by Audrey Griffith
Staff Writer
The University of La Verne welcomes a fresh face to the campus. Alexis Scott, the new Director of Cross Cultural Affairs, works to address and promote diversity among students, faculty and staff.
Scott is originally from Oakland. She studied at San Jose State University and received her degree in English in 1994. Scott went on to graduate school at Clark Atlanta University. There she worked as a residence director for three years. Scott was given a residence director job at UC Riverside, which she held for one year.
“My mom had a stroke and it forced me to resign as residence director. I moved back to Oakland to be with her,” said Scott.
Scott went back to San Jose State University and received her second master’s degree in Higher Education. She received a part-time job at Santa Clara University as program manager at the Multicultural Center. Both Santa Clara University and the University of La Verne were awarded grants by the Irvine Foundation. At that time ULV was looking for a full-time director of Cross Cultural Affairs.
“I was looking for a full time job. Both schools were awarded these grants. La Verne seemed to be the right path to follow,” said Scott.
“At ULV, I am in charge of the cultural programs to promote diversity. Our main focus is to reach out toward the students, and then branch out to faculty and the local community,” said Scott. Scott also plans to receive her doctorate in education at ULV next year.
The purpose of the Multicultural Center is to promote the First Generation program, the Brothers’ Forum, and the Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID) program.
“A student who is the first to go to college in their family has the opportunity here at ULV to apply for first generation scholarships. Those who did not receive a scholarship are still encouraged to come to the first generation events and programs,” said Scott.
The Brothers’ Forum is a support group on campus.
“It is a mentor program especially for the young black men on campus. The student and their mentor, who is either a faculty or staff member at ULV, meet two times a month to discuss problems that are common to only black men,” said Scott. These men also plan events on their own outside of campus. The AVID program is geared toward middle and high school students, public and private, to prepare them for college.
Scott said, “Our focus is on students who are not high achievers. We want to push them to excel.”
Aside from her job at the Multicultural Center, Alexis Scott is also the campus advisor for Delta Sigma Theta, an organization currently in search for its own chapter at ULV.
“There are only three girls and we need 12 to be recognized,” said Scott. Delta Sigma Theta is a historically black sorority. “It is pretty ironic. I was part of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority in college. Our rival was Delta Sigma Theta. Now I am their advisor,” said Scott.
Scott now resides in West Covina. “I want to work with students. I’d rather work one on one with the students instead of being a top administrator or a president. I cannot see myself not working with kids,” said Scott.
