For Vicki R. Muller ’83, it was indeed a happy Homecoming.

For the past three years, the current Wofford Alumni Association Board of Directors president has worked with the Wofford Black Alumni Association and its leadership team of Ellis Colvin ’83 and Robert Mickle ’85 to realize a dream — a dream of a place on campus all students can call home. Over Homecoming weekend, the Meadors Multicultural House was officially dedicated in the Stewart H. Johnson Greek Village.

“Today is the culmination of three years of hoping, planning, building and dreaming,” says Muller. “Today is an awesome day.”

The dream was made a reality through the financial support of James Meadors ’81 (above) and the entire Meadors family, including Bishop M.L. “Jack” Meadors ’55, James’ father (below with Wofford students).

Care of Wofford — as well as care of others — is nothing new to the Meadors family, a legacy that began with

Marshall LeRoy Meadors ’24 and has continued through nine Wofford alumni spanning four generations. Jack also served on the Wofford College Board of Trustees, a post James accepted in June.

“Our family has always been very conscious about the need to bring people together,” says Jack Meadors. “This has been a priority for us, starting with my mom and dad. Segregation was something we wanted to confront when we had an opportunity.”

When Jack heard from his son about the Black Alumni Association’s desire to build a multicultural house for all students, he knew it was a perfect fit. 

“We got excited about it,” he says.

The Meadors aren’t the only ones excited. Many Wofford students, including members of the Association of Multicultural Students and National Pan-Hellenic Council organizations, see endless possibilities.

“The Meadors Multicultural House isn’t just a building made of brick and mortar,” said Resharia Keller ’19 during the celebration, a native of Greenwood, S.C., and president of the Association of Multicultural Students. “It’s a home for those seeking a place to call their own. It represents community, positive change on our campus and future opportunities for collaboration and connection we can’t even begin to imagine.”

For James Meadors, it feels good to give, and he hopes the house will be a place where differences are embraced. “A student exposed to a diverse environment is automatically richer in their knowledge and perspective of the world,” he says. “To make the world a better place for everyone should be our goal. As our alma mater, we believe that to help accomplish that, diversity is not only important at Wofford, but is essential to the institution’s survival.”

Jonathan Franklin ’15, a journalism master’s student at Georgetown University, agrees. “The house is a symbol of diversity, inclusion and purpose,” he says. “Wofford, for many years, has been taking steps to increase the diversity efforts on campus when it comes to students of color, programming and awareness of issues affecting minority students. The Meadors Multicultural House will hopefully build this bridge that the campus needs in order to showcase and support all students.” 

President of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. Alex Hardy ’19, from Spartanburg, S.C., is happy for a place his fraternity can call home. “I’m grateful that this house will give our group visibility and a voice on campus that will only enhance the already strong Wofford community. I can’t wait to use this house for many years to come.”

by Annie Schott Mitchell