What does it take to make a good society? How will Wisconsin reform its criminal justice system? What does post-Beloit life offer?

These questions will be discussed during three big events on March 22-24 when Weissberg and Duffy, host keynote lectures, and Advising Practicum invites alumni to share their knowledge with students.

Duffy leads the pack with an alumni panel reflecting on its 15-year milestone. The panelists will reflect on the question that has guided the program since its inception, “What makes a good society? Raphael Gang’06, director of Pathways at, 4.0 Schools, Iris Hoover’09, connector of purpose, strategy and change at Princeton Review, Phil Mangis’05, director of international operations at The School for Field Studies, and Ruby Jennings’10, senior research analyst of IMPAQ International, will examine how the Duffy and other educational experiences lead to engaged citizenship in a panel hosted by Weissberg Chair Steven Hawkins on Thursday, March 22, at 7:30 p.m. in Mayer Hall.

Advising Practicum continues the theme of reflection and preparation by hosting a day full of informative sessions for students on Friday, March 23. With sessions like “Funding your idea,” which aims to help attendees learn what foundation partners look for from grant-seeking organizations and startups, and “Post-Beloit Life for International Students,” this year’s Advising Practicum is guaranteed to have a wealth of information for students. The day ends with a Mocktails networking event between alumni and students in the Sanger Science Center Atrium. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP.

“I’m looking forward to talking with students about their interests and dreams and helping them plan their time at Beloit College and beyond. I hope that they find many good sessions to attend and then come to the Mocktails event to speak with the many Beloit graduates and friends of the college who will be there,” says Yaffa Grossman, associate dean and director of the Liberal Arts in Practice Center.

Weissberg rounds out the busy week on Friday, March 23, at 7:30 p.m. in Eaton Chapel, when Weissberg Chair Steven Hawkins gives a public address titled, “Judging America: Exceptionalism, criminal justice and human rights.” Hawkins is a social justice leader and litigator, who has dedicated his career to improving the criminal justice system. He is actively working to abolish the death penalty and successfully led a campaign to abolish the death penalty for juvenile crimes. Hawkins formerly served as the president of the Coalition for Public Safety and executive director for Amnesty International USA.