New Faculty Mentor to Students of Color

Jordana Moore Saggese is an art historian who specializes in contemporary art with an attention to the visual culture of African Americans and the African diaspora. She's also CCA's newly appointed faculty mentor to students of color, as was announced by the President's Diversity Steering Group (PDSG). The appointment, part of the latest diversity-related news at CCA, points to the college's ongoing commitment to foster a community of greater diversity.

Saggese is an assistant professor in the undergraduate Visual Studies Program and the graduate programs in Visual and Critical Studies and Fine Arts. Her research and teaching interests include critical race art history, performance art, identity politics, postcolonial theory, African diaspora theory, as well as the intersections between musical, visual, and literary practices.

"My appointment is a direct reflection of the college's efforts to not just increase diversity on campus but also to sustain and to nurture it," explained Saggese. "As a first-generation college student and a woman of color in the academy, I am excited by the opportunity to offer CCA students the support, mentorship, and guidance that I myself lacked during my undergraduate studies. So, my investment in the faculty mentor position is quite personal."

Mentorship Goals

The main goals of the mentorship are as follows:

• to provide mentorship for students of color, regardless of area of study
• to encourage the exchange of ideas and dialogue around what it means to be a student of color at CCA
• to assist students in navigating the various college resources available to them (including Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, Financial Aid, Residential Life, and Center for Art and Public Life)
• to foster connections between students and the larger community of artists, architects, and designers of color in the Bay Area.

Said Associate Provost and PDSG cochair Melanie Corn: "Since joining the faculty in 2008, assistant professor Saggese has been an incredibly active teacher and scholar as well as an engaged colleague and mentor. Eager to support her students and provide service for the college, Jordana was the obvious choice for this new position. I'm thrilled that we continue to improve our resources that support the retention and success of all our students."

The faculty mentor role will focus attention specifically on first-year students in both undergraduate and graduate programs, but will be available to all students. Saggese will hold weekly drop-in hours on each campus so that students may meet to talk individually or collectively about their desires, expectations, and challenges in a safe and open environment.

Saggese adds, "I am here as that point of contact for students of color, who might seek help figuring out who to call at the Financial Aid office, where to shop for certain foods around campus, how to build a professional network, or I can just be someone to listen.

"One of the best things about this appointment is that I am able to connect with and provide support to students across the college, outside of the programs in which I teach. This is because I interact with students in a variety of ways—through organized events, phone calls, Skype chats, informal meetings on campus, or email."

Please contact Jordana directly at jsaggese@cca.edu for more information. You may also contact her via Skype: jsaggesecca.

For questions regarding the college's diversity-related initiatives, email or visit President's Diversity Steering Group (PDSG).

Related

CCA diversity news
CCA Library catalogue resources
Diversity scholarships
Student organizations