Director’s Corner: Unity Multicultural Education Center (UMEC)

It hardly seems like the committed staff of UMEC has had time to come up for air since graduation back in May. “Those lazy crazy-hazy days of summer,” Nat King Cole sung about have been consistently “crazy-hazy” for us.  The majority of the summer months have been devoted to juggling workloads with one staff vacancy and absence of cherished assistant Deb Ellis, who works ten months. Dutifully planning activities for 2012-13 and preparing for BRIDGE Summer pre-orientation has been the primary focus.  Coordinating efforts for the entire academic year, while most of the campus community is mentally (and literally physically) on vacation mode, requires tremendous dedication whether its 50 or 99 degrees outside.

In my spare time, a search was conducted to fill the UMEC Assistant Director position. After one candidate withdrawal, twelve Skype interviews, and five on-campus interviews and presentations later, one individual eagerly accepted. He will be greeted cordiality in true Gonzaga fashion his first week – meetings and a stack of projects! (See staff highlight below)

Although the workload hasn’t slowed down much this summer, occasional visitors, postcards and even text messages, I receive from students who are miles away, are inspirational reminders that our efforts are not in vain and reiterates that UMEC helps many find a sense of belonging at Gonzaga.

Throughout the year, don’t forget to check out the UMEC homepage for upcoming events.  Remember to rejuvenate yourselves during the remaining lazy crazy-hazy summer days!

-Tracy Ellis-Ward, Director of UMEC

Staff Highlight: Meet Randy Corradine

Randy Corradine is the newest addition to the Unity Multicultural Education Center team.

He has spent the past seven years on staff at Evergreen State College where he held multiple responsibilities including managing conditionally admitted students, strategic diversity recruitment, and designing and administering training specific to inclusion and equity. Randy was also very engaged with service in Olympia and devoted countless hours to the South Sound YMCA, coaching, managing the late night teen program, and training volunteers.

He enjoys reading and writing for FUN and indicated that he “loves language and the power of words.”  He is currently working on a novel with a working title – Memoir: Being Between Blue-Line Boundaries.  He also enjoys hip-hop music spoken word, and rap concerts, all of which inspire him and are in part a cultural recognition of race in America. Randy is also a self-proclaimed fitness and nutrition guru who loves to work out…so snag him up for your intramural team!

One quirky talent he developed in his youth as a result of being a clown in the children’s circus was tumbling and juggling. These skills will come in handy working at Gonzaga, as there is always a balancing act of sorts happening in Student Life!  Welcome Randy!!!

BRIDGE

BRIDGE (Building Relationships In Diverse Gonzaga Environments) is an inspirational start to freshman year at Gonzaga University. 2012 marks the ninth year of the pre-orientation program that targets incoming students and their families, from underrepresented backgrounds as well as first-generation students.  BRIDGE serves as an intimate introduction to students and families who desire to make a smooth transition to campus life. A range of informational sessions, interactive workshops, and fun activities are all part of the five-day agenda.

This year each B-CORE leader was a former BRIDGE baby. We are working hard to pull everything together so that participants have an amazing welcome to our community and experience sense of belonging. Many volunteers who serve as counselors throughout the week were also former BRIDGE babies. Everyone who has taken partin BRIDGE, either as a participant, counselor, or speaker, continue to express how much BRIDGE has positively impacted them. The chance to build instant community that evolves into a family away from home is a key component that entices many former participants to graciously volunteer year after year.

The magic of BRIDGE starts Sunday, August 19, and due to increasing popularity, registration is already full!  Thanks to those of you who have already committed to helping us keep the tradition of BRIDGE thriving at Gonzaga.

-B-Core Leaders 2012:  Michaela Brown, Naseeb Bhangal & Ruben Yamada

The B-Core student leaders are currently having a blast planning BRIDGE this summer and thrilled about few new enhancements. This year’s BRIDGE theme is Take Part. B-CORE hopes that by “taking part” in campus resources and building networks before classes begin, new students will be able to successfully take part academically, socially, spiritually, and ultimately embrace Gonzaga’s traditions throughout their collegiate experience.