The African Diaspora Program at Skyline College is proud to announce that the Women’s Mentoring Academy has successfully concluded its fall session. On Tuesday, December 15, 2015 the program culminated in a final celebration where students shared vision boards, and affirmations and words of encouragement. The room was filled with fellow classmates, family members, and Skyline College staff, faculty and administrators. All thirteen students received certificates of completion signed by President Regina Stanback Stroud and the Dean of the Global Learning Programs and Services Division, Dr. Tammy Robinson.
The mission of the Women’s Mentoring Academy is to empower and transform the lives of the women in the program, so that they may achieve personal and professional growth.
The theme this semester was on personal development. Activities, events and course work emphasized cultural and personal identity development, and the students learned strategies for effective intercultural communication in various contexts. For their participation in this semester’s academy, each student received a copy of the inspirational bestseller, The Year of Yes, by Shonda Rhimes, and a framed photo of the cohort as a reminder of the importance of community.
The GLPS Division would like to give a special ‘thank you’ to everyone who attended the Year End Celebration in support of the students. Special thanks go to Dr. Jamillah Moore, Interim Vice Chancellor of Educational Services and Planning, Eloisa Briones, Vice President of Administrative Services, Mary Gutierrez, Dean of Language Arts/Learning Resources, and Kathleen Tshifunda, Office Assistant to the President.
The fall 2015 cohort was led by Communication Studies Professor, Danielle Powell, and the students were enrolled in her COMM 150: Intercultural Communication course. The Women’s Mentoring Academy is a project within the African Diaspora Program, which is under GLPS division. Support for this program is made possible by the President’s Innovation Fund.
For more information on the African Diaspora Program, please contact the Global Learning Programs and Services Division at 650-738-7098 or Dr. Cheryl Ajirotutu at ajirotutuc@smccd.edu.
Article by Danielle Powell and Pcyeta Stroud | Photos by Pcyeta Stroud
