Multicultural Student Leadership
Office/Department:  Center for Multicultural Student Services
Supervisor:  DeAndrae Powell
Number of positions:  1

Mission Statement:  The Center for Multicultural Student Services (CMSS) is an integral part of the student experience at James Madison University. CMSS strives to support campus through dialogue, leadership experiences and celebrations beyond the classroom that honor and value multiple identities.

Functional Areas: 

• Programming and events
• Leadership development
• Community building
• Student and cultural engagement 

Students who participate in this experience will gain an understanding of student affairs as a profession and the influence student affairs has on contemporary higher education through the following tasks and activities:

• Participation in Mosaic Connections training and weekly staff meetings, which provide insight into departmental operations and student support services.
• Assisting with leadership development initiatives, including seminars, student organization check-ins, and program calendar planning, which reflect core student affairs functions.
• Supporting multicultural and cultural education programming, such as First Fridays, MLK Celebration Week, and Heritage Month events, which demonstrate the role of student affairs in fostering inclusive campus environments.
• Engaging in experiential learning opportunities, including travel to conferences and leadership trips, which expose students to broader student affairs networks and practices.
• Supervising peer mentors and collaborating with programs like the Empowerment Network and Inter-Cultural Greek Council, which develop skills in mentorship, advising, and student engagement.
• Representing CMSS at university-wide events such as Student Org Night and recruitment fairs, showcasing the department’s role in student retention and outreach.
• Working closely with professional staff through one-on-one meetings and collaborative projects, offering mentorship and modeling professional standards in student affairs.

Students who participate in this experience will be exposed to the purposeful application of the following student development, career development, counseling, and/or organizational theories:

• Student Development Theories
  • Chickering’s Seven Vectors of Identity Development
    • Through leadership seminars, mentoring, and cultural programming, students explore identity, purpose, and interpersonal competence.
  • Astin’s Theory of Student Involvement
    • Active engagement in student organizations, programming, and campus events reflects the principle that learning and development are proportional to involvement.
  • Komives et al.’s Leadership Identity Development Model
    • Advising student leaders and supervising peer mentors supports the development of leadership identity through stages of awareness, engagement, and integration.
  • Critical Pedagogy & Social Justice Theory
    • Pedagogy of the Oppressed (Paulo Freire)
      • Students are empowered to co-create knowledge, challenge inequities, and foster critical consciousness through multicultural programming, mentoring, and leadership development. The assistantship encourages reflection, dialogue, and action—core tenets of Freire’s approach to liberatory education.
    • Leadership Theory
      • Social Change Model of Leadership Development
        • The assistantship promotes leadership as a process rooted in values such as consciousness of self, collaboration, common purpose, and citizenship—especially through Mosaic Connections, Empowerment Network, and student travel experiences.

Students assigned to this site will be able to participate in the following assessment and/or evaluation projects:

• Leadership Development Seminar Feedback
  • Collect and analyze participant feedback from CMSS leadership seminars, retreats, and workshops to assess learning outcomes and engagement.
• Student Organization Check-In Reports
  • Assist in compiling and evaluating data from regular check-ins with student organizations to monitor progress, challenges, and support needs.
• Peer Mentor Supervision & Evaluation
  • Supervise Mosaic Connections Peer Mentors and contribute to their performance evaluations through observation, feedback, and reflection tools.
• Program Impact Assessments
  • Support evaluation efforts for multicultural and cultural education programs such as:
    • First Fridays
    • MLK Celebration Week
    • The Donning
    • Heritage Month events
    • Homecoming ICGC Step-Show
  • Event Participation & Engagement Tracking
    • Help track attendance, engagement levels, and qualitative feedback from departmental events and student travel experiences (e.g., ELT, conferences).
  • Departmental Strategic Planning Input
    • Participate in staff meetings and planning sessions where assessment data is reviewed and used to inform future programming and departmental goals. 

Students who participate in this experience will be evaluated and provided on-going feedback in the following ways

• Weekly Staff Meetings
  • Students participate in CMSS team meetings where they receive informal feedback, share updates, and engage in collaborative reflection on departmental goals and initiatives.
• One-on-One Supervisor Meetings
  • Regular individual check-ins with the supervisor offer personalized feedback, professional development guidance, and space for reflection on leadership and performance.
• Student Employment Evaluation
  • A formal evaluation is recommended once per contract term using JMU’s student employee evaluation form. This includes assessment of job responsibilities, leadership contributions, and overall effectiveness.
• Peer Mentor Supervision Feedback
  • Students supervising Mosaic Connections Peer Mentors will engage in reciprocal feedback processes, including observation, coaching, and performance reviews.
• Event and Program Debriefs
  • After major events and leadership seminars, students participate in debrief sessions to reflect on outcomes, receive feedback, and identify areas for improvement.
• Collaborative Planning and Reflection
  • Students contribute to strategic planning and program development, receiving feedback on their ideas, leadership style, and impact on departmental initiative

Specific expectations of students assigned to this site include:

• Work Schedule Commitment
  • Collaborate with the supervisor to establish and maintain a consistent 20-hour per week work schedule.
• Early Arrival for Training
  • Arrive in August to participate in Mosaic Connections training and onboarding activities.
• Leadership Development Support
  • Assist with CMSS leadership seminars, student organization check-ins, weekly communications, and program calendar development.
• Cultural Programming Engagement
  • Support planning and execution of multicultural events such as First Fridays, MLK Celebration Week, The Donning, Heritage Month programs, and the Homecoming ICGC Step-Show.
• Student Travel Participation
  • Participate in at least one leadership travel experience (e.g., Experiential Learning Trip, regional/national conferences).
• Mentorship & Advising
  • Supervise Mosaic Connections Peer Mentors and assist with Empowerment Network, Inter-Cultural Greek Council, and Mosaic Connections programming.
• Departmental Representation
  • Represent CMSS at university-wide events including Student Org Night, CHOICES, DREAM (Admissions), and other recruitment/retention fairs.
• Administrative Responsibilities
  • Accurately complete and submit timesheets each pay period and fulfill other duties as assigned by CMSS leadership.
• Team Collaboration
  • Actively participate in weekly staff meetings and one-on-one supervisory sessions to support departmental goals and receive ongoing feedback.