My name is Janeece Hayes (she, her). Many of you may know me from programs like New Student Orientation or through events hosted by the Campus Activities Board and the Office of Student Life, like Friday Night Live, Bingo, & Karaoke Nights.

I’ve been at CCA since 2007 and have worked in the Offices of Residential Life (Education), and Student Life as well as serving on several committees or groups to support various DEIB focused initiatives in the CCA community, such as the President’s Diversity Steering Group, the Staff of Color Alliance, and the Oakland Campus Legacy Committee - to name just a few.

As you may already be aware, the College recently hired a new Vice President for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging.

It is with great enthusiasm that I share some additional good news with all of you today! In alignment with the College’s commitment to ensuring a community that values diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, the Division of Student Affairs has also created a new office: The Office of Student Belonging and Inclusion.This new office will be specifically tailored to support you as students. It is my great honor to be the first director of this new office and be in continued service to the Chimera community in this new role.

While I am in the earliest stages of planning what the Office of Student Belonging and Inclusion will look like, we will be here to ensure that students develop and sustain a strong sense of belonging and feeling included in the CCA community through initiatives that will advocate for and uplift the voices of BIPOC students, women, LGBTQ+ students, First Generation students, and other underrepresented populations.