Divisional Staffing Update | Calvin Monroe to Serve as Assistant Dean of Students

As we continue to develop programs, services, and resources that meet the ever-evolving needs of our student community, I would like to share some exciting news that will support our future growth as a division. In alignment with the division’s strategic alignment of services, I am expanding the work of the Office of the Associate Vice President of Student Life & Dean of Students to include additional services and outreach that will support student success. The enhanced services will consist of developing a case management system to take a holistic view of student support, deepening the current collaborations with Academic Affairs to support student success, and building on the recent work to support transfer students, veterans, graduate students, and adult learners.

I am excited to announce that I have asked Calvin Monroe to serve as Assistant Dean of Students to support these efforts. Calvin Monroe has served as a Student Engagement and Academic Success Coach since 2017. In this role, he has engaged with first-year and transfer students, connecting them to resources and providing life skills for their success at SMC. Additionally, Calvin has taught courses in Collegiate Seminar, a Jan Term course entitled Black Lives Matter, and Project Success, a mandatory course for students on academic probation to learn foundational skills. Calvin was awarded the 2019 Staff Distinction Award for Inclusive Excellence for his work and dedication to equity.

Calvin is familiar with student engagement work serving as the advisor for the Black Student Union from 2018 - 2021, earning the Advisor of the Year Award in 2020, and was the co-advisor of the 2020 Expressions of Blackness Cultural Night. Calvin also served as the Chair of the inaugural 44-Days Honoring Black History Program. He helped bring the #MeToo activist Tarana Burke and Black Panther Director Ryan Coogler to the SMC campus. Additionally, Calvin has been a Resident Director in Marjorie David Ageno Hall since 2019. Calvin will soon become an SMC alumnus as he will graduate from the Kalmanovitz School of Education Doctoral Program, earning his Ed.D in Educational Leadership this May. He recently shared his doctoral work during an Intercultural Center-sponsored Fac Chat!

Calvin is well-equipped to bring the necessary skills, talents, knowledge, and attributes to support this growing work, and I am excited for him to join the Division of Student Life. Calvin will begin his appointment on Monday, May 2, and will report to the Associate Dean of Students and Director of the Office of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Community Life once hired. For the time being, Calvin will report directly to Jim Sciuto, Associate Vice President of Student Engagement & Interim Dean of Students.

Thank you to the Student Engagement and Academic Success team, Interim Vice Provost of Student Academics Aeleah Soine, and Associate Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Evette Castillo Clark for their support with this transition and collaboration. 

In community, 

Anthony