Two directors join Department of Diversity and Multicultural Student Affairs
Two new directors are joining Kansas State University's Department of Diversity and Multicultural Student Affairs in the Division of Student Life.
Effective Nov. 19, Debra Bolton will serve as director of intercultural learning and academic success and Trumanue Lindsey Jr. will serve as director of diversity and multicultural student life.
Bolton and Lindsey will report to Adrian Rodriguez, associate vice president for student life for diversity and multicultural student affairs.
"I am incredibly grateful to a dedicated team of faculty, staff and students who gave an amazing amount of time, energy and effort to identify the very best candidates to meet the needs of our students and community," Rodriguez said. "Together we will continue to move Kansas State University forward in our quest for unity, multicultural student success and intercultural learning."
As director of intercultural learning and academic success, Bolton will play a key role in fostering cultural advocacy, civility and intercultural learning, education and training development at the university. She also will collaborate with faculty and staff to promote efforts to improve success rates for students of color and other marginalized communities. Bolton will expand campus capacity to track student progress, and to monitor and report on student success as it relates to cultural competency development.
Bolton previously served as an extension specialist for K-State Research and Extension, based in the Southwest Region, for 13 years. Her specialty was on engaging multilingual populations in localized research focused on education, health, well-being, integration and social connectedness. Her work helped health care, nonprofit and educational systems working with multiethnic populations. Bolton has been a workshop presenter and trainer who helped those in education and human services with building relationships in multicultural communities, logic-model design and grant writing.
"These past 25 years, working, playing, building relationships and studying multicultural populations prepared me for this next chapter in my life," Bolton said. "In my research, parents and their youth made a regular practice to inform me about barriers to education. I hope to apply what I've learned, and I look forward to working with students in assuring their academic successes."
As director of diversity and multicultural student life, Lindsey will promote student engagement. He will provide academic and social integration opportunities for students of color and marginalized communities — including direct support to multicultural student organizations and the various leadership councils for these organizations and identity groups. Additionally, Lindsey will collaborate with faculty and staff to promote efforts to enhance cultural celebration, diversity and inclusion efforts across the academy, and student success initiatives to improve student success for students of color.
Lindsey has worked in higher education for 12 years as an advocate and champion for access, equity and inclusion for traditionally marginalized students. He began his professional career providing academic advising and success programming for underrepresented students at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, where he also earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. After transitioning from the University of Minnesota, Lindsey spent the last eight years leading and developing diversity, equity and inclusion retention efforts within community colleges, including a Minnesota state systemwide retention initiative on providing leadership development opportunities for male students from diverse backgrounds.
"I am excited to join the K-State family in this new role and being able to provide support for the students," Lindsey said. "I hope that I am able to bring new insight to the students and the campus as a whole and I am looking forward to learning and growing with them as well."
