INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Karen Dace has announced the appointment of Khalilah A. Shabazz as director of the IUPUI Multicultural Success Center effective Jan. 1.
The Multicultural Success Center seeks to engage students and the IUPUI community in proactive dialogue around issues of diversity and multiculturalism, including the community voice through service and outreach; and articulate and address the needs of students, faculty and staff across lines of color, gender, ethnicity, ability and orientation.
As director of the Multicultural Success Center, Shabazz will be responsible for the management, planning and continued development of the center, including providing leadership in multicultural awareness and diversity education, as well as ensuring the center serves as an advocate for underrepresented students -- including minority, female, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students -- by offering educational and social programming aimed at their personal development, retention and success.
“Khalilah’s extensive educational and professional experiences, as well as her keen grasp of the complex issues of diversity and multiculturalism in higher education, make her an ideal candidate for this position,” Dace said. “Her energy, drive and commitment to IUPUI and the success of our students will serve the campus, university and Indianapolis community well.”
Working at IUPUI since 2001, Shabazz has almost exclusively focused on how best to support and retain underrepresented populations. Shabazz first joined campus staff as the assistant director for student retention and scholarship in the Office of Student Scholarships. Most recently, she served as director of University College’s Diversity Enrichment and Achievement Program. There she was responsible for developing and implementing program concepts and objectives that promote retention and success of underrepresented students at IUPUI, as well as offering direction of resources, clarification of documents and other assistance to help entering underrepresented students and their families make a successful transition into IUPUI.
“I consider it an incredible opportunity to serve as the director of the Multicultural Success Center. The IUPUI students, staff and faculty along with the community are key partners in the success of the center,” Shabazz said. “I am excited and look forward to working with everyone to develop a premier Multicultural Success Center that advances IUPUI’s commitment to diversity through education, advocacy and research.”
Shabazz holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology from the Purdue School of Science at IUPUI and a Master of Science in higher education and student affairs from the IU School of Education at IUPUI, with the distinction of summa cum laude. Shabazz is pursuing her Ph.D. in higher education and student affairs at IUPUI with an expected graduation date of May 2014.