Resume - Jennifer Nolan, M.A.

EDUCATION

Washington State University. M.A., American Studies, Cross Cultural Studies, 1993

Washington State University. B.A., American Studies, emphasis-Comparative American Cultures, graduated with high honors, 1991

EXPERIENCE

Director, Office of Multicultural Affairs, University of Massachusetts, Lowell.  August 2009-Present

• Serve as a senior staff member in the Division of Student Affairs.
• Serve as a liaison and advisor between University departments to creatively ensure that diversity and inclusion are addressed in creating a welcoming environment and positive experience for students, faculty and staff from varying backgrounds and nationalities.
• Promote the integration of engagement, retention, and student success efforts, leadership programs, and student centered services with the University’s students of color.
• Drive efforts that foster and sustain a diverse and inclusive campus community.
• Work closely with an Engagement and Retention Steering Committee comprised of staff from the Dean of Students Office, Provost’s Office, Enrollment Management, Centers for Learning, Residence Life, Student Activities, Career Services, Alumni, and other appointed members.
• Engage and collaborate with the Enrollment Management and Orientation staff in the outreach, enrollment and orientation of incoming multicultural students.
• Collaborate with appropriate departments regarding University retention initiatives for minority students including the design and implementation of support programs dedicated to promoting students personal and academic success.
• Design, implement, and manage a multicultural peer mentoring program.
• Serve as an advocate and resource for historically underrepresented students regarding issues of transition, as well as academic, social, cultural and personal matters.
• Facilitate the development and facilitation of an “Inclusive Excellence Multicultural Student Advisory Council”.
• Establish and maintain an ongoing assessment and evaluation of the quality of minority student life. Suggest appropriate action to insure a high degree of quality in programs and services.
• Serve as a liaison and advocate between students from underrepresented communities and faculty, staff and administration.
• Serve as a resource for departments on diversity and inclusion-related issues.
• In collaboration with Admissions and Enrollment Management develop a Multilingual Parent Orientation program.
• Train student organizations and student leaders on diversity related topics, such as climate and inclusion, and how they apply to their organizational mission, leadership development, careers, and campus roles.
• Work with relevant campus-wide areas to develop co-curricular support programs and services for multicultural and underrepresented student populations.

Director, Office of Undergraduate Studies (OUS), Colgate University. June 2005 - August 2009

• Develop, oversee, and manage residential pre-freshman summer academic program (OUS Summer Institute—opportunity program).
• Co-Develop the newly opened Center for Learning, Teaching and Research under which the Office of Undergraduate studies and Academic Support Services are housed.
• Develop and enhance initiatives and programming that address issues of stigma, persistence and academic success i.e.—designing programs for all students with built-in understanding of the needs of underrepresented communities.
• Develop initiatives and programming that foster relationships with faculty and administrators across departments and programs that will further both the OUS mission and the mission of The Center for Learning, Teaching, and Research and will make visible to the larger Colgate community the value of the Center and OUS as  important community resources.
• Act as a resource and, when needed, provide training to Resident Advisors, Orientation Links, and other student leaders on issues related to diverse communities and intercultural advancement.
• Identify strategic partnerships and develop collaborative programs that will foster partnerships between OUS /The Center for Learning, Teaching and Research and other units/departments.
• Affirmative Action Officer for Faculty (interim).
• Coordinate the work of the Executive Committee of the Diversity Initiative.
• Attend President’s Staff meetings to represent diversity issues and concerns (as of summer 2007).
• Consultant to the ALANA (African, Latin, Asian, Native American) Affairs Committee.
• Assist in the coordination of the campus-wide Diversity Council.
• Develop and implement alumni programs.                   
  

Director, ALANA Cultural Center,Colgate University, July 2003 – June 2005

• Directed day to day operation of the ALANA (African, Latin, Asian, Native American) Cultural Center.
• Provided leadership and a link with key divisions and programs in supporting the University’s effort to build and maintain an inclusive and diverse campus environment.
• Developed and supported initiatives and programming that foster a campus environment that values and actively supports an inclusive and diverse university community where all members are able to thrive and achieve their full potential.
• Worked closely with students, faculty, and staff to develop extra-curricular and co-curricular programs that encouraged interaction and dialogue among community members on issues related to diversity and social justice.
• Served as a resource to students, faculty, staff, and alumni of color.
• Worked in collaboration with faculty and academic programs (such as Africana and Latin American Studies, Asian Studies, Native American Studies, and Women’s Studies) concerned with multicultural issues and education.
• Acted as a resource and, when needed, provided training to Resident Advisors, Orientation Links, and other student leaders on issues related to diverse communities and intercultural advancement.
• Chaired ALANA Cultural Center Advisory Board.
• Coordinated with programs and divisions across the University, development, and implementation of events and programs related to diversity and social justice.
• Served in an advisory and facilitating role for the numerous multicultural student organizations. 
• Helped to develop, and coordinate Diversity Council purpose and meetings, a key component of Colgate’s larger Diversity Initiative.
• Coordinated pre-planning efforts for Colgate’s Diversity Initiative.
• Coordinated all meetings.
• Drafted all written materials including Pre-Planning report that outlined the 64 recommendations that were central to the Diversity Initiative.

University of Minnesota January 1994 – March 2003

Executive Assistant, to the Chair Humphrey of  Institute of Public Affairs/Roy Wilkins Center for Human Relations and Social Justice. June – December 2002

• Managed day-today operations of the Center.
• Researched Requests for Proposals and identified potential funding opportunities.
• Developed concept papers.
• Managed center calendar.
• Developed presentations.
• Wrote articles, reports, grants, proposals and correspondence.
• Responsible for event planning and project management.
• Supervised student staff.

Assistant to the Vice President, Office of the Vice President for Campus Life and Executive Vice Provost.February – June 2002

• Developed Power Point presentations and speeches for the Vice President.
• Assisted in strategic planning process.
• Assisted in the coordination of a national search for Vice Provost for Multicultural Affairs.
• Coordinated review of the Student Code of Conduct.
• Assisted in the coordination of the promotion and tenure review process.

Special Assistant to the Vice President, Office of the Vice President for Multicultural Affairs. January 1994 – January 2001

• Responsible for assisting in the carrying out of unit functions and responsibilities.
• Acted as staff and personal representative of the Vice President at various meetings, conferences and events.
• Liaison for the Vice President to the President's Minority Advisory Committees, briefed committees on pertinent University programs, issues and concerns, and briefed the President's Office and Vice President's Office on committee issues and concerns.
• Speech writer for the Vice President.
• Head writer for the department which included writing articles, reports, grants, proposals and highly sensitive and political correspondence.
• Handled complaints of discrimination and when needed worked with the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action to address complaints through appropriate conflict resolution process.
• Developed and implemented diversity training for various departments and programs.
• Developed and implemented diversity training for faculty.

Instructor/Lecturer, Chicano Studies, Women’s Studies, Freshman Seminar Program(s). August 1995 – May 2001

• Taught 2-3 courses per year.  Courses included:
  • La Chicana (course centered on Mexican American Women—writers, activists, etc)
  • Las Mujeres (Women’s Studies course focused on U.S. Latina experience)
  • The Dynamics and Complexity of Identity in a Multicultural World (Freshman Seminar Program—writing intensive course. I co-developed this course)

   

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

• National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE)
• National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA)
• National Abolition Hall of Fame (affiliated with Colgate University’s Upstate Institute) 2004-present
  • Current board member (Cabinet of Freedom)
  • Cultural Diversity Committee
  • Induction Committee

SELECTED PAPERS, REPORTS

The State of Diversity at Colgate University- Memo/Brief co-authored, Colgate University, May 2007

Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in College Completion and Achievement:

Current Initiatives, New Ideas, and Assessment - Team project for the Teagle Foundation led by Cornell University, September 2006

Annual Diversity Report(s) - Colgate University, 2004, 2005 (2006 in progress)

Diversity Pre-Planning Report - Colgate University, 2003-04

The Emerging Leaders Program: A Multicultural Model - University of Minnesota, Humphrey Institute for Public Affairs, January 2003 

The Community of Scholars Program: Addressing the Needs of Graduate Students of Color at a Predominantly White Institution, University of Minnesota, 1998

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS

Diversity and Classroom Climate: Using Personal Story to Create Classroom Connections,

But We Are Not the Same, Creative Approaches to Undoing Racism Using Theater and Creative Autobiography,

Arts and Activism: Social Justice Theater as Vehicle for Anti-Racism Work,

Campus-Wide Diversity Initiative: The Case for Intercultural Advancement.

Colgate University, ALANA Cultural Center: A Model of/for Inclusivity, Re-Centering the Classroom: Creating Deep Learning from Multiple Perspectives.

Conversations at the Crossroads, the Changing Landscape of Diversity: A Systemic Approach

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