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Intern executive assistant to focus on diversity initiative
Christopher Darville is completing his doctoral student internship at San Jacinto College.
San Jacinto College recently welcomed Christopher Darville as an intern executive assistant to the chancellor. His primary duties will be to assist San Jacinto College Chancellor Dr. Brenda Lang Hellyer with special projects, focusing especially on a diversity initiative, which is a concerted effort to attract and retain more African-Americans, Latinos, and people of other minority races as administrators, faculty, staff, and students at San Jacinto College.
Darville graduated from Woodlawn High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and then attended Louisiana State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in general studies with minors in history, political science, and African American studies. He earned a master’s in applied sociology from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond.
Darville served as a sociology instructor at River Parishes Community College in rural Sorrento, Louisiana, where he also served on the college’s Quality Enhancement Plan committee and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) reaffirmation committee. Christopher also served as a faculty member at Dillard University of New Orleans and Southeastern Louisiana University
“I look forward to working with Christopher throughout his time here,” said Dr. Hellyer. “He brings to San Jacinto College a passion for education and specifically the mission of community colleges. His background and input will help move several of the College’s annual priorities forward.”
Darville is completing his doctoral student internship at San Jacinto College through the Community College Leadership Program of the University of Texas at Austin, where he plans to earn a doctorate of education degree. He says he was attracted to San Jacinto College because of the College’s positive reputation.
“I attended some classes with Dr. Hellyer at the University of Texas at Austin, and I was equally amazed with the chancellor’s intellect and humble personality,” Darville commented. “After visiting San Jacinto College with UT’s Community College Leadership Program, I discovered that Dr. Hellyer’s traits were not the exception at San Jacinto, but the norm.”
Darville looks forward to participating in San Jacinto College’s diversity initiative because he knows from personal experience how education can open doors of opportunity. “As a sophomore in college I found myself being bored with school, so I left college and started working full time in the banking industry,” he said. “After reaching my potential as a non-degree employee, I realized the advantages of returning to college. Earning a degree not only led to more employment opportunities, it also allowed me to meet two professors who were interested in my educational goals and success. They enabled me to see the relationship between institutional accountability and student responsibility as they related to my success in education.”
Like other colleges, San Jacinto College wants to increase enrollment and retention among African-Americans, Latinos, and other races, and Darville believes it can be accomplished. “Many racial minorities are either first generation college students, or are defined as ‘not college ready’ (meaning that they have not taken college prep work during high school),” he commented. “Regardless of what category they fit into, it is clear that students can be intimidated by the college culture, which can be strikingly different than their own familiar culture. Educational leaders should strive to make sure the institutional culture is inviting to all students who cross the college threshold.”
Darville says it’s important in today’s competitive job market, for anyone — regardless of race — to pursue a college education. “Education provides people with the vehicle to pursue their dreams, as well as become productive members of society,” he remarked. “According to recent data from the National Center for Educational Statistics, the unemployment rate of Americans who earn associate degrees is about 40 percent less than those who only earn high school diplomas.” Darville also pointed out that people who earn associate degrees often go on to earn four-year degrees and higher, which generally leads to better career opportunities. “College education also can help a person develop a deeper sense of community and understanding because college students learn to accomplish goals through collaboration with others,” Darville commented.
San Jacinto College serves more than 24,500 students in over 140 degrees and certificates in university transfer and technical programs. The College also serves the community through workforce training. Students come with various goals and aspirations and we are committed to their success. San Jacinto College. Your Goals. Your College. For more information about San Jacinto College, please call 281-998-6150 or visit www.sanjac.edu.
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One Comment on Intern executive assistant to focus on diversity initiative
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John Strader on
Mon, 31st Aug 2009 12:04 am
As the newly elected SGA President, I would like to formally extend a hand of fellowship to Mr. Darville. I’m excited to see how we can all work together to reach all nationalities for the promotion of educational excellence. I would like to invite him to attend the SGA meeting this Friday at 1pm in the Student Center. In other news, the VYNE is preparing a large school wide function in the spring semester promoting cultural diversity.
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