What do you do?

I began working at Oberlin College in the summer of 2000 as Assistant Dean of Students and Director of the Multicultural Resource Center. In my work with the Multicultural Resource Center (MRC), I provide support for historically disenfranchised student communities and design and implement diversity programs for the campus community. I also manage three emergency funds for students with demonstrated financial need. This is one part of my job that gives me real satisfaction because it allows me to help students in a time of crisis. I also oversee the Edmonia Lewis Center for Women and Transgender People (formerly known as the Women’s Resource Center). The ELC is a collective of students, staff and faculty who work together to provide resources and support for women and transgender students and issues.

How does the MRC impact student life?

I think the MRC impacts the lives of all students at Oberlin College. We work with admissions to educate prospective students about the services and resources offered by the MRC. Upon the arrival of new students, the MRC does outreach to students of color and lgbt students to encourage them to get involved in MRC programming and to utilize our office as a resource. And we continue to reach out to all students after their first year at Oberlin. There are a number of ways for students to get involved in the MRC—share an idea for a program, attend events, or browse our small library in Wilder 208. As a resource center, we provide books, videos, periodicals, and human resources to aid students in their thinking about issues of diversity and multiculturalism. The breadth and quantity of programs offered by the MRC provide students with ample opportunities to become involved in the MRC and be impacted by the work that we do.

What are you most looking forward to in the upcoming semester?

I am looking forward to finally having a full staff! The MRC has been understaffed since June 2002 and with the departure of Elizabeth Jones, the Latino Community Coordinator, in November of last semester, we have been operating with two of our usual four Community Coordinators. This has made it quite a challenge for the MRC to continue to offer the kind of support to which the Oberlin College community has become accustomed. The MRC search committee has been working diligently and we hope to fill both the Africana and Latino Community Coordinator positions soon.

How do you see the MRC moving forward in the wake of the events of last semester?

The MRC is always moving forward. The last two semesters were difficult for my office, from the initial decision to eliminate the intern positions, to their temporary reinstatement, to the recent decision to extend the term of the Community Coordinator positions (from June 2003 to June 2004). This most recent decision will provide a kind of temporary stability for the MRC. President Dye has convened a Task Force on Diversity and Multiculturalism, which will examine diversity at Oberlin in a very broad sense. The Task Force will make recommendations on how to further improve the structure of the MRC and provide support for diversity and multiculturalism at Oberlin. I am looking forward to working with the Task Force in the coming months.