In this episode of Conversations @ the Salt Line, host Wesley Dixon chats with former BBC journalist Laura Trevelyan, who recently learned that her ancestors were absentee slave owners in Grenada. Wes and Laura engage in a conversation about her family's complicated history and what reparatory justice might look like in Grenada or other places with a history of enslavement.

Recorded on 2/20/25

In this episode of Conversations @ the Salt Line, host Wesley Dixon chats with Vassar alum Kleaver Cruz '11 about their book, "The Black Joy Project." Wes and Kleaver engage in a dynamic conversation about the concept of joy and other emotions (or states of being) that paradoxically exist alongside joy.

In this episode of Conversations @ The Salt Line, host Wesley Dixon chats with Torrey Maldonado '96, an educator and author who served as Vassar's 2025 Commencement speaker. Dixon and Maldonado talked about his most recent novel "Hands" and how the themes of the novel are applicable to teenagers, college graduates, and older adults.

In this episode of Conversations @ the Salt Line host Wesley Dixon chats with Naomi Seligman '55, Oracle board member and senior partner at Ostriker von Simson. Wes and Naomi talk about her time at Vassar, the legacy of her mentor, Vassar alum and professor, Grace Hopper '28, and Seligman's own career and experience as a successful entrepreneur in the technology sector.

In this episode of Conversations @ the Salt Line host Wesley Dixon chats with Lloyd Braun '80 who served as Chairman of ABC Entertainment Group among other roles. Wes and Lloyd talk about the evolution of the entertainment industry and the role of the internet in shaping the media landscape.

In this episode of Conversations @ the Salt Line host Wesley Dixon chats with Dr. Michelle Monje '98 who is a 2021 recipient of the MacArthur “Genius” award and the Milan Gambhir Professor of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology at Stanford University School of Medicine. Wesley and Dr. Monje discuss the intersections of clinical care and research as it relates to pediatric oncology and explore the complex ethical questions associated with Dr. Monje's groundbreaking research.

In this episode of Conversations @ the Salt Line host Wesley Dixon chats with author Robert Jones Jr. about his debut novel "The Prophets," which served as the first-year common reading for the students in the Vassar Class of 2028. With "The Prophets" as the backdrop, Wesley and Robert discussed themes of humanizing complex individuals, navigating marginalized identities, and experiencing deep love. Tune in for a dynamic conversation about an award-winning novel.

In this episode of Conversations @ The Salt Line, host Wesley Dixon chats with Minerva Tantoco ’86, who was the keynote speaker at Vassar’s 2025 Sophomore Career Connections program. Minerva has served as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for several finance and technology companies and also served as the first CTO for the City of New York. Wes and Minerva explored the intersections between technology, innovation, and equity, and discussed the role of a liberal arts education in an increasingly AI-oriented world.