I am ECSTATIC to announce that I have accepted a new position (with an extremely long title) in the great State of Washington: Director of CASA/MECA* at Tacoma Community College! (*The Center for Academic Support and Achievement and Multi-Ethnic and Cultural Affairs).
For couples who are both higher ed folk it can be challenging to find jobs (that you want) in the same place at the same time (for reference, see the Team Smith in Chicago Saga, 2011-2013), and we are now BOTH in roles that we're extremely excited about.
Some of you know that I've been searching for the past year and change, hoping to get back into student affairs. I learned a tremendous amount working for the State, but missed being able to have a direct impact on students' lives. I had interviews all over the place, but could never quite close the deal. Finding a job in multicultural student affairs is one of the few places where my many overlapping privileges do NOT typically help, but I knew this was The Work that had the most meaning for me.
After another 'thanks but no thanks' on-campus interview, the soon-to-be Dr. Jeannette Smith sat me down and said, 'you need to start doing the work now - don't wait for the stars to align'.
She couldn't have been more right (per usual). As she often says, "why doesn't everyone just listen to me in the first place?"
I started collaborating with colleagues like YeVonne Allen in Equity and Inclusion at TMCC to develop workshops on multicultural competencies, engaging with students of professors like Dr. Paul Mitchell at the Reynolds School, and even managed to convince Dr. Smith herself to present with me at the Northern Nevada Diversity Summit - all of it for free, and all of it building my CV and my confidence. I believe this position is a direct result of that work, and I can't wait for August 16th to arrive!
There are far too many folk who have helped me on this path to thank them all, so know that I'm so grateful for your support, and thank you in advance for your help when I reach out on behalf of 'our students' at TCC.
Onward and Upward,
Matt
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