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Cliff-Simon Vital

Associate Director, BIPOC Unity Center, BIPOC Unity Center
Phone: 607-274-5105
Office: Egbert Hall 345 Campus Center, Third Floor
Specialty: Multicultural Student Support

Cliff-Simon Vital (He/They) started their tenure at IC as the Assistant Director for the Center of IDEAS later renamed the BIPOC Unity Center in August 2023 and was later promoted to Associate Director in July 2024. 

As the Associate Director, Cliff-Simon will:

  • Co-Lead and manage the day operations of the BIPOC Unity Center
  • Oversee, Administer, and Direct the Ithaca Achievement Program
  • Support Identity/Cultural based organizations and Co-Lead the Students of Color Coalition 
  • Lead, implement, and assess program initiatives that support historically underrepresented and under-resourced students (Cafe with BIPOC Unity Center, Unity Fridays, Jumpstart, IC Day of Learning, History Heritage Month)
  • Mentor, educate, and train professional and para-professional full time and student staff 
  • Serve as a Title IX confidential resource

Prior to their arrival at IC, Cliff-Simon spent two academic years working in Housing and Residential Life at Cornell University. Before moving to Ithaca, they graduated with their Master of Science from the Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration (HESAA) program at Canisius University in Buffalo, NY and Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from State University of New York at Oswego. Vital is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Administration with specialization in Higher Education from the University of Rochester. Cliff-Simon describes themselves as a student-first and mission-driven student affairs professional working to be a champion for students. 

Throughout his half decade in Higher Education, Cliff-Simon has been a member or presented at various professional conferences, including CSPA-NYS, NODA, NACA, ACUHO-I, ACPA, JASPA, and NASPA, all national organizations centered on Student Affairs. In addition to their work in Higher Education, Cliff-Simon shares that:

"As an Afro-Haitian American, I hope 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. My purpose and passion in student affairs stems from supporting areas or groups of students who identify as/within LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, International, first generation, and low income backgrounds providing access all the while supporting the learning and development of multicultural competency and awareness".

Cliff-Simon Vital, B.S., M.S., ABD

With their demonstrated history of rich experiences spanning multiple functioning areas within the higher education industry, we are excited to have Cliff-Simon join SACL and the BIPOC Unity Center Team.  

You can connect with Cliff-Simon via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cliffsvital/