Meet & Greet: Chris Jorgenson

Chris Jorgenson has been on campus for only a couple of months, but he'll tell you that the fundamental uniqueness of the place is definitely not lost on him. 

Oberlin's Assistant Vice President and Dean for Intercultural Engagement, Jorgenson oversees the five offices that make up the Center for Intercultural Engagement: Disability and Access, Religious and Spiritual Life, International Student and Scholar Services, Multicultural Resource Commons, and Gender, Sexuality, and Attraction Initiatives. Together, they make up a key pillar of student support, and you can find them all on the first and (mostly) second floor of Wilder Hall.

We caught up with the transplanted Wisconsinite to learn about his path to Oberlin, how he's acclimating to life here, and the outlook he brings to his work—plus, the song he’ll have ready for karaoke night at the ’Sco...

Why do you do what you do?

My personal journey through higher education was a circuitous one. I began my collegiate career a closeted, first-gen student from a tiny midwestern town, with a high GPA, zero study skills, even worse time management, and a propensity for avoiding actively seeking guidance of any kind. Unsurprisingly, my tumultuous academic performance ended before graduation: I dropped out and moved to California. Nearly a decade later, I returned to finish what I’d started, this time a focused, “non-traditional,” proudly queer 32-year-old who understood the strength of asking for help. 

A handful of degrees later, my atypical collegiate history continues to inform my work as I walk alongside students engaging their own and others’ varied and complex histories and lived experiences. Providing support and guidance to college students is a true source of joy for me. 

What does a typical day look like for you?

At the moment, a typical day involves soaking up as much info about the Oberlin ecosystem as I can, in community with a marvelous group of dedicated professionals.

What's something people might be surprised to learn about your work or your office?

My approach to intercultural engagement in higher education is more an invitation than an edict. This work is a complex adventure, and there are things to learn about yourself and your community at every turn—and some are surprising and/or unexpected.

If your office had a theme song, what would it be?

How about a movie title: Everything Everywhere All at Once.

What makes Oberlin special to you?

Oberlin has been on my radar for quite some time. Our unique identity as both a college and conservatory positions us to explore complex issues and experiences via interdisciplinary creative expression and artistry. What a gift! Performance offers a potent—and effective—avenue for self-exploration and advocacy, and the Center for Intercultural Engagement is uniquely positioned to accompany students on that journey.

What's your favorite Oberlin space so far?

There are so many spaces I've yet to explore, but Tappan Square offers a lovely meditative moment between the demands of a hectic day. At the same time, the Tappan squirrels' tendency to lock eyes with you without so much as flinching is both curious and slightly unnerving.

What's something you've learned that you wish all students could know?

Anyone passionate about social justice feels the weight of its urgency in their heart and bones. It can feel isolating and overwhelming. Community is the antidote, and it often begins with a single conversation, an openness to making peace with one's own imperfection, and a consistent dance with humility and discomfort. And joy! Justice without joy is an empty victory.

What do you enjoy doing away from work?

While I am certainly more extroverted at work, I am otherwise an introvert. I love quiet. I'm a film buff, so you'll often find me in a theater. Or lost in a book. Or strategizing a visit with friends. Or planning a trip somewhere. Or sitting in a quiet space thinking about life. The rest of the time is spent explaining to my extroverted partner why quiet is so amazing.

Please share a fun fact about you or something you're good at!

My karaoke go-to is “Alone” by Heart. In the original key, of course.