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Whispers
V ol u m e 1
A P u b l i c a t i o n o f t he I U P Af r i ca n A me r i c a n C u l t u r a l C e n t e r
Spring 2011
Below: Chris Moore, WQED-TV, KDKA Radio and
guest speaker at AACC’s precommencement program held on
May 6, 2011
Galen Abdur-Razzaq, world- renowned
Flautist/ Lecturer provided entertainment
following the AACC spring precommencement program.
Inside this Issue
1
AACC Mission Statement
2
AACC Vision Statement/Goals
& Objectives 2010-2011
3
For Your Thought
4.
Cultural Programming Spring 2011
5.
PBCOHE Award Recipients 2011
6.
Fifth Graders Visit from Pittsburgh
8.
AACC Pre-Commencement/End of Year
Programs
11.
Social Justice Awards
13
From the Staff
14
From the Associate Dean/Director
1
The African American Cultural Center(AACC) at
Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) is dedicated
to enhancing multicultural awareness and
racial/cultural sensitivity. Its primary objectives are
to preserve and foster understanding, appreciation,
and knowledge of African American history, culture,
and achievements and demonstrate racial/cultural
diversity. Through educational, cultural, and social
activities and the provision of a facility for informal
exchange, the Center will promote their (Cont’d, p. 2)
understanding and appreciation, and strive to promote growth, development, and interaction
among faculty, staff, students, and others.
AACC Vision Statement
The African American Cultural at IUP will serve as a model facility that inspires diversity work,
underrepresented student’s success and development, and enhanced programming/services that
promote an appreciation of diversity and the historical and cultural achievements of African
Americans and other related or underrepresented groups throughout the region, nation, and the
world.
AACC Goals
and Objectives
2010-2011
1.
Assist the University with achieving its diversity mission.
Objective: Sponsor cultural programming as it relates to preserving and fostering
understanding, appreciation, and knowledge of African American history and culture.
2.
Provide Programming that fosters and demonstrates awareness and sensitivity to racial,
cultural, and multicultural differences.
Objective: Host and/or cosponsor racial/cultural and social-recreational programs
reflective of the history and culture of racial/ethnic minorities, underrepresented groups,
and others as resources and time permit.
3.
Provide educational and/or social/recreational opportunities to help facilitate the college
retention, graduation and satisfaction of African Americans, people of African descent, and
other underrepresented groups, as resources permit.
Objective: Sponsor, co-sponsor, and encourage leadership, personal development, and
honor-recognition opportunities that facilitate student empowerment.
4.
Provide programming and/or services that help foster a positive campus climate.
Objective: Provide opportunities for the campus community, students, and faculty/staff to
interact more closely with people of diverse backgrounds.
(Cont’d)
2
5.
Remain proactive and diligent in operations and services to help insure the achievement of
the overall diversity mission, goals and objectives of the Center, Divison, and University atlarge.
Objective: Continue efforts to seek and implement
sustained, germane, and contemporary
programming, services, and learning, including the
identification and securing of internal/external
funding sources where needed.
(Right: Goldie Barnes, senior, and Hill Harper, keynote
speaker at the 25th Anniversary of the Fattah Graduate
Opportunites Conference for Minorities (nka The National
Conference on Higher Education) held on Febraury 18-20, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
For Your Thought
“The push for accountability and transparency in higher education is driven by a sense that
students in the United States are lagging behind students in other countries” (T. L. Rhodes, 2010).
Below are five learning outcomes that should assist in this area and the AAC&U feels students will
need for the 21st century and beyond.
Figure 1.
The Essential Learning Outcomes
Beginning in school, and continuing at successively higher levels across their college studies, students should prepare
for twenty-first-century challenges by gaining:
KNOWLEDGE OF HUMAN CULTURES AND THE PHYSICAL AND NATURAL WORLD

Through study in the sciences and mathematics, social sciences, humanities, histories, languages, and the
arts
Focused by engagement with big questions, both contemporary and enduring
INTELLECTUAL AND PRACTICAL SKILLS, INCLUDING

Inquiry and analysis

Critical and creative thinking

Written and oral communication

Quantitative literacy

Information literacy

Teamwork and problem solving
Practiced extensively, across the curriculum, in the context of progressively more challenging problems, projects,
and standards for performance
PERSONAL AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, INCLUDING

Civic knowledge and engagement – local and global

Intercultural knowledge and competence

Ethical reasoning and action

Foundations and skills for lifelong learning
Anchored through active involvement with diverse communities and real-world challenges
INTEGRATIVE AND APPLIED LEARNING, INCLUDING

Synthesis and advanced accomplishment across general and specialized studies
Demonstrated through the application of knowledge, skills, and responsibilities to new settings and complex
problems
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Source: Association of American Colleges and Universities, College Learning for the New Global Century: A Report from the
National Leadership Council for Liberal Education and America’s Promise (Washington, DC: Association of American Colleges and
Universities), p, 12.
In Values, Assessing Outcomes and Improving Achievement: Tips and Tools for Using Rubrics,(T.L. Rhodes,ed.), AAC&U, 2010, p.2
Cultural Programming Spring 2011
A number of events highlighted and were
implemented by the AACC during spring 2011. This included
several presentations and programs cosponsored with the
College of Fine Arts; the American Red Cross; Social Equity;
and Aramark Food, Inc. The 21st Annual MLK
Commemorative Day Program and Black History Month
Kick-Off continued to be a major event. It featured a
keynote panel presentation lead by Moderator, Bakari
Kitwanai, author and activist; and panelists Lisa Fager Bediako, Consultant for the Congressional
Black Caucus; Dr. Marc Lamont Hill, Journalist; Joan Morgan,
author of Black Like Barack; and Invincible (Iliana Weaver), rap
artist/grassroots activist. Besides Clifton Brown, artist, who
conducted an exhibit entitled “Reflections in Black: African
American History on Wheels,” IUP Voices of Joy, a student
leader’s reception, and several film showings and student
presenters were among the commemorative day activites.
Shown below are snapshots of various events:
Darryl Van Leer, Actor, presented a
one-man threatrical performance at
the 6 O’clock Series program
on February 14, 2011 entitled
“Power Earth.”
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Clifton Brown and his Black History Month Exhibit helped to
Kick-Off Black History Month 2011 on January 27, 2011 during
the 2011 MLK Commemorative Day activities
Adrienne Danrich posed with Dr. Princes
after her performance during Black History
Month on Februrary 10, 2011
Black History Month Event at Chevy Chase Community Center:
“generation hope: healthy Kids MaKing history”
Members of IUP African Dance Ensemble (left)
and Ritmo Latino Dance Crew (below) performed
at Chevy Chase Community Center
(CCCC)/Indiana County NAACP Annual Black
History Month Potluck Social on February 26,
2011 at Chevy Chase Community Center entitled
“Generation Hope: Healthy Kids Making
History.” Senior and President Alaisha
Robinson of ADE (above) and Ritmo President
(Latin Dance Group) Jennifer Casanova (right)
are seen performing and leading several night’s
routines. Both students are now graduates of
IUP: Alaisha in May 2011, and Jennifer in December
2010.
PBCOHE Award Recipients 2011
Three students from IUP were among the recipients of
the $1,000 PBCOHE (Pennsylvania Black Conference on
Higher Education) scholarship awarded during the
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Shown right: Dr. Ganda Nabi, AACC Program
Assistant, , Quinshayah Williams (recipient), and
Moses Prempeh, AACC Graduate Student.
PBCOHE 41st annual conference in February 2011. The IUP recipients were Indya Marshall,
Quinshayah Williams, and Kathleen Foreman. Besides two (2) AACC staff members, seven
students from IUP Black Student League (BSL) attended the conference as well.
Congratulations are extended to each of the PBCOHE
scholarship recipients!!!
5th Graders
Visit IUP from
Sunnyside K-8
Elementary
School in
Pittsburgh,
PennsylvaniA
Led by Ms. Tina Williams Breyer, the artist whose artistic
work was on display at IUP University Museum from January
21-April 2, 2011, forty-five 5th graders from Sunnyside Elementary School were hosted on
campus by IUP African American Cultural Cultural on March 3, 2011. Nineteen (19) students from
various IUP programs assisted with the children, serving as tour guides and mentors. The children
visited the University Museum to view Ms. Breyer’s exhibit; sat in and participated in several
classes in the College of Education; and had lunch in
Foster Dining Hall with IUP students and the AACC staff.
The children presented us with a special drum and song
tribute after lunch.
Dr. Monte Tidwell, College of Education (COE); Dr.
Michael Hood and the College of Fine Arts; the 20
student-volunteers; Aramark Food Service; and several
COE faculty who graciously welcomed the children to
their classes, helped to make the program possible.
Special thanks are are extended to each and all others
who assisted with the program. The faculty participants and their respective classes were as
follows:
Dr. Anne Creany: Literature for Middle Level, Room 310
Dr. J. Thomas Frantz: Pedagogy II, Room 326
Dr. Shirley Johnson: Maximizing Learning, Davis 320
Dr. Molly Ihli: Reading in the Content Areas, Davis 309
Dr. Kelli Paquette: Language Development, Davis 314
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5th grader’s visit (cont’d)
Dr. Sue Rieg: Intro to Classroom Behavior Mgmt, Pre-K to
Grade 8, Davis 125
Dr. Michelle J. Sobolak: Lit for the Emergent Reader Pre KGrade 1, Davis 325
Other scenes from the children’s visit are shown below:
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AACC Pre-Commencement/End of Year Programs
Following the annual Kwanzaa celebration on
December 11, 2010 that featured artist Tina Williams
Breyer as guest speaker, and Nazu West African Dance
and Drum Ensemble of Baltimore, Maryland as guest
performers, the
African American
Cultural Center
conducted several
receptions as part of
its closing activities.
Pre-commencement
awards were granted at the fall and spring pre-commencement
programs that honored and
recognized 359 diverse
graduating students, while Social Justice/Education Awards
were presented to 130 persons at the office’s End of Year
Reception that was held on April 26, 2011,
With an estimated 650 persons in attendance, the AACC
spring pre-commencement program honored 265 graduating
students and was held for the first time in the newly opened
Kovalchick Convention Center and Athletic Complex. The
interim president , Dr. David Werner provided Opening Remarks
and Dr. Princes followed with a special recognition of the graduates, which included presentation
of a DVD prepared of the class’ journey throughout their college career. Chris Moore of WQEDTV/KDKA Radio presented the Keynote Message, and Galen Abdur-Razzaq, world renowned
Flautist/Lecturer provided entertainment following the program. Dr. Ganda Nabi, program
assistant, assisted with the implementation of the program, as AACC graduate student, Zhiling
“Willa” Wu , coordinated this year’s program. Recipients of the respective awards were as follows:
AACC Fall Pre-Commencement
Program Award Recipients (December 18, 2010)*
Fall 2010 Academic Award Recipients
Melissa Brown
Joshua Boyd
Shurondae Butler
Marleana Carter
Mark Jackson
Deanna Draidfort
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Undergraduate Students
Sarah McElwee
Tasha Mehelich
Matthew Miller
Janice D. Watkins
Tiffany Johnson
Jasmine Jones
Fall 2010 Academic Award Recipients (cont’d)
Undergraduate Students
Stephanie Clermont
Jason Gay
Danielle Graves
Rachel Harris
Shakia Harris
Keeva King
Alicia Ruffin
Timothy Brady
Darniesha Martin
Ayanda Masilela
Kalena Popson
Jennifer Casanova
Apris Walker
Kathryn Wiggins
David Verno
Stepanie Clemont
*Note: All graduating Diverse Students (94 in fall and 265 in spring) were
presented with a Special Recognition Award.
Graduate Students
Alicia M. Bennett**
Moses Kwadzo**
Mathew Gaskins
Joel Holmes
Benjamin Johnston
Felicia Moore
Srinivas Sudadi
Lindsay Wygal
Federico Arino
Margarita Lardone
Melissa Brown
Aaron Barnes
Denard Teak
Ernest Easter
Abdillahi Mohamud
Zachary Penich
Gilberto Santos
Kwasi Abrefa-Kodom
Tanko Adamu
Roger Briscoe
Daniel Einhaus
Mai Naito
Robert Donnell
Joan Germany
Monica Scott
Narendra Sharma
AACC Outstanding Student Award Recipients Fall 2010
Jennifer Casanova
Teak Denard+
Danielle Graves
Matthew Gaskins+
**Doctoral Students; +Graduate Student
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Darniesha Martin
Deborah Onaderu
Apris Walker
Jasmine Jones
AACC Spring Pre-Commencement
Program Award Recipients (May 6, 2011)*
AACC Academic Award Recipients Spring 2011
Undergraduate Students
Anita Madia
Rebecca Chamnik
Nicholas Murray
Faith Mutunga
Ana Aquino
Shawnese Brown
Naeemah Smith
Steven Henderson
Joseph O’Brien
Decerie Tatel
Kareema Alston
Claudia Escobar Carrasco
Tiffany Hall Campbell
Michelle Maurtua
Nicole Shannon
Jarred Smith
Thomas Wambach
Bridget Widdowson
Ramon Casanova
Kimika Hudson
Ronjin Weng
Jessica Vance
Alisia Drew
Meaghan Kuhns
Victoria Constant
Graduate Students
Jaime Acie
Martin Pino**
Aaron Barnes
Pratiksha Patel
Serena Bonds
Emma Ray
Margaret Cox**
Minor Redmond, Jr.**
Ebony English**
Molly Stewart
Sheldon Fung
Lanighta Sales
Gregory Kuckuck
Maria Colon-Torres**
Kenethia McIntosh**
Tanisha Wilkes
Kathy Perry**
_________________________________________________________________________
**Doctoral Students
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AACC Outstanding Student Award Recipients
Spring 2011
Undergraduate Students
Donnetta Allen
Goldie Barnes
Tiana Dixon
Christina Ellis
Joy Parham-Thomas
Nicole Shannon
ShaRae Edmonds
Garry Herndon
Isis Lester
Mercedes Medina
Arielle Norment
Bridget Widdowson
Tiara Wilson
Gathering of families, friends, and
graduates in the Kovalchick’s Atrium on
May 6, 2011.
Graduate Students
Bifei Cao
Maria Colon-Torres**
Kenethia McIntosh**
**Doctoral Student
Zwelihle Masilela
Kein McClendon
Dr. Werner, Interim IUP President, and Dr.
Luckey, VP for Student Affairs, at the AACC
Spring Pre-Commencement Program on May 6.
Social Justice/Education Awards Spring 2011
Following their annual End of Year Banquet, the Black Student
League(BSL) joined the African American Cultural Center at its
End of Year Program, a program designed to recognize and
honor those who have demonstrated a commitment to
educational excellence, community service, social justice,
and/or, who have participated and contributed to the
implementation of services and programming of the African
American Cultural Center over the past year. Entertainment
and music were provided by DJs Tom Angelo and Diamond
Express and Magician Lee Terbosik. Food, door prizes, and
raffles were also integral to the program.
A number of persons were presented with
Certificates of Recognition for their service and
achievements, including 71 students with perfect 4.0
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cumulative grade point averages. The AACC has been presenting awards at its End of Year
Program for nearly twenty(20) years. This past year the awards were renamed Social
Justice/Education Award to reflect both the essence and nature of the awards; a similar model of
awards are presented at Dartmouth College. Nomnation and
application forms were developed. These as well as the overall
program were opened and made available to the entire campus.
An evaluation of the “End of Year Program” was completed
and the result was a mean of 4.33 on a 5-point scale. As the results
suggest, this program continues to be an office favorite. Follows are
names of recipients of the AACC 2011 Social Justice/Education
Awards:
Ongoing Commitment to Social Justice
Bruce Niehenke*
Denise Sawyer
Donnetta Allen
Christina Ellis
Emerging Leadership
Merceds Medina
Bifei Cao**
Garry Herndon
Isis Lester
Eddie Cervantes
Tinashe Mukasa
Undergraduate/Graduate Student Groups
The Black Student League (BSL)
IUP NAACP
Latino Student Organization (LaSo)
Against All Odds Band
The Voices of Joy Gospel Choir (VOJ)
Lifetime Achievement
Chris Catalfamo*
Kein McClendon**
Dr. Mahamadou Ganda Nabi
Excellence in Leadership
Darryl Ellis
Toya Robertson
DaShona Holloway
Gabrielle Pugh-White
Jonathan Thompson
Raymond Smith
Educational Excellence+
Kathleen Foreman
Indya Marshall
Quinshayah Williams
Kimika Hudson
Chelsea Lightbourn
Jason Avery
Bethany Baker
John Boddington
Kristen Carey
Caitlin Dunbar
Princess Kabakole
Zachery Keller
Jared Treven
Amanda Wagner
Christine Batis
Bravo Excellence Award
Tanisha Bryant
Alaisha Robinson
ShaRae Edmonds
Goldie Barnes
Mercedes Medina
Chris Harris
Community/Volunteer Service
Marquette Perrin
Jessica Broniszewski
Christopher Harris
Melkia Green
Tiara Wilson
Amando Ocando
Demetry “Tyrese” Barker Stephanie Simon
Ronald Baker
Tiara Johnson
Joy Parham Thomas
Rachyl Hurst
Saye Zarwolo
Jennifer Casanova
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
+Note: There were 71 diverse students who had a cumulative GPA of 4.0. These students were also awarded and forwarded a
Certificate of Special Recognition.
*Community Member
**Graduate Student
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AACC Staff and Friends in Suite B25 Delaney Hall
Dr. M. Ganda Nabi, AACC Program
Assistant
Alex El, Office Aide, Zhiling “Willa” Wu and
Moses Prempeh, AACC Graduate Students
2010-011
Ms. Mary Elko, AACC Secretary
The Delaney Hall Crew, Suite B25, 2010-2011
“We see postsecondary education as the key to
economic and social progress – for individuals
and for the nation as a whole.” (May 2008)
--J.M. Mutz, Chair,
Lumina Foundation
for Education
13
From the Associate Dean
of Students for Multicultural
Affairs/Director of the African
American Cultural Center
As we embark on the close of another
academic year, I am reminded of the theme for
the year: “It’s A New Day - Celebrating Cultural
Diversity and Student Success,” and the following quote: “If high schools and colleges
are able to raise the graduation rates of Hispanic, African American, and Native
American students to the levels of white students by 2020, the potential increase in
personal income across the nation would add conservatively, more than $310 billion to
the U.S. economy” (Jason Amos, Alliance for Excellent Education, 2008).
In an age of economic severity, global awareness and increasing diversity, we
should pay greater heedence to both our theme and the message by Jason Amos. The
predicted demographic changes for the nation is approaching so fast, that if we fail to
do something about it today, it could be catastrophic for not
only individuals and the nation, but for world progress.
“Understanding diversity
can enrich your life – and
your world.”
There is no doubt that “understanding diversity can
enrich our lives.” Perhaps moreso today but especially
throughout my tenure at IUP, I’ve attempted to portend as
leader of IUP African American Cultural Center that diversity
understanding begins first with self and that selfunderstanding is paramount to change of any kind. Thus, we
have given more attention to diversity over the past year, for
diversity in all of its forms is simply “the difference that makes
each of us unique.” I would therefore urge each of us to
consider more intentionally now, that diversity is less a means of diviseness but one of
unity. As a primary definition, I would like to have us consider one I recently read:
“diversity is inclusive of differences, and that inclusive education pursues justice”
(AAC&U, 2008, p 13).”
African American history, culture, and contributions reflect one aspect of our
diverse nation and the students we serve. Viewing it this way always helps in
fostering an appeciation for differences and similarities as well as sensitivity to the
culture and ethnicity of others. And so, of the activities and cosponsorships we’ve had
throughout the spring semester 2011, we hope it is obvious that our attempts have
indeed been on excellence and on preparing our students for tomorrow.
Along with the variety of events that occurred this year, evaluation and
assessments; student learning, leadership, and personal development; participation in
various University, community, and professional activities; as well as smiles were also
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integral. Our work will continue throughout the summer months as we contribute to
summer orientation 2011; participate in Admission’s Expo’s and volunteer/community
service activities; co-sponosr the Indiana County’s Annual Junetenth Celebration;
complete outcome reports of 2010-2011; and continue to prepare for 2011-2012.
We know that it’s been another long and challenging year for all of us. At the same
time, despite the barriers during these disturbing times, we at the AACC continued to
make strides. My staff have “stuck to the guns” and produced magnificent work. J.
Merisotis may have gotten it right on stating:
“aMerican higher education Must change and change quicKly”
(J. Merisotis, President and CEO,
Lumina Foundation for Education, October 2008).
In this issue of the AACC newsletter, we’ve attempted to hightlight some
accomplishments that were made during spring 2011. As much as possible, we’ll
continue to use this newsletter as one portal to keep you updated not only on what has
been happening at the AACC, but also, on our outcomes. Always, thanks are extended
to each of you for your contributions and support of our endeavors.
Congratulations again to each of our graduating students and award
recipients. Let me close with my very best wishes to all. Have a relaxed, safe, and
enjoyable summer. May you return to IUP more energized and committed as ever for
2011-2012.
Dr. C. Princes
Associate Dean of Students for
Multicultural Affairs/Director of the AACC
“walls of division will fail under the
weight of a connected world.”
new canaan pubic schools’ -“diversity and character education “
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>
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>
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>
Contact us by telephone: 724-357-2455; fax: 724-357-6196
> Stop in to see us: Susan Delaney Hall, 920 Grant Street, Suite B23
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