About Us
Our Mission
The Office of Multicultural Programs strives to build a stronger, more culturally competent, inclusive, and progressive campus community at Missouri State University. Through the creation of critical programming, intercommunity dialogue, and academic enrichment opportunities, Multicultural Programs seeks to engage the broader MSU and Springfield communities in order to ensure the full and equitable success of all students while empowering students from historically marginalized and/or underrepresented backgrounds to become the ethical leaders of tomorrow. By supporting students through the critical examination of their intersecting identities, Multicultural Programs seeks to foster a more empathetic student body, a stronger commitment to collective justice, and the continued success of Missouri State University and our Public Affairs Mission.
Our Vision
Multicultural Programs pursues a more holistic understanding of student success and academic achievement. Through the incorporation of social justice practices, we aim to enrich the lives, careers, and narratives of all students, particularly those from historically underrepresented or marginalized identities. We envision a campus that empowers, celebrates, and supports students to express their authentic selves regardless of age, disability status, socioeconomic class, veteran status, nationality, race, ethnicity, indigeneity, gender identity and expression, sexual and romantic orientation, religion and spiritual belief, or language. We affirm and center these identities to allow students, campus partners, and community members to grow and internalize a stronger critical consciousness into their lives in order to advocate for the liberation of individuals, locally, domestically, and globally.
Our History
- 1988: "Minority Student Recruitment and Services" was incorporated into the Office of Admissions.
- 1991: International Student Services & Minority Student Services were created.
- 1994: Minority Student Services became an independent entity.
- 1995: The Multicultural Resource Center (MRC) was founded under Minority Student Services.
- 1996: The MRC moved from Campus Union - Room 309 to Wells House - Room 302.
- 1999: The MRC returned to the Campus Union in Room 142.
- 2002: Minority Student Services was retitled as "Multicultural Student Services."
- 2006: The Director of Multicultural Student Services was promoted to Assistant Vice President
of Student Affairs.
- Student Retention Services was incorporated into Multicultural Services.
- Multicultural Programs was founded under the Office.
- 2011: "Diversity Outreach and Recruitment" was incorporated into Multicultural Services.
- 2012: "TRIO-Upward Bound" was incorporated into Multicultural Student Services.
- 2014: Multicultural Programs created an "Assistant Director for LGBTQ+ Initiatives" position.
- 2016: The Mary Jean Price Walls Multicultural Center Annex was established in the basement of Freddy House.
- 2020: The Director of TRIO was promoted to AVP of Multicultural Services.
- New Director of Multicultural Programs is hired.
- Multicultural Resource Center Expansion (Phase I) is underway.
- 2021: The new Multicultural Resource Center Expansion is completed and opened right on time for the Fall 2021 semester.
Org Chart
