Anderson Freeman Center, First Gen Support & Prism Center
Anderson Freeman Center
The Anderson Freeman Resource Center (AFC) promotes belonging, connection, and student success by providing resources, programming, and support for students from historically underrepresented backgrounds. It serves as a central hub for intercultural engagement and community building at Middlebury.
The AFC offers a vibrant location for aligned student orgs and faculty to host events.
For many years and through generations of students at Middlebury, finding adequate care for textured hair was a challenge.
AFC Highlights
The AFC expanded its efforts to foster belonging and cultural connection through several new initiatives this year. The Center launched its inaugural Home Away from Home Week during Thanksgiving recess, providing programming, community space, meals, and off-campus excursions for students unable to travel home, helping them build community and feel supported during the break. The Center also introduced its first Caribbean Heritage Celebration, responding to student requests for more culturally specific programming by creating opportunities to celebrate Caribbean cultures through food, music, games, and community engagement. Together, these initiatives strengthened students’ sense of connection, recognition, and belonging on campus.
First Gen Student Support
Middlebury’s First-Generation Student Support program helps first-generation college students build community, access resources, and navigate the college experience. Through First@Midd and ongoing programming, students receive mentorship, guidance, and opportunities for personal and academic success.
First Gen Support Highlights
The First Gen Support Program expanded opportunities for learning, professional development, and mutual support through several innovative initiatives this year. In partnership with the Knoll, the program co-facilitated Reading Hours, engaging students in small-group discussions on timely topics including immigration, citizenship, resistance, racism, xenophobia, and building healthy communities. The First Gen Support Program also collaborated with the Center for Careers and Internships to pilot a workforce readiness program for first-generation sophomores and juniors, providing six weeks of professional development workshops and mentorship connections in students’ fields of interest. Additionally, the First Gen Support Program began building a Zero Dollar Store, collecting donated residence hall materials to make essential items more accessible to students year-round while laying the groundwork for future programming focused on mutual aid and community care.
The Prism Center for Queer and Trans Life
The Prism Center supports LGBTQ+ students through advocacy, education, programming, and community-building opportunities. The center fosters an inclusive environment for people of all genders and sexual orientations, with particular attention to the experiences of queer and trans students.
Prism Center Highlights
The Prism Center strengthened connections both on and off campus this year through meaningful community engagement and direct student support. At MiddPride, the Center hosted a resource table, participated in the parade, and was joined by 25 students, creating opportunities to connect with local LGBTQ+ youth and community members while strengthening ties between the College and the broader community. During J-Term, the Center also provided free gender-affirming haircuts to 15 students, helping address financial and access barriers that many queer, transgender, and gender-nonconforming individuals face in obtaining affirming haircare services. Together, these initiatives fostered visibility, belonging, and support for LGBTQ+ students.