Clifton McNish Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology TRiO Upward Bound program New Mexico State University 575-646-4255 mcnishc@nmsu.edu Master of Arts, Secondary Teaching Eastern Michigan University, 1987 Master of Arts, Education Guidance and Counseling-College Student Personnel Northern Michigan University, 1975 Bachelor of Arts, Speech Northern Michigan University, 1973 EDUCATION Doctoral Studies Educational Administration in Higher Education University of Akron, 1996-2000 Graduate Studies, Educational Leadership Eastern Michigan University, 1988-1990 ADDITIONAL EDUCATION SUMMARY OF RELEVANT QUALIFICATIONS Experience providing effective leadership in supervision, training, and evaluation of professional/support staff and student/volunteer staff at multiple institutions of higher education Experience developing program budgets and fiscal management Experience designing holistic student development programming, utilizing principles of student development theory and evidence based practices for multicultural and first generation college students Experience in developing recruitment and retention strategies for multicultural students, faculty and staff Experience in conducting program assessment and evaluation Experience planning and conducting training sessions and seminars on the challenges and strengths of students of color and low income, first generation college students 1
Demonstrated success in building culturally competent programs using cultural proficiency model Experience in developing specific mentoring programs and initiatives for students, faculty, staff and parents Experience developing, coordinating and conducting training on developing skills to be an effective team member in organizations Experience utilizing relational, collaborative and servant leadership within and across divisional boundaries to leverage support in accomplishing goals and objectives Experience developing and implementing multicultural curriculum for students at the secondary and postsecondary school levels Experience designing, coordinating and conducting dimensions of diversity training for college/university faculty, staff, students and community organizations Experience designing, implementing and administering student services, intercultural education and programming to enhance diversity and cultivate student success Experience developing pilot initiatives and programs for student development and retention Experience writing private, corporate and federal grant proposals Experience utilizing effective communication strategies to infuse diversity and multicultural initiatives into campus publications, media vehicles, targeted web sites, brochures, videos and institutional reports Experience in utilizing research strategies to conduct campus/school climate studies, retention and graduation studies and exploring issues of diversity, community and difference PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Director, TRiO Upward Bound Program, Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology, Las Cruces, New Mexico, 2014 Present Provide program management (budgeting, evaluation, supervising, reporting, tracking) Oversee academic and summer program components Recruit, hire and train program staff Develop liaison with U.S. Department of Education, target school personnel, parents, community agencies, and university departments Review participant progress Manage database, submit Annual Performance Report and fiscal reports Design academic year and summer component curriculum Ensure curriculum incorporates NMPED and NETS content standards Assist in identifying academic needs of program participants Monitor student academic progress Oversees or assist with proposal grant writing 2
Assistant Director, Advising / K 12 Outreach, University Honors Program, Division of Academic Affairs Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, 2011 2014 Advises students on successfully completing Honors Program requirements to fulfill university graduation requirements Monitors academic progress and identifies options for students to satisfy degree requirements Maintains student files and records through computerized information database system Teach honors courses and conduct group support sessions Responsible for coordinating Honors Program precollege outreach initiatives for students and parents Collaborate with local school districts and university offices to promote college access and support services at Miami University Participate with enrollment management to recruit and enroll students in the Honors Program and Miami University v Revised Honors Foundation of Engaged Learning course to incorporate concepts of intercultural effectiveness Increased Honors students as trained peer facilitators in Let s Talk Dialogue Diversity Series PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Director, Diversity and Outreach, School of Fine Arts Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, 2006 2009 Provide division-wide leadership for diversity planning for students, faculty and staff Create multicultural programs for students Provide division-wide and university consultation on diversity initiatives Coordinate summer outreach programs for high-achieving, multicultural/underrepresented students Coordinate community outreach efforts for external funding Develop strategic plan to recruit multicultural and underrepresented students, faculty and staff Coordinate and conduct diversity education and training for students, faculty and staff Serve on university wide committees that impact diversity policy Led discussion for first Diversity Summit at Miami University Developed and implemented fine arts course module for the Multicultural Leadership Program Provided leadership for recruitment initiatives to increase multicultural students in the Department of Theater Designed and conducted diversity training for faculty and staff utilizing principles of cultural proficiency Assisted in the planning, development, coordination and analysis of a university wide climate survey at Miami University Led the team which designed and administered a school-wide climate survey for a local school district 3
4 C. McNish Chaired the divisional diversity committee which produced key divisional rationale statements for goals that is aligned with the university and divisional strategic plans Provided leadership for recruitment initiatives to increase multicultural students in the Department of Theatre. One of these initiatives Theatre Nights: Dinner and a Show, produced leading roles for students of color. Director, Twenty-first Century Scholars Program, Division of Enrollment Services Indiana University East, Richmond, Indiana, 2000-2005 Responsible for all functions of the Twenty-first Century Scholars Pre-College Program Supervised professional and support staff Developed and managed program budget Managed requisite program mandates to fulfill state and federal requirements Supervised the coordination of academic support services for students throughout seven counties Established, implemented an maintained supportive services for scholars and parents Prepared and published quarterly and annual reports of program activities and services Designed and conducted an internal program evaluation which led to improvement in program services ² Provided the leadership to conduct an external program evaluation producing increased program funding and improvements to program services ² Provided leadership for the 2003-2004 enrollment management initiatives for low-income students yielding A 38% increase in participants ² Increased training and professional development opportunities to meet individual program, state, and University needs which led to exemplary program status ² Designed, implemented, and managed a pre-college residential summer institute for selected students ² Provided state-wide leadership to increase frequency and effectiveness of state-wide program planning meetings for 17 regional program sites ² Principle investigator that led a team of faculty and staff to study student retention challenges at Indiana University East. The results of the retention study led to improving academic advising for first year students ² Served as key member of the Chancellor Diversity Cabinet which led to authoring an institutional diversity plan model ² Established the Clifton R. McNish Pre-College Scholarship for Twenty-first Century scholars enrolled in college courses Director, Upward Bound Program, College of Arts and Sciences Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH, 1990-2000 Designed, implemented, supervised and evaluated a college preparatory curriculum of instruction, tutoring, counseling, cultural, and recreational activities for multicultural, low income, first generation high school students Formulated and implemented program policy and procedures to recruit, counsel, and place students in postsecondary institutions Supervised professional and support staff Developed and managed the program s yearly budget Designed and managed database on participants progress in the program and college Ensured program compliance with all federal regulations
Authored program grant proposals for funding Developed collaborative postsecondary tracking/support systems with multiple higher education institutions C. McNish ² Provided leadership to relocate program facilities into a larger and modern space to accommodate program staff, students, programs, activities and services ² Designed and implemented a collaborative student retention agreement between multiple College/universities to ensure Upward Bound graduates of needed support services ² During a 10 year period, enrolled 92% of program participants in post secondary education institutions ² During an 8 year period, 89% of program participants increased overall grade point average by 1 point from their 9 th grade year to their senior year of high school ² Produced and hosted a student/family discussion program dealing with parent/student issues ranging from adolescence development to issues of in loco parentis. The program was recognized as a best practice model by professional peers ² Developed strategic planning model that was utilized for various steps of the university strategic planning process Acting Director/Associate Director, Upward Bound Project, Division of Academic Affairs Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan, 1988-1990 Supervised, trained, and evaluated professional and support staff Provided administrative management for project operations Managed project budget Recruited project participants Counseled and advised participants for academic, career and personal development Conducted workshops and seminars for personal development and growth Conducted community informational sessions about the project Designed and supervised grant proposal preparations Taught college first year seminar course Maintained congressional and community relations for project continuation ² Planned and organized minority male support group for academic and social support ² Designed and implemented first year college seminar utilizing University of South Carolina First Year Seminar model ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Teacher/Counselor, Washtenaw Area Public Schools, Washtenaw, Michigan Placement Coordinator, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan Assistant to Director, Student Support Services, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan Assistant Director, Minority Student Services, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT/TRAINING 5
Teaching and Studying Across National and Cultural Boundaries: Exploring Tensions, Am Teaching and Studying across National and Cultural boundaries: Exploring Tensions, Ambivalence and Understandings Regarding Race, Ethnicity and Identity Hiring for Cultural Competence: Practical Methods and Strategies To Get What You Need Effective Diversity Training Design: Understanding Your Audience, and Designing Appropriately and Effectively For What You Need and Want To Accomplish Retention, Assessment, and Teaching Effectiveness Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education Strategies for Improving Assessment and Evaluation in Student Affairs Practice Retention Through Resiliency A Framework for TRIO Education Utilizing Effective Assessment Strategies to Evaluate TRIO Program Services Utilizing Effective Assessment Strategies to Maximize Options for TRIO Students and Clients Legal Implications for Non-Profit Organizations: How to Prevent Lawsuits Expanding Postsecondary Options for Students with Disabilities SELECTED PRESENTATIONS Making Whiteness Visible: White Privilege and the Miami Community Miami University, 2009 Three Year Review: Utilizing the Faculty Learning Community as a Proactive and Reactive Model for Improving Campus Inclusion and Engagement through Dialogue and Action National Conference on Race & Ethnicity in American Higher Education, 2009 Diversity of the Visual Arts: A Matter of Effective Practice Miami University, 2008 Reflection of Cultural Climate on College Campuses: 50 Years of Progress and Retreats Miami University, 2008 Understanding, Recognizing, and Confronting Acts of Micro-Aggression Wayne County Diversity Council Retreat, 2007 Evaluation of the Twenty-first Century Scholars First Year Seminar Indiana Project on Academic Success, 2005 Twenty-first Century Scholars and Communities in Schools Collaboration: A Marriage Made in Heaven 6
Indiana/Mid-American Association Educational Opportunities Program Personnel, 2005 Mindfulness Stress Management Twenty-first Century Scholars Personnel, State Staff Retreat, 2004 Strategic Planning: A Model for Higher Education University of Akron, 1998 Legal Implications in Managing and Upward Bound Program Lorain county Community College, 1998 Historical Perspective of the Upward Bound Program at Oberlin College University of Akron, 1997 Leadership Theory and Practice for TRIO Personnel Ohio Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel, 1997 Pluralism Can We Get Along? Suomi College, 1996 Parents Make a Difference Ohio Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel, 1995 Under Pressure: Dealing with Stress on the Job Ohio Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel, 1995 PROFESSIONAL AFFLIATIONS American College Personnel Association Communities In Schools Ohio Consortium of Multicultural Centers in Higher Education Council of Opportunity in Education Mid-American Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel The Robert K. Greenleaf Center for Servant-Leadership SELECTED PAPERS Diversity Plan Model, Indiana University East, 2004 Assessment of the East Central Indiana Twenty-First Century Scholars Program Indiana University East, 2001 7
Self-efficacy Learning Model: A Practical Model for Upward Bound Programs, University of Akron, 1998 Strategic Planning: A model for Higher Education, University of Akron, 1998 Collaborative Action Research: To Improve Student s Access to Upward Bound Academic Support Services, Oberlin College, 1997 A Historical Perspective of the Oberlin College Upward Bound Program, Oberlin College, 1995 SELECTED UNIVERSITY ENGAGEMENT u Indiana University East: Multicultural Affairs Committee Strategic Management Process Diversity Cabinet School of Education Board of Advisors Indiana Project on Academic Success Campus Learning Community: Infusing Diversity into the Curriculum United States Department of Education Grant Proposal, Review Panelist u Miami University: Faculty Learning Community for Understanding and Developing an Inclusive Campus Climate University Multicultural Council Liberal Education Council Black History Celebration Committee Freedom Summer Advisory Council Latin American and Caribbean Festival Committee Connected @ Miami Mentor Program Let s Talk Dialogue Series Admissions Liaison Committee Association of Black Faculty and Staff Pre-Law School Advisory Council SELECTED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Mentor, Richmond Community Schools Board Member, Communities in Schools of Wayne County, Inc. Board Member, Junior Achievement of Eastern Indiana, Inc. Committee Member, Wayne County Diversity Council Committee Member, Talawanda School District Climate Committee Chair Person, City of Oberlin Human Relations Commission Assessment Team Consultant, Indiana Youth Institute HONORS AND AWARDS 8
Miami University Diversity Staff Award Indiana University East Martin Luther King, Jr. Multicultural and Diversity Enhancement Award Indiana University East Chancellor s Honors Award for Strategic Planning Leadership Service of Loyalty and Dedication Award Oberlin College Upward Bound Program Professional Development Award from the Ohio Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel Proclamation presented by the City of Oberlin, Ohio for Outstanding Achievements in the continuing education of youth Outstanding Contribution presented by the Lorain County Community Action Agency 9