April 9 — On December 8, 2025, Hampshire College hired Alexandria “Alex” Donkor to fill the position of Senior Director of Residential Life & Community Standards. Donkor sees students’ housing experience as a central feature of the collegiate journey. She told Leapfrog that “residence halls and the mods are more than just buildings where students sleep. They are spaces where students learn how to live in community, support one another, and grow into the people they are becoming.”
Donkor traces her approach to a philosophy called the “Beloved Community”, a framework most famously championed by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Throughout her personal journey in college and from her positions in residential life roles at Buffalo State University and the University of Pikeville, she observed that “misunderstandings often sit at the root of campus conflicts”. Thus, Donkor identified that a salient objective of her leadership is to promote collective understanding while educating the campus community on the shared reality that “diversity from varied backgrounds and experiences is what makes the world beautiful.”
In addition to applying the ethos of the “Beloved Community” on campus, Donkor aims to elevate the importance of “living, learning communities” (LLCs). She noted that programs similar to LLCs, such as identity-based housing, exist at Hampshire, but typically are not referenced as LLCs. From her most recent residence life position at Mount Holyoke College where she oversaw more than 20 LLCs, she noticed its positive impact for individual students and the campus community. Thus, Donkor plans to “gradually build” Hampshire’s existing program and ensure that “there is a staff member or faculty who do programs, who do make sure the mission and the vision of that program is being fulfilled.”
Donkor also emphasized that maintaining accountability is central to fostering a healthy community. When enforcing community standards, she believes that “the person is not the problem. Sometimes we are addressing the behavior.”
Donkor is also working with Facilities and Grounds to improve the upkeep and overall environment of the residential buildings, including plans to refresh common areas.
REVIEWED BY: Blaise Paine, Ike Rubin, Kenzie Doherty, Alexis Espinoza
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