Building inclusive community\u2014whether as a student, faculty member, or college administrator\u2014is a thread running through Eric Estes\u2019s life. And it started at Trinity.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn some ways, I\u2019ve always felt like a bit of an outsider and struggled to find a sense of personal belonging,\u201d he says. But at Trinity, Estes discovered a place where he could learn a lot about himself in the company of peers who were doing the same. This experience set him on a path of trying to build communities that \u201cacknowledge and value differences but also seek to build relationships across those differences,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Since 2016, Estes has been vice president for campus life at Brown University, where he oversees more than 400 staff members in 17 departments, including athletics, health and wellness resources, student activities, religious life, and one of the first centers for low-income and first-generation college students in the country. Previously, he was at Oberlin College, first as associate dean and director of the multicultural center, and then as vice president and dean of students. He also was an assistant professor in comparative American studies. Before Oberlin, he taught at Duke University.<\/p>\n Though he has spent his professional life in academia, Estes wasn\u2019t terribly interested in academics in high school. However, \u201cTrinity was very different, especially because of the talented faculty who invested in me and made learning meaningful,\u201d he says. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t have the quality of personal and professional life that I have without my Trinity experience.\u201d<\/p>\n Courses with former Professor of History Philip Bankwitz, Charles H. Northam Professor of History Samuel Kassow \u201966, and Paul E. Raether Distinguished Professor of History Cheryl Greenberg inspired Estes to earn an M.A. and Ph.D. in history from Syracuse University. \u201cProfessor Bankwitz was an amazing storyteller. Professor Kassow gave captivating lectures. And Professor Greenberg is a lifelong mentor,\u201d says Estes.<\/p>\n Outside the classroom, he was a member of the swimming and water polo teams and Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. \u201cI learned so much, not just in my classes but also talking with peers in the dining hall, my dorm, and my fraternity house,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n It\u2019s this fondness for his undergraduate experience that inspires Estes\u2019s service to Trinity. \u201cI love the place,\u201d he says. \u201cI want to give back and help current students thrive during their time at Trinity and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n Estes is vice president of Trinity\u2019s National Alumni Association (NAA) and will serve as its next president, effective July 1, 2019. Director of Alumni Relations Stephen Donovan calls Estes one of the most insightful, thoughtful, and caring alumni with whom he\u2019s worked. Current NAA President Justin Maccarone Jr. \u201981, P\u201919 agrees. \u201cWhen Eric speaks, it is always meaningful,\u201d he says. \u201cHe is passionate about Trinity and generous with his time and thoughts in his role on the NAA.\u201d<\/p>\n As president, Estes will help the NAA continue to develop programs that strengthen alumni\u2019s relationships with the college, especially with current students. \u201cTrinity alums have so much to offer, and the student experience will be stronger because of their engagement,\u201d says Estes. \u201cAlumni are Trinity\u2019s greatest assets.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Volunteer Spotlight By Mary Howard Building inclusive community\u2014whether as a student, faculty member, or college administrator\u2014is a thread running through Eric Estes\u2019s life. And it started at Trinity. \u201cIn some ways, I\u2019ve always felt like a bit of an outsider and struggled to find a sense of personal belonging,\u201d he says. But at Trinity, Estes … <\/p>\n![\"Eric](\"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/reporter-winter2019\/files\/2019\/02\/Eric-Estes-2.jpg\")
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Photo courtesy of Brown University<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n