The Saint Rose Chronicle

Issue date: 10/22/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Jamin Felder Miguel DeJesus in his office as the new Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs.

Last year Karlyne Osepa, Director of Multicultural Office informed The College of Saint Rose announced that in the fall of 2008 she would be resigning from her position to continue her schooling career. After an excessive brainstorming a panel of students and administrators came together to figure out who would take on that position and carry on Karlyne's legacy. She has put in a lot of effort and implemented many ideas into the Multicultural Program for The College of St. Rose and the public did not wish for a random individual to replace her. This position needed someone with skills, professionalism and character.

This fall the decision was made and Miguel DeJesus was chosen to take on the task of being the new Director of The Multi Cultural Affairs. DeJesus, who is 26 years old and a Brooklyn native, received his Undergraduate degree from SUNY New Paltz and his graduate degree from University at Albany both degrees obtained in Africana Studies.

DeJesus was highly active during his undergraduate years and understands what it means to be a leader. Miguel was a Resident Assistant and he also reinstated the SUNY New Paltz Chapter of NAACP .

"When myself and another individual reinstated the chapter of NAACP at SUNY New Paltz, there was only a handful of people at the first meeting, but as time went on we saw improvement because we were patient and believed in our dream," said DeJesus.

A vital component that Karylene Osepa has implemented into the Multicultural Program has been the Mentor and Mentee training program. This program serves for all students that attend The College of St. Rose. The goal of this program is to pair upperclassmen, who were typically mentees when they were freshmen, to mentor the first year students, leading them through their first year, getting them acquainted with the campus and giving advice about being away from family members for the first time. Mentors also help their mentees academically. Most of the students who are active participants in the Mentor and Mentee Program are primarily students of African American, Latino, Asian and Native American descent.

DeJesus will continue the Program, but he has asked that all Mentors go through tremendous amounts of vigorous trainings to ensure the campus community that they are without a doubt certified to be a mentor. Various workshops will

Continued...

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