A Note to My Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management:
Gratitude practice abounds in the month of November. You may keep lists of things that bring you joy or write in a journal to reflect on things you are thankful for each day. These are great practices and even better habits but many of us lose sight as to why. We do these things because they make us happier, kinder, humbler, and more resilient.
Resiliency is a mindset of growth. It is grit and the determination to keep going forward. It does not mean the absence of failure but rather the absence of accepting failure as a limitation. COVID-19 has forced each of us to look at our own resiliency and has taught us just how resilient we truly are. With every obstacle the virus has thrown at us, we have found creative solutions. We have learned new modalities of engaging with students, families, and each other through virtual open houses, activities, events, open forums, counseling sessions, telehealth, and more. We have grown our social media reach and found new ways to connect with our community. We have worked tirelessly to keep our Millersville community safe, while still making sure they are supported both physically and emotionally.
Of course, we all have days when we feel depleted, but we know we can’t live there. We have too much work to do. We have students, parents, and co-workers who need us. This is why I continue to stress the importance of self-care. Resiliency does not mean you never rest. It means we must take care of ourselves to be fully there for others. We must take care of ourselves to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
I am grateful for the resiliency of our SAEM team. You are my greatest assets and I appreciate each and every one of you. Thank you for facing the challenges of 2020 with me. Thank you for your patience, kindness, and support. Thank you for walking, not just talking, our EPPIIC values, and thank you for your part in our collective resiliency.
Jasmine Kelliehan, president and Kharif Dandy, vice president of the University’s Cultural Greek Council
Construction of the Divine Nine and Cultural Greek Council Unity Plots, a walkway that includes 12 plots representing the traditional Black Greek lettered organizations and other Latinx fraternities and sororities, is underway on Millersville University’s campus. Work on the walkway, located along Shenks Lane near the Student Memorial Center, will continue through the fall semester.
This project honors the long-established history and service of these organizations, many of which are presently represented with active chapters at Millersville. It serves as a walkway and gathering place for members of the organizations.
Group photo at the groundbreaking for the Divine Nine and Cultural Greek Council Unity Plots. Three of the organizations are represented.
“Millersville will become the first predominantly white institution in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education to dedicate plots joining Cheyney University, which was not only the first in the State System but also one of the first in the nation,” said Dr. Daniel A. Wubah, president of Millersville. “This is a wonderful way to honor our EPPIIC value of inclusion. We are proud to add the plots as a permanent fixture to our campus.”
The Cultural Greek Council at MU spearheaded the planning of this project with support from other internal offices.
Simone Terrell of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., at the groundbreaking.
“It is a true honor to recognize these organizations and the significant role they play in the lives of our students of color and the larger Millersville community,” said Brian Hazlett, vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. “The Cultural Greek Council Unity Plots and walkway will provide a place on campus for alums, students and the public to come and recognize these multicultural Greek lettered organizations.”
Jasmine Kelliehan, class of 2021, is a social work major at Millersville and the president of the University’s Cultural Greek Council. She also serves as president of Delta Sigma Theta, Lambda Gamma Chapter. “Looking back into history, the significance of Cultural Greek Plots is far greater than we could understand,” said Kelliehan. “Recognizing the strength and determination carried by our founders and other leaders who came before us continues to shape who we as a council are today. In the 1900s we had to fight to be recognized. Millersville University becoming the first predominantly white institution in PASSHE to establish Greek plots is a monumental moment. The legacies that paved the platforms to which each organization stands on today will continue for many generations to come.”
“These plots serve as a powerful symbolic and physical reminder of the strength and resilience shown by the founders and members of the Divine Nine and the Cultural Greek Council,” said Dr. Felicia Brown-Haywood, Chief Diversity Officer at Millersville. “Inclusion is creating a campus community where differences are welcomed and respectfully heard and where every individual feels a sense of belonging. These plots are certainly a step in that direction.”
Almost 200 alumni and friends of Millersville made gifts and pledges to support this important project, contributing more than $170,000 to date.
“We all have pride in our individual organizations, yet there is unified pride with the Divine Nine and Latinx organizations,” said one Millersville alum who asked to remain anonymous on the belief that the project was much bigger than one organization or individual. “We collectively work together for the betterment of the Millersville community through volunteer service and giving back.”
The National Pan-Hellenic Council, which is composed of nine international Greek lettered sororities and fraternities, was established in 1930 at Howard University. The earliest plots and memorials were built at Howard University in the 1920s, and since then, many other colleges and universities have established their own cultural plots to honor these organizations and others. The Cultural Greek Council at MU includes not only NPHC organizations but also National Multicultural Greek Council, Inc. and the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations. These organizations were founded for service, scholarship and social uplift of their communities, to de-emphasize the social side of fraternity and sorority life.
Fall is upon us and with it comes a transformation of weather and
a transformation of outlook. This is a time to reflect and embrace change even during
the most unique semester we have ever experienced.
Much of our work has
changed from how it looked even just six months ago. Many of us are at home or
working in shifts. We are missing our students and each other and finding more
and more that our work has perhaps only increased with the distance. Despite
all that has come our way, our team members have exemplified leadership. We
have mapped out direction from uncertainty and continued to test the boundaries
of our creativity and abilities as we navigate supporting our students and
engaging them in a socially distant and remote environment, all while staying
connected to each other.
I continue to stress
just how important it is to keep our lines of communication open. It is only
through dialogue that we can stay connected to our students and our entire community.
Sharing, collaborating, and connecting keep us progressing forward. Something
that has not changed throughout these months of remote working and learning has
been our commitment to being focused on the students we serve. Through compassion we continue to move
forward and model our values for our students and our campus communities. We
believe in the power of we because we are stronger together! As student affairs and enrollment management professionals we must continue to lead by example for our students and the teams we serve.
