Being a Raider
I chose Mount Union because of the connections that I made with key staff members and upper-class students during my visits to campus and speaking with faculty members. While sports brought me to Mount Union, it was the people that kept me there such as the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Department of Education (Dr. Schneller and Dr. Pratt)! I love Mount Union because of how key members of the administration are personally invested in the success of its students. The connections that are built are genuine and that shows with the invovlement of campus advisors, coaches, and faculty members.
I was introduced to the field of higher education during my years of campus employment in the Office of Alumni Engagement. During my time working there, I got a chance to meet with various alumni but also work with students and getting them involved in alumni initiatives on campus to form connections between alumni and current students. It was during these years that I grew an interest in wanting to pursue graduate school for higher education to find my path.
Being involved in student organizations such as the Black Student Union showed me how impactful being a part of a campus organization could be. I look back and realize how important BSU was for Mount Union as it provided a lot of students who were away from home and may have experienced cultural shock with a home away from home where they can feel comfortable with themselves.
Staying Connected
I stay connected to Mount Union through the realtionships I have built as a student with current faculty and staff members who are still on campus. These individuals keep me informed on all that's going on and provide opportunities for me to still connect with students. I am also invested in the success of Brothers Building Bonds as these are still young men I stay in contact with and help them on their journey regarding personal and professional development.
Current Occupation
At Allegheny College, I work to cultivate a brave, supportive, and nuturing environment for the Allegheny community while concentrating on students from historically and systemically marginalized populations. In collaboration with the diversity team members and other campus and community partners, I'm responsible for developing and consulting on creation of campus-wide diversity and inclusion programs and events to highlight and recognize the various cultural, heritage, and religious celebrations.
In my current role of IDEAS Center Director, I enjoy that I get to return the favor and become the mentor that I had during my undergraduate years. Being a student advocate is an extremely fulfilling career for me as diversity and inclusion has always been a passion for me. The best part of this position is getting able to connect with the students each day and provide a space for them to come where they can be themselves. As a first generation college student myself, students can find comfort that I can realte to the struggles they are going through and knowing which resources to connect them with.
Career Goals
My one goal I would like to accomplish during my career is to just have students who can say that I helped them on their journey to success. Navigating a predominantly white institution (PWI) college campus is no the easiest thing to do for some students, and I would like to make the process as easy as possible for all students.