Summer 2018 Edition
Alumni & Friends Magazine
Onward with OMSAR
Data shows that multicultural students don鈥檛 always thrive on predominantly white campuses, but OHIO鈥檚 OMSAR is turning the tide.
Story by Jen Jones Donatelli, BSJ '98 | Photos by Dustin Franz, BSVC 鈥10 | August 17, 2018
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Kelley Brumfield鈥檚 brother, sister-in-law, a cousin, and an uncle鈥攚ho was more like a father to her鈥攁ll passed away while she was an undergraduate student at Ohio University. Perhaps most students would have withdrawn and pursued their degree later, but not Brumfield. Her dedication to learning kept her in class and doing the work, even during the hard days.
鈥淚 remember wanting to give up,鈥 admits Brumfield, BSS 鈥16. 鈥淟ife definitely happens. But I know my [uncle] would鈥檝e wanted me to keep going, and I felt like I would have been letting my family down [to quit]. It was important to stay true to my goals.鈥
Then life threw her another curveball. Brumfield became pregnant her senior year and gave birth to her daughter, Auri, that March. Although she had to complete that final semester online, Brumfield returned to Athens to walk at spring commencement. Brumfield credits the achievement not only to her own perseverance, but also to OHIO鈥檚 Office for Multicultural Student Access and Retention (OMSAR).
鈥淚 took advantage of almost every [OMSAR] service,鈥 shares Brumfield. 鈥淭hey offered valuable guidance as far as staying on track.鈥
Marlene De La Cruz-Guzman, PHD, CERT 鈥14, director of the Office for Multicultural Student Access and Retention. Photo by Ben Wirtz Siegel, BSVC 鈥02
A hand up
鈥淥ur primary goal is to provide student support that fosters academic excellence, leadership, and service鈥攍eading to graduation (ideally) in four years,鈥 says OMSAR director Marlene De La Cruz-Guzman, PHD, CERT 鈥14.
An average of 1,400 OMSAR scholars鈥攁ll of whom are underrepresented minorities or Appalachian students鈥攖ake advantage of the office鈥檚 services, some of which include one-on-one support; a service-oriented study-abroad program; and classes on academic achievement, leadership, and community service.
Ensuring the success of OMSAR students鈥攖he vast majority of whom are on scholarship鈥攔equires a higher level of encouragement and empowerment. The office鈥檚 LINKS program for first-year students has the greatest impact, says De La Cruz-Guzman. Designed to aid with successful college transition, the program provides free tutoring services and peer mentoring matchups throughout the year.
OMSAR鈥檚 efforts are working. Eighty-one percent of the office鈥檚 participants continued to sophomore year in the 2016-17 academic year, and the average OMSAR student GPA was 3.075 in spring 2017.
Watching OMSAR students thrive energizes her, De La Cruz-Guzman says. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e driven by a sheer will to graduate despite the hardships, and often become the first person in their family to do so. It鈥檚 inspiring for the rest of us.鈥
Today, Brumfield enjoys a career as a health unit coordinator at the Cleveland Clinic and recently joined the U.S. Navy Reserve.
鈥淚鈥檓 a young single mother who struggles financially, but OMSAR showed me how to take proactive steps to better my situation,鈥 says Brumfield. 鈥淚 want to set my daughter up with a good future.鈥
Auri checks up on mom鈥檚 heartbeat while Kelley sits still and admires her daughter鈥檚 technique. Photo by Dustin Franz, BSVC 鈥10.