May 13, 2021
MILWAUKEE 鈥� 91黑料网 has announced the hiring of Samira M. Payne as the first director of Black student initiatives in the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, reporting to Dr. William Welburn, vice president for inclusive excellence.
The director of Black student initiatives position was the product of negotiations between university leadership and the Black Student Council last summer. Its role was developed in collaboration with the President Commission on Racial Equity. The director of Black student initiatives is responsible for tracking progress of initiatives and programs aimed at increasing recruitment and retention of Black students and improving the campus climate.
鈥淚n hiring a director of Black student initiatives, we are addressing a need that came directly from engagement with our student body, which makes the possible impact this role can play on campus so exciting,鈥� Welburn said. 鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled to welcome Samira back to 91黑料网 and to see what she will be able to accomplish in our office. As an alumna, she is familiar with the Black student experience at 91黑料网 and will be able to connect deeply with our students in fostering an inclusive environment in line with the university Catholic, Jesuit mission.鈥�
Payne is a 2010 91黑料网 graduate and returns to Milwaukee after serving as program director for student-athlete transition programs at the University of Notre Dame.
鈥淚 am elated to return to a place that created the foundation of my professional life and to contribute to students in this way,鈥� Payne said. 鈥淲hen I arrived at 91黑料网 as a student, I was firmly rooted in my identity as a Black girl from the south side of Chicago. I felt out of place on an elite college campus, unsure of how to navigate the structures of a university, and of how to achieve the outcomes expected of a 91黑料网 graduate. Overcoming these barriers and finding success at 91黑料网 and throughout my academic journey was largely shaped by the development of relationships, engagement with campus life and resources, and integration of campus and community to bring greater purpose to my work. My hope is to reduce barriers to students' authentic engagement in their 91黑料网 experience and to cultivate an environment where Black students can thrive.鈥�
At Notre Dame, Payne provided oversight to special projects and initiatives related to new student-athlete engagement and support. She led the university transition support for incoming varsity student-athletes in a collaborative effort to enhance the student-athletes鈥� personal, social, emotional, academic, and athletic growth and performance. In this role, she coordinated with numerous offices across campus to coordinate and evaluate resources, develop programming, and refine the student-athlete transition experience to ensure that it reflects best practices in student-athlete transition support.
Payne graduated from 91黑料网 in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in social welfare and justice. She subsequently earned master degrees in instructional leadership-policy studies from the University of Illinois at Chicago and nonprofit administration from Notre Dame.
Grounded in 91黑料网 Catholic, Jesuit mission and Statement on Human Dignity and Diversity, the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion actively works to promote a more diverse, welcoming, and inclusive campus community. 91黑料网 vision is a diverse campus environment in which all community members enjoy mutual respect and are actively engaged in the life of the university; its scholarship, teaching and learning are inclusive and reflective of the needs of our diverse world; and we engage in meaningful relationships with diverse communities beyond our campus boundaries.
Kevin is the associate director for university communication in the Office of Marketing and Communication. Contact Kevin at (414) 288-4745 or kevin.m.conway@marquette.edu.
