By Rose Hamilton, Samantha Mocle, and David Nathan
Photos by Todd Dionne

Social justice is at the core of Lasell's founding — the very birth of the institution surely rattled those who believed in the zeitgeist of the time that education for women was "unnecessary, if not against human nature." (Donald Winslow, A History of Lasell Junior College)

We've come a long way in 172 years, though progress doesn't exempt us from doing more work. Like other colleges, Lasell is not immune to bias incidents related to race, gender, or culture — but it is often those pain points that catapult us into a more tolerant community. 

"It is important that students see how challenging and emotionally charged this work can be," says Liz Hartmann, professor of education. "It is not about perfection, but about the process of digging into the complexity of these issues."

Kellie Wallace, assistant professor of criminal justice, agrees: "We will never be perfect, but we will always be better."

We spoke with alumni who have committed their career to helping others. Here is what motivates them in the pursuit of social justice.