Lillian Ranco ’26 Wins Franko-Maisel Prize
The Goldfarb Center congratulates Lillian as she begins her career in humanitarian aid.
Goldfarb Center for Public Affairs
The Goldfarb Center for Public Affairs is Colby’s hub for politics, policy, and the press. We bring influential leaders, policymakers, activists, journalists, and innovative thinkers to connect the Colby community to public affairs. Through our integrated approach of dialogue, experiential learning, and interdisciplinary collaboration, we empower students to think critically, engage meaningfully, and drive change.
Spring ‘In the News’ Slate Finalized
Letter from the Executive Director
Dear Friends of the Goldfarb Center,
College should be an easy place to have hard conversations. That idea is at the heart of our work at the Goldfarb Center.
Two years ago, we launched In the News as a small experiment. We did not know what it would become. Today it has grown into one of the most distinctive features of civic life at Colby: a weekly forum where students engage directly with leading voices in politics, policy, and the press. Students ask the questions and help moderate and shape the conversations.
This spring, we averaged 178 students per event — a 42% increase from our first semester. Nearly one in three Colby students attended at least one conversation. And over four semesters, we have hosted 47 speakers: senators, governors, former cabinet secretaries, journalists, scientists, activists, policy experts, and even a comedian. You can read our full spring report here.
Yet, what makes the series special is not simply who comes to campus or how many students show up. What makes In the News matter is the quality of the questions, the seriousness of the engagement, and the sense among students that this is their conversation to lead.
What we are building is bigger than a speaker series. Our goal is to grow a culture in which students learn how to engage difficult conversations with thoughtfulness, confidence, and integrity. This ambition is also shaping the next chapter of Goldfarb’s work. This year, I began co-teaching a new seminar with Professor Joe Reisert called “Rebuilding Democracy Through Discourse: Theory and Practice”. Our intention is to offer this course every year. Together, the course and In the News reflect a broader commitment at the Goldfarb Center: helping students think clearly, ask better questions, and wrestle seriously with ideas that challenge them.
We are proud of what we have built, and even more excited about where it can go from here. Thank you for your support and for helping us deepen Colby’s culture of inquiry, conversation, and engagement.
With gratitude,
Alison
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