Dear Campus Community,
As we near the midway point of the spring semester, I share this announcement to provide some important updates regarding the BIPOC Unity Center and additional programs within the Division of Student Affairs and Campus Life.
Changes to BIPOC Unity Center Structure
At the beginning of the Spring 2024 semester, we held an in-person meeting that was open to students who regularly interface with the BIPOC Unity Center, First-Generation Center, and students in the MLK Scholars program about some key restructuring occurring within the BIPOC Unity Center intended to better leverage available resources to strategically meet the needs of our campus community.
Effective this spring, Shadayvia Wallace has transitioned to a new title as the Associate Director for the BIPOC Unity Center/Program Director for the MLK Scholar and First-Generation Programs. Under this new model, Shadayvia will continue to lead the supervisory responsibilities of the MLK Scholars and First-Generation programs in addition to providing collaborative support and strategic planning for the BIPOC Unity Center. The First-Generation Center and MLK Scholars programs, while remaining as distinct separate entities, will continue to exist under one larger BIPOC Unity Center umbrella of programs and resources for students.
Several factors weighed in the decision to unite these two programs under a larger umbrella of resources and services offered by the BIPOC Unity Center. The two offices already share an office suite (Campus Center – 3rd Floor), work collaboratively on various programs and initiatives, and share common alignment in goals and missions. This new consolidated structure seeks to provide additional avenues of support for students through the sharing of both professional and student staff and the pooling of financial resources to best meet programmatic needs. The process for formally unifying has already begun and will continue this spring.
Additional Staffing Updates
As shared earlier this spring, Marsha Dawson has accepted the additional role of Interim Director for the BIPOC Unity Center in addition to her responsibilities as the Dean of Student for the Division of Student Affairs and Campus Life. Marsha will continue to provide oversight and staff support for the BIPOC Unity Center through the conclusion of the Spring 2024 semester in May.
Cliff-Simon Vital will continue to serve as Assistant Director for the BIPOC Unity Center, including supervision of the Center’s Peer Educators and associated programs.
The BIPOC Unity Center anticipates hiring for two positions over the coming months. The Center is currently seeking an Administrative Operations Coordinator to provide professional staff support and administrative cohesion across the various programs in the new BIPOC Unity Center umbrella. A national search has also been launched for a new permanent Director for the BIPOC Unity Center, with the goal to have this individual identified and in place prior to the start of the Fall 2024 semester.
For questions regarding these updates, please contact the BIPOC Unity Center directly at bipocunity@ithaca.edu.
Sincerely,
Marsha Dawson
Dean of Students for the Division of Student Affairs and Campus Life
Interim Director, BIPOC Unity Center