center for student Diversity

History

In 1969, the Center for Student Diversity (CSD) was started. It was first named the Office of Minority Affairs (OMA) at that time. The then President, Jim Fisher appointed Dr. Julius Chapman as the first Dean of Minority Affairs. Organizationally, OMA reported to the Provost of Academic Affairs. From its inception, OMA was established to help facilitate the access and integration of Black students into the university and to advocate on their behalf. In the early 80's, the office was moved to the Division of Student Services and reported to the then Vice President, Dorothy Siegel.

The office has been through several name changes in its more than 35 years of existence. Today, it is so named because the institution recognizes that diversity is an important resource, thus programs and services are provided - financial, human, and educational - for ALL students, faculty, and staff of the university community.

Past Names
Office of Minority Affairs
Office of Multicultural Student Life
Office of Diversity Resources
Center for Student Diversity – current name

Past OMA/ODR Leadership
Dr. Julius Chapman - Dean
Mr. Thomas Knox - Dean
Dr. Lillian Anthony - Assistant Vice President
Dr. Helen Giles-Gee - Assistant Vice President
Dr. Camille Clay - Assistant Vice President
Mr. Art King - current Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs for Diversity

In the early '70s, Dean Chapman established the African American Cultural Center (AACC) and hired James Whitaker to direct the center and support the needs of students. During that time, the Center was located in the basement of Van Bokkelen Hall. It was a brightly colored haven for African American students, faculty and staff. Being the programming arm of the Office of Minority Affairs, the Center provided speakers, concerts, projects, and academic programs and services for students. In addition, the Gospel Choir was formed in 1971. Around that same time, the Black Student Union and the Black Faculty and Administrators Association were organized.

African American Cultural Center (AACC) Directors
James Whitaker
Tony Torain
Mellissia Zanjani
Todd McFadden
Meredith Davis
Yvonne Hardy Phillips                                                                                                                                         Joan E. Maze - current director

Choir Directors Locations
Daisy Harley, Van Bokkelen
Fernando Allen, Media Center
Rodney Whitley

Women's Center Directors
Ms. Leah Schofield
Dr. Phyllis Freeman - current director

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender (LGBT) Student Development                                                      
Maren Greathouse - current director

In 1993, the Division of Student Services was reorganized and the office was clustered according to similarity of function or concern. The diversity cluster comprised of OMA, AACC and the Women's Center. The transition from Minority Affairs entailed a broadening of the office's scope from the concerns of African American students to encompass the many facets of diversity presently represented on the campus: ability, age, gender, race, religion, ethnicity, social class, sexual orientation, and national origin.  In 2007, the cluster added LGBT and Hispanic/Latino & Asian Pacific Islander Student Development to its portfolio.