By Melanie Duronio ’26
Staff Writer
This semester, Mount Holyoke welcomed Maria Cartagena as the new director of Community-Based Learning in the Weissmann Center for Leadership.
Cartagena is not new to the community-engagement field. She has been involved for 25 years, during many of which she worked with local nonprofits as a community partner. Her career has included work within the Five College Consortium, within which she has collaborated with faculty throughout all five schools. Most recently, she worked with Hampshire College as the director of community advocacy, according to a College profile.
The Community-Based Learning program is designed to support students as they become leaders of their communities. According to the College, students work with local leaders in South Hadley to develop leadership skills and gain a better understanding of the world around them. This is done through off-campus opportunities such as internships and service projects.
“I see this work as part of my mission in life to be a social justice activist,” Cartagena said. “The one thing I love most about my job … is being able to look at and be a part of the development of students both socially and emotionally.”
“I see this work as part of my mission in life to be a social justice activist. The one thing I love most about my job … is being able to look at and be a part of the development of students both socially and emotionally.”
Cartagena comes from a long line of Puerto Rican activists, including her mother, who questioned the societal systems that are still in place today. As Cartagena grew older and learned more about systemic inequality, she decided to challenge it through her work as a community leader.
“[My mother] always knew [when] something wasn’t … fair. … I know a lot of times we say in response, ‘Well, life isn’t fair.’ But why isn’t life fair?” Cartagena questioned. “I often introduced myself as an activist in the womb of my mother. My mother, really at her heart, was about equality.”
As the director of the Community-Based Learning program, Cartagena wants to prioritize partnerships between Mount Holyoke and the local community. Specifically, opportunities where students and faculty can use their privilege and resources to give back to others.
“Mount Holyoke has always had that spirit. … I just want to elevate that school of thought and say, ‘How are we reciprocal? How are we going both ways? How are those students coming to Mount Holyoke and how are we going into the community and causing less harm?’” Cartagena said.
Cartagena wants to hear directly from students. She plans to organize events such as listening circles where she can meet with students regarding their interests and guide them to partnerships. This will allow Cartagena to advance Mount Holyoke’s Community-Based Learning initiative.
She will also be working closely with the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, which has interests that align with her vision for Community-Based Learning. This year, she will be co-leading the Mi Gente LLC alongside Assistant Vice President for DEI Jonencia Wood.
“I’m living the dream, honestly. I’m really looking forward to working with students,” Cartagena said. “For me, [this job] is about sending students out into the world who will make an impact for the common good.”
Overall, Cartagena is excited to be working at Mount Holyoke and looks forward to what her time here will bring.
“When I saw the position at Mount Holyoke, it just felt right,” Cartagena said. “In some ways, it felt like coming home.”