Douglas Smith
Cultural Center Coordinator
Humboldt State University
Job description
This position oversees the African American Center for Academic Excellence, which resides under the umbrella of HSU’s Cultural Centers for Academic Excellence. The Cultural Centers for Academic Excellence is a unit comprised of multiple programs, including the Social Justice, Equity, and Inclusion Center (MCC), the Native American Center for Academic Excellence (or Indian Tribal and Educational Personnel Program, ITEPP), the Latinx Center for Academic Excellence, and the African American Center for Academic Excellence.
The Cultural Centers for Academic Excellence (CCAE) are committed to supporting the retention and academic success of historically underrepresented students by providing academic mentoring and support as well as facilitating opportunities for student-faculty engagement. The Cultural Centers for Academic Excellence are culturally based support programs designed to provide HSU students with networks that blend cultural, community, and faculty engagement with structured mentoring to assist students in reaching their academic and career goals.
The Cultural Centers for Academic Excellence are a key component of HSU’s many current initiatives to support retention and inclusive academic excellence, and are part of a larger campus focus on supporting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive campus community. Humboldt State University is one of 23 campuses within the California State University (CSU) system, and is one of 18 CSU campuses to receive federal designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). About half of our total student population are Students of Color, and over half of our total student population are first-generation students.
Why did you choose this program?
I wanted to engage in an interdisciplinary program that was going to equip me with a set of skills and tools that would support me in approaching the world, my professional and personal as someone who was well informed and prepared to seek out information in diverse places.
How did this program prepare you for your job?
The program prepared me for my job by helping me develop skills in researching information in different disciplines. It also provided insights into how systems and institutions operate in a wide range of situations. It also reinforced the importance of engaging with history.
What would you say to prospective students who are thinking about applying to this program?
This is an amazing program. Make your classes and your travel abroad experience as personal as possible. Use every research opportunity as a way to explore the topics you want to engage with after you finish your undergrad experience.
