Today Miton Clayborn, program director for the Cross Cultural Center, is leaving the University. A voice for diversity awareness on campus since her arrival in October 2007, Clayborn is resigning from her position here to take on a job at a local non-profit organization.
“It is a loss for SLU, because she was doing amazing things for the CCC” said Filipino Student Alliance President Tina Salvador, whose organization was advised by Clayborn. “She was really trying to get the groups to work together to foster multiculturalism in a way we haven’t had before.”
Clayborn’s departure comes days after Janice Harris announced that she was resigning from her position as the CCC’s coordinator of cultural programs and coordinator of the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Program. Harris had been on leave to take care of her sick father since January and, according to an e-mail sent to the MLK Jr. scholars, had chosen not to return to the University after “reflect[ing] upon the priorities of life.” Clayborn had been performing Harris’ functions during her leave of absence.
Salvador, whose organization Clayborn advised, said that Clayborn “was taking up all the slack” and “had a lot on her plate” after Harris left.
Both Clayborn and Director of Student Life Donna Bess said that it was “coincidental” that Harris and Clayborn chose to resign around the same time.
“The timing isn’t the best, but we’re going to make the best of it,” Bess said.
Without Clayborn and Harris, the CCC no longer has its own University staff members. Bess said that the Department of Student Life hopes to fill the vacancies “as soon as possible” and will initiate a national search. In the meantime, Bess said, members of the Student Life staff will be taking on Clayborn and Harris’ former roles.
“[The staff of the Department of Student Life] is committed to stepping up and stepping into those positions,” Bess said.
Clayborn first took the reins of the CCC about a year and a half ago. Since then she developed new programming for the CCC and the MLK Jr. Scholarship Program and worked with student organizations. According to Bess, she was also “instrumental” in bringing “THEM: Images of Separation” to campus last semester. Designed to force viewers to confront issues of stereotyping and discrimination, the exhibit contained historical artifacts from the Jim Crow Museum at Ferris State University in Michigan.
Clayborn said that she most enjoyed working with students during her time at SLU.
“My number-one highlight are the students I’ve met along the way,” Clayborn said. “They are brilliant and have bright futures. Building friendships and aiding in their development has been rewarding.”
Next week, Clayborn will begin work with Better Family Life, a St. Louis-based non-profit organization that offers marriage counseling, housing and job placement programs and other services.
A native of St. Louis, Clayborn said that the move will allow her to “[help] the community that I’ve been a part of since I was a child.”
“As an adult, I’m looking forward to having a family, hopefully soon,” Clayborn said. “In Student Development you submerge your life into the lives of the students. Well, I’m ready to take a new direction with my own life.”
Senior Réhan Refai, president of the International Student Alliance, had worked closely with Harris and Clayborn. He said that both will be missed, but because it was late in the academic year, student leaders would not be “lost” without them. He said that he thought that the University should hire new advisers during the summer, however, to assist incoming executive boards of campus cultural organizations.
“I think the CCC is quite strong right now,” Refai said. “Without an adviser we have some pretty able [student leaders].”
Tamara Harris, president of the Black Student Alliance, said that she had been impressed by Clayborn’s dedication after she had to take up Janice Harris’ advising role in January.
The University News had been unable to contact Janice Harris as of press time.
