Student Development Center
A new name for office devoted to multiculturalism, diversity

By Sue Wuetcher
Reporter Editor

The Office of Student Multicultural Affairs has changed its name-and broadened its scope -in an effort to serve a larger segment of the student population.

But Nelson Townsend, associate vice president for student affairs who is heading the new office, stresses that although the office is now known as the Student Development Center, it will continue to promote diversity on campus.

"One of the major issues (of the new center) is diversity and multiculturalism," Townsend says. "The shift was not made to de-emphasize any particular program, but to strengthen all programs (under the auspices of the center). Multiculturalism implies that all people are important and should be included."

The Student Development Center incorporates the programs that made up Multicultural Affairs-specifically Student Support Services and the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program-as well as the Student Leadership Development Center, formerly part of the Office of Student Life. Breaking multicultural affairs out as a distinctive fourth unit of the new center "places additional importance on multicultural affairs," consistent with President William R. Greiner's efforts in establishing task forces on women and gender, and racial and ethnic diversity, Townsend says.

Student Support Services is a comprehensive, academic support program that assists low-income and first-generation students, particularly those enrolled in the Educational Opportunity Program, who are in need of support services to successfully pursue their college education. The McNair program is an extensive, academic-year and summer research internship program designed to develop students' analytical and research skills, and assist and prepare them to enroll in graduate school.

With Student Support Services and the McNair program designed to serve the needs of underrepresented minorities, the Student Leadership Development Center is key to broadening the reach of the office, Townsend notes. Leadership qualities and good communication skills are "essential" to all students, no matter what their background, he says, adding that "all of our programs are geared toward development of the total student."

The new center will sponsor its first event, the Emerging Leaders Forum, on Feb. 20. The day-long leadership conference is designed to encourage freshmen and sophomores who are not yet involved in campus activities and/or campus leadership positions to get involved and eventually become "leaders," both on and off campus.

Townsend says he also would like to develop a stronger service component within the center and is working to organize a community tutorial program through the Student Leadership Development Center.

Townsend, who served as director of athletics for UB for 11 years until suffering a heart attack in April, notes that his new position as head of the Student Development Center has brought his career "full circle."

"When this opportunity cameŠit became a chance for me to do what I chose as my first love to do," he says, pointing out that although he misses athletics, he began his career as a teacher and counselor and enjoys direct interaction with students.

He emphasizes the importance of making the work of the former office of multicultural affairs "accessible to the mainstream" of UB students. "We can't be all we potentially can be if we're isolated, if we're dealing only with a small segment of students," he says. "We need to become more visible, become more involved with the broader needs of the student population. Then everybody's fortune rises."