A second candidate for the Elma Lewis Center Executive Director position held an open forum presentation where she discussed her prior experience and her focus on civic engagement.

The finalist is one of four who is scheduled to visit the college this month. The Office of Diversity and Inclusion is withholding the names of the finalists due to confidentiality concerns. She is a graduate of Emerson’s writing, literature and publishing program and currently teaches classes at the college.

Like the first finalist from the Oct. 2 forum, the applicant shared a bit about herself for the edification of the search committee and how she would approach the work of the Elma Lewis Center through “4 Cs”: capacity building, convening, connecting, and communicating.

Originally from Boston, the candidate said in her presentation that she has written for multiple local publications, including The Boston Globe, public radio station WGBH, and multicultural publication Color Magazine. She said she also worked as a freelance grant writer with the NAACP in 2013 on the “This is My Vote” campaign, which helped raise money among communities of color in the greater metro area to mobilize voting.

She said she hopes the center will be a source of inspiration for students, faculty, and staff to engage with one another and contribute positively to their community. 

“Here’s what I’d like to do: Let’s talk,” the applicant said. “Let’s build out this vision. Let’s have a conversation.”

She said she wants to focus on service engagement talks and workshops, marketing promotions and social media outreach, and policy changes to strengthen the organizational framework of the center.

Chris Daly, director of retention and student success, said in an interview after the event that he was excited to see who the search committee will pick.

“Having had the opportunity to meet and hear from two of the candidates, I’m pleased with the strength of the pool so far,” Daly said.

The third candidate being considered by the search committee was evaluated on Oct. 7, and the fourth will be on Oct. 14.