The BIPOC Unity Center is thrilled to officially announce two exciting recent new additions to our professional staff for the 2023-24 academic year! Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Cliff-Simon Vital and Radeana Hastings who fill two important vacancies within the Center.
Cliff-Simon Vital (He/They) officially began their tenure as Assistant Director of the BIPOC Unity Center on August 7, 2023. Cliff-Simon arrives at IC following a two-year appointment within the Office of Residential Life at Cornell University. During their time across town on East Hill, Cliff-Simon has a diverse background of experiences spanning multiple functioning areas within the higher education industry. Cliff-Simon has been an mission-driven advocate and champion for students and is looking forward to continuing this important work as a key member of the BIPOC Unity Center and Student Affairs and Campus Life teams here at IC.
As an Afro-Haitian, Cliff-Simon hopes to increase the sense of belonging on campus by advocating for BIPOC students at IC in addition to cultivating a community of care, growth, and learning. Cliff-Simon’s purpose and passion areas include supporting LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and International first-year students and supporting the development of their multicultural competency and awareness. If you would like to welcome Cliff-Simon, you can email them at cvital@ithaca.edu.
Radeana Hastings (She/Her) officially began her appointment as the new Program Coordinator for the BIPOC Unity Center on Monday, September 18. Radeana joins IC having recently earning her Master of Science degree in Counseling, specializing in Higher Education Student Development and Leadership, from East Connecticut State University in Windsor, Connecticut. During her time at ECSU, she served as a Graduate Intern within the University's Intercultural Center, playing a primary role in organizing and advising multiple cultural programs, which included initiating ECSU's inaugural "Cultural Fest" event and Women of Color Circle Talk series. Radeana also served in additional internship roles at both Central Connecticut State University and the University of Connecticut, making an impact in a variety of student-facing student affairs capacities.
Radeana is a Jamaican-American who firmly believes in the Jamaican national motto, "out of many one people." To Radeana, the motto means that we all contribute to the Jamaican culture out of the many cultures on the small island of Jamaica. This motto has taught Radeana that many things are interconnected and shaped how she has planned and developed her programming.
While at Ithaca College, Radeana hopes to bring her Challenge and Support self-mission to assist students in exploring and achieving their personal and professional goals. You can welcome Radeana by emailing her at rhastings@ithaca.edu.
The additions of Cliff-Simon and Radeana bring a wealth of knowledge, passion, and dedication to the BIPOC Unity Center mission, and we are excited about the positive impact they will undoubtedly have on our community. We look forward to their contributions and the continued growth of our center.