Dr. Bettina Shuford serves as an Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Director of the Center for Multicultural and Academic Initiatives at Bowling Green State University. In her role as Assistant Vice President, she supervises Student Support Services, College Access Programs, the Counseling Center, Disability Services, and the Student Health Service. Prior to coming to BGSU, she held positions in Residence Life, served as an Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Minority Student Affairs at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She received her bachelor's degree in psychology from North Carolina Central University, her master's in Guidance and Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and her doctorate in Higher Education Administration from Bowling Green State University. Her research interests, publications, and presentations are in the area of student learning and multicultural issues in higher education. 

Yolanda Flores Serves as the Administrative Assistant for the Center for Multicultural and Academic Initiatives. She is  responsible for monitoring and processing budget transactions, expenditures and oversees the operation of the department. She is a supervisor and provides training for all the student employees. 

She coordinates the Latino Issues Conference luncheon, including ticket sales, seating reservation arrangements and catering arrangements. Yolanda also coordinates catering and seating reservations for various events such as Dinner Theater, Kwanzaa and the Diamante Awards Recognition Banquet.
     
In addition to her duties, she is the Greek Faculty Chapter Advisor for Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority and Co-Advisor for Sigma Lambda Beta Fraternity. She is the student organization Advisor for Latino Cultural Arts and one the many responsibilities of advising these groups in assisting students in the planning of upcoming cultural diversity and academic events. Yolanda serves on the executive board as Treasurer for the Latino Networking Alliance comprised of Latino faculty and staff.  She is the budget administrator for the following scholarships:  Dr. Miguel Ornelas, Dr. Rene Ruiz, Dr. Rolando Andrade, and the Lynn Maddox scholarship.  She serves as a representative for BGSU on the Diamante Planning Committee that is comprised of BGSU, University of Toledo, Owens Community College, Lourdes College, and Medical University of Ohio raising funds for scholarships.  She also serves on the Diamante Scholarship committee for Bowling Green State University.  Recently, Yolanda has been recognized for her dedication to students and therefore was awarded this year, the Magda Morales Award by the Latino Student Union. 

Dr. Manuel (Manny) Pomales, Jr. (not pictured) is the Senior Associate Director of the Center for Multicultural and Academic Initiatives. In this capacity he is responsible for providing direction and leadership for the daily operations of the Center, the Freshman Development Program, and a yearly conference on Latino concerns. Manny is a Nationally Certified Psychologist (NCP) and holds a B. S. degree from Central State University (Wilberforce, Ohio), a M.Ed. Degree from Bowling Green State University, and a Ph.D. in Education: Guidance and Counseling in Higher Education from The Ohio State University (Columbus, Ohio).

Sheila Brown I am currently serving as the Associate Director for Programs in the Center for Multicultural & Academic Initiatives (CMAI) at Bowling Green State University. I received a B.S. in Biology from East Central University in Ada Oklahoma, a M.S. in Audiology from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and a M.Ed. in Recreation Administration from Bowling Green State University.

My contributions are quite diverse. I  plan and implement a number of programs including the annual multicultural Dinner Theatre event, which draws an audience of close to one thousand people over two presentations. Over 100 performers and stage crew including students, faculty and administrative staff work together over a five-month period to deliver this most entertaining event. It is by far, one of the most well attended programs on BGSU's campus.  If you have talent that you want to share, please see me to learn more about being a part of the show. In addition, I also Advise incoming students of color via the Freshman Development Program which allows me to connect with students early and often thereby exposing them to a wealth of information they need to be successful. I also delight in planning the annual campus wide Kwanzaa celebration and advising student organizations (Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Eccentricity and For Your Intertainment (FYI).

I'm very appreciative of the organizations that have acknowledged my dedication to BGSU students. Some awards include the 2006 Phenomenal Woman Award given by the Student African American Brotherhood (SAAB), the 2004-05 Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Outstanding Graduate Advisor for the 5-state Great Lakes Region, and the BGSU Student Organization Advisor of the Year for 2005.  I am most proud of the 2003 Michael R. Ferrari Award which is the highest award an administrative staff member can receive at BGSU and the BGSU Human Relations Commission Miguel Ornelas Award. Summaries of my accomplishments that led to these awards can be found in the following two editions of the BGSU Monitor-http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/mc/monitor/pastissues/09-15-03/Ferrari.html & http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/mc/monitor/05-15-06/page20533.html.

Emily Monago is the Associate Director for Diversity Education and Scholarship. She supervises diversity education, assessments, and scholarship programs sponsored by the Center. Emily's other duties include data management and Web support, overseeing caseload assignments, and the Partners in Excellence Program. She has a bachelor's degree in General Studies and a master's degree in Public Administration, both from Kent State University (Kent, Ohio). She is currently a candidate for a Ph.D in the School of Communication Studies at Bowling Green State University.

Joy Hartwell-Lein is the Financial Aid Specialist and Advisor. She provides assistance for students with the scholarship search or with financial aid issues.  In addition, she provides presentations for student organization about financial aid or credit cards and debt. Joy is proud to be a BGSU alum!  She has a B.S. in Gerontology (1993) and a M.A. in College Student Personnel (2002) from BGSU.

James T. Jackson serves as the Multicultural Advisor and Coordinator of Diversity Education Programs. James received a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Education in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Kutztown, University (Kutztown, Pennsylvania). He oversees the Multicultural Welcome Back activities, Martin Luther King Jr. programming, Black Issues Conference, the Men of Color mentoring and retention activities, and the diversity education workshops. James is the liaison to the Office of Residence Life S.M.A.R.T. program in addition to the other activities listed. J.J. teaches the Men of Color University Success (UNIV 100) class and has coordinated the development of a Women of Color class which will be launched for the first time in the fall of 2005. He also supervises the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual and Transgendered Resource Center, which includes LGBT programs and services. James believes that the keys to success in higher education and in life are: self-knowledge, discipline and building healthy productive relationships.

Juan Enriquez, Coordinator of Special Programs, has worked in the Center for Multi-cultural & Academic Initiatives for the last five years, and with BGSU for six years. He has a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota. His responsibilities include advising students via administration of the Freshman Development Program; which is designed to help students in their transition from home and high school to college life. Juan also helps students realize and meet their responsibilities and making the right choices to achieve overall success. He advises several student organizations, coordinates four multicultural programs sponsored by the Center. He has served on various committees throughout the year in service to the university and is currently involved in two external committees (Latino Youth Summit, Diamante). 

Janice Twork serves as the Retention Coordinator for Upper-class Students for the Center. To her students, she is known as their “Success Coach.” Throughout her professional life, Jan has worked with thousands of college students in helping them to achieve their academic and career goals.

It is her goal to help students to improve their academic record so they can graduate in their field of study from the University. She hopes to help students make their university experience more enjoyable, and less stressful. Janice has a strong educational background as a career services professional and as a college instructor teaching career planning, supervision and business ethics classes at a private university in Michigan. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Davenport University , and a Masters of Arts degree in Instructional Technology from Wayne State University.

Her community involvement includes being a board member of the Women's Economic Club of Detroit, a professional women's association with over 1,400 members, and for Allison Homes, Inc. (a non-profit, group home organization), as well as an active member of Rotary International.

If you would like have more information about a program or service listed or meet with one of the staff members, please call 419-372-2642 to make arrangements.