firefighter

Co-chair of the Ross Commons Council

A filmmaker

A spoken-word poet

President of Latin American Caribbean Alliance

Founder of the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble

Language table groupie

'There's a community here, in the best sense. And that's really what we have to build in the world.'


— Bill Clinton, 2007 commencement address