Below is the transcript of our conversation with Dr. Kyle Oldham, CMU’s first Associate Vice President of Engagement and Student Affairs
David Nicholas:
I'm David Nicholas and this is Central Focus, a weekly look at research activity and innovative work from Central Michigan University students and faculty.
CMU, like other campuses, is a home for many students, faculty, and staff, all bringing language and culture together for a big mix. Over the years, clubs, support services, and full departments have been established to foster awareness and acceptance among and across the big university family.
In August, Dr. Kyle Oldham was appointed as CMU's first Associate Vice President of Engagement and Student Affairs, coming to Mount Pleasant following his time at Colorado State University.
Because he is the first to hold this position, I wanted to know more about it and about him. He joined me in studio to talk about it all...
What are the distinct items or duties do you, were identified for you or that you identify as distinguishing this job from what the university has already presently offered?
Kyle Oldham:
That's a great question. I think from my lens and from what I've been told throughout the interview and from what I witnessed from other folks as I was going through the interview process is that the need for someone to help champion causes related to belonging on this campus was needed. That there was a sort of gap, where looking at the larger picture of what CMU offers and what CMU does within the Mount Pleasant community and then the mid-Michigan region is to really figure out how do we make sure that people see themselves reflected back in their everyday life for their opportunities of educational attainment, but as well as our faculty and staff in the community and then our students in the sense of thriving. Because in today's day and age, finding ways to thrive has become harder and harder for our students. And so, the role, I believe, is to find ways to create a space of belonging, inclusiveness, and recognizing that we all are here to obtain the goals that we have set for ourselves.
DN:
A structure in place of people that maybe were working in this area that now you would be supervising and planning, working with as efforts like this move forward?
KO:
Yeah, I think there's always been a structure in place, right? I'm a true believer that when higher education was first started is that the unintended consequence of creating an institution is to create a structure for people to thrive, to obtain and achieve their goals. And so, here at CMU, I think we have had multiple spaces on our campus where people are doing work to achieve goals and to support student success and to find ways to better our societal impact, for lack of a better term. And with the role that I am doing, I believe it's my job to be that connecting puzzle piece or those Lego pieces that connect multiple pieces together. And so, the offices that I work with, shout out to the University Engagement Student Affairs Division, but working specifically with Counseling Center, our Sexual Aggression Services, our CMU Cares Office, our Center for Collaborative and Learning Engagement. I look at our Loren Center for Student Pride and Advocacy and the Office of Indigenous Affairs and Student Disability Services, I believe are at the backbone of allowing our staff and students to feel valued, seen, and supported on their journey. And so, if we can see the human dignity in one another and we can thrive collectively as a community, I believe that we will be doing 90% of the work then and there. And then it's up to the individual to carry the rest of the load.
DN:
A lot of challenges, certainly, but with that comes a lot of opportunities. And it sounds like both are keeping you busy at the outset, which is what we would expect. And that's the growth of what's underway. But for everybody in this building, at least, another corner of campus, certainly welcome you to CMU. And I very much appreciate the time you spent sitting down with us today.
KO:
Absolutely.
