Welcome! My name is Jalen Wright, and I am currently a graduate student pursuing my master's degree in the Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration program at Buffalo State College. I currently work as a Career Coach/ Student Outreach Coordinator at D'Youville College.

 

My love for student affairs happened unexpectedly. I graduated from SUNY Fredonia in May of 2018 with a bachelor's degree in Visual Arts and New Media with a concentration in photography. Photography is my passion and I have used that passion and talent to address some of the issues I've been through as an African American at a predominately white institution. The self-started projects that I have done during my undergraduate years have made me realize how much I love supporting students and helping their voices to be heard. 

 

Wanting to do more, I sought out to find other opportunities to continue supporting underrepresented students. Knowing firsthand, how hard it was to navigate through Fredonia as a student of color, I decided to apply to the resident assistant position to be of help for the marginalized community. The resident assistant job has served as the cornerstone for my love of being a resource and support system for all students. The resident assistant position has lead me to becoming a Residence Director for two years. In my Residence Director position, I was able to be a mentor and produce the inclusive environment that I longed for during my undergraduate studies.

 

My position working as an intern for the EDP program at SUNY Fredonia showed me that I can assist students from disenfranchised communities, not just in residence life, but also through other departments. The work that I did during my experience working with the EDP program sparked my interest in exploring other departments outside of EOP programs and residence life where I can assist these students and be a valuable resource for them. My position as a Career Coach/ Student Outreach Coordinator at D'Youville gives me the platform to do exactly that. I consider myself a catalyst for social change and hope to continue fostering a sense of belonging and inclusivity at every institution that I work at.