Students Jean Padilla and Kimberly Roman to serve on Black Studies search committee

SUNY New Paltz has appointed Jean Padilla ’16 (Sociology – Criminology) and Kimberly Roman ’17 (Early Childhood Education – Black Studies B-6) to serve alongside faculty and staff on a committee guiding a national search for a full-time/tenure-track faculty position in the Black Studies Department.

Through a thoughtful step-by-step process, the search will guide the hiring of one or two faculty positions if the candidate pool warrants and will help to rebuild the Black Studies Department in the wake of recent resignations, retirements and transfers. The national search advertisement for a full-time/tenure-track position has been posted publicly and shared with students and the College community.

Both Padilla and Roman hail from the Bronx and are strong leaders among students in the Black Studies Department. Their service on the committee and commitment to the Black Studies Student Organization will offer student perspectives to the important search for new faculty.

Padilla is actively involved on campus and works to dispel stereotypes associated with juvenile offenders. This fall, he organized four volunteer trips with his Phi Iota Alpha fraternity brothers to the Highland Residential Center, a juvenile detention facility that houses males ages 13-18. He has also mentored formerly incarcerated youth at the Center for Community Alternatives in Brooklyn and sees himself continuing this work when he graduates next spring.

Roman is an Admissions Ambassador at the College and was inducted as a member of the Beta Omicron Chapter of the Chi Alpha Epsilon (XAE) National Honor Society at the 13th Annual XAE Induction Ceremony in 2015. The event recognized the academic achievements of 43 Educational Opportunity Program students who have maintained grade-point averages above 3.0 for at least two consecutive semesters.

For more information on rebuilding the Black Studies Department visit newpaltz.edu/blackstudiesrebuilding.