Annual Meeting for Black Faculty and Staff

It was a full house on Wednesday for the annual “Meet the Black

Faculty and Staff” reception on campus.

There are a total of 43 African American faculty and staff at

CSU. The reception is held every year so people on campus can get

to know the faculty and staff.

“I think my department is very supportive of my research,” said

Jeffrey Shears, an assistant professor of ethnic studies and social

work. “From a faculty standpoint it is a very supportive

environment.”

Shears has been a resident of Fort Collins for the past three

years. He received his master’s degree from North Carolina A &

T University and received his doctorate at the University of

Denver.

Currently, Shears is doing research in two areas. His research

includes the disproportionate incarcerations of African Americans,

as well as the study of fathers and their contributions to early

infant development.

“What I’ve done is (look) at, theoretically, explanations of

delinquents and how they apply to ethnicity,” he said.

Shears has also done work on the parenting roles of African

American fathers.

“What black men do has traditionally been mothering activities,”

he said, explaining that African American men participate in

activities such as feeding and diapering. “In an African American

household there are more shared responsibilities.”

Eulanda Sanders-Okine is a professor in the Department of Design

and Merchandising and came to CSU in 1987. She finished her

undergraduate and master’s degrees at CSU and moved to Nebraska for

3 years to finish her doctorate. She came back to CSU in 1997.

Sanders-Okine notes that her department has state-of-the-art

technology that has made its programs more desirable and reputable

as well.

“Our numbers have increased. One thing we’ve had to implement is

a portfolio selection,” Sanders-Okine said of her department. “This

is the second year we are doing the portfolio review for apparel

design and production.”

Robert Miller works at the dean’s office in the College of

Agricultural Services. He has been there since 1997 and teaches

freshman seminars and class orientations.

“I direct a seminar program called the ‘Graduate Discovery

Internship Program,” he said. “We go down to the South’s

historically black colleges.”

Miller said that he goes to recruit students to see if they want

to come to CSU to do their graduate or doctorate work.

“One of the things we do in our college is Ram Camp,” he said.

“Ram Camp is a program for our freshmen and we want to make sure

they have a great experience and we do that through the orientation

classes and mentors.”

Miller said his program is about students having an impact on

other students. He also said the program is for students from all

backgrounds.

“We make sure they have a mentor,” he said. We’re about making

our students successful.”