DDI Good News | November 2019
David Benitez, RIT’S assistant director for Rochester City Scholars and MOCHA received the Rochester City School District Volunteer Education Award during Hispanic Heritage month in October.
Benitez is a graduate of Rochester’s Franklin High School. In addition to his work with students at RIT, Benitez has been volunteering at agencies like the United Way and the YMCA since 1992, helping Latino graduates.
Ivanna (Ivy) Colon, assistant director, TRiO Upward Bound Leadership Academy for Young Men was selected to attend the NASPA Region 1 Ubuntu Institute in Providence, Rhode Island November 17TH and 18th. NASPA, or Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, is an organization that offers leadership development for student affairs professionals of color to help navigate the complexity of higher education.
Colon just presented a workshop at the African American Women in Higher Education-New England Chapter conference entitled You Are More Than Enough: Re-Adjusting the Crown.
Dr. Tomicka Wagstaff, assistant vice president for Academic Access & Success and Dan Downie of the Office of Faculty Diversity and Recruitment traveled to Newark, NJ for the Black Doctoral Network Conference. Wagstaff says “it represents some of the best PhD students and Junior Faculty in the country.”
Dr. Taj Smith, director of Diversity Education, was one of three panelists selected to speak at a breakfast program entitled “Becoming a More Inclusive Fundraiser “on November 12th at the Country Club of Rochester. The event was hosted by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, NY Genesee Valley Chapter. Topics discussed included ways to develop cultural competencies in approaching philanthropy and promoting diversity in hiring fundraisers.