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Five Questions with Michael Daniels

Michael Daniels, director of the Student Multicultural Center (SMC), is making a difference at ����ֱ�� State and continuing the legacy of those who came before him. A doctoral candidate in the Educational Administration–Higher Education program, Daniels has worked at ����ֱ�� State since 2015 and previously served as the program coordinator as well as the assistant director for the SMC.

He recently received the President’s Award of Distinction for his success with the programs and initiatives offered by the SMC during the pandemic.

One of those programs is Kupita/Transiciones (K/T), which offers incoming and transfer African American, Latinx, Hispanic, Native American and multiracial students the opportunity to get oriented to college life and be mentored by students with similar backgrounds. Typically, it’s a four-day experience that allows students enrolled in the program to move onto campus ahead of their peers and get to know one another and their mentors.

However, in fall 2020, due to the pandemic, the program had to cut in-person participants by more than half to adhere to COVID-19 restrictions on campus. Some students participated virtually. “We had to limit the number of in-person people and change from a four-day program to a one-day program,” Daniels says. “We tried to have them meet each other, meet their mentors and do some fun things within the health and safety restrictions.”

Despite the setbacks that K/T faced last year, Daniels and the students are hopeful that fall 2021 sessions will offer students the invaluable experience the program is known for. “The goal is getting to students early and helping them develop a meaningful connection to the SMC and ����ֱ�� State,” he says. “To give them people to know and a real community.”

We asked Daniels to tell us more about the SMC community and his experience with it:

How would you describe the SMC?

The Student Multicultural Center is a space for students to be their true and authentic selves, especially our students of color. It’s a place where they can feel comfortable and connect with people from different cultures, as well as learn more about their own. ����ֱ�� State has done a phenomenal job of making sure that some really diverse students come to the university, but we want to make sure that they stay at ����ֱ�� State and graduate. So we show them all the resources we have to offer.

What has been your favorite project/initiative at the SMC?

It’s tied between the SMC Leadership Institute and the Male Empowerment Network (MEN). The SMC Leadership Institute is something I helped create. I’m passionate about supporting and developing our young men of color. I want to give them an opportunity to develop their leadership skills—including time management, identity as a leader and that part that makes them feel like, “Wow, I’m really able to make or influence something.”

How can students get involved with the SMC?

Students who have gone through Kupita/Transiciones and return next year can sign up to be a K/T leader. We have the Mindful Mentality series for student leaders to focus on their mental health and well-being and to hear from other student leaders who might have similar struggles and challenges right now.
     We also have MEN (Male Empowerment Network) and Sister Circle. MEN started a 10-year anniversary documentary series in February that’s being shown twice a month with six episodes. We have discussions with the showings that are open to anyone. We had a ton of programming throughout Black History Month [February].
     And for students of color who are graduating, we plan to have a celebration in May. It’s going to be nontraditional in a sense, but we will recognize fall, spring and summer graduates.

What has been the most rewarding part of your position so far?

Watching students walk across the stage at Karamu, especially the students who talked about dropping out at one point or got to their wit’s end, but persevered. That’s super rewarding. Knowing that I contributed in some part to their success makes me happy.
     Karamu Ya Wahitimu/Celebración de los Graduados is our pre-commencement ceremony, held every spring and fall semester, for all our graduating students of color. It connects all the different campuses and really is the capstone of a student’s experience here.

Where do you hope to see ����ֱ�� State in the next 10 years?

I hope that we continue to work on uprooting systems of oppression and making this space welcoming and inviting for all by really addressing the history of this country in a way that’s constructive—so students can feel affirmed when they attend each of our campuses. I also hope we find ways to make college a lot more affordable. I hate hearing that students are struggling financially. We’ve been finding a lot of ways to change the access points for school when it comes to financial issues.

Learn more about the Student Multicultural Center and how you can help support students.
 

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