After serving as director of the Office of Diversity & Inclusion (ODI) for less than two years, Dr. Jamie Riley will leave his desk at Longwood behind on Jan. 30. Riley will soon begin his role as director of University of California, Berkeley’s new LEAD Center.
Riley began his time at Longwood in July 2011, bringing several years of experience in higher education-level student affairs to his position. He has previously worked at the University of Georgia, Morehouse College, Western Kentucky University and DeVry University-Atlanta.
During Riley’s time at the university, he started the Student Diversity and Inclusion Council (SDIC) and founded the N.H. Scott Center for Diversity & Inclusion, a student work and lounge resource area within the ODI.
“I think my biggest goal or objective while I was here was to really bring a foundation to what our diversity office did, our initiatives or our purpose on campus,” Riley said.
Riley said he began his work in the ODI focusing on programming, experiences and developing a relationship with multicultural and minority students. “They see the office as a support for them as they function throughout the campus environment.”
“He has worked tirelessly to create opportunities and programs that service our multicultural students as well as the university as a whole,” said Shawn Gaines, ODI office assistant and senior.
Gaines noted that Riley started several programs during his
time at Longwood, including the aforementioned SDIC, of which Gaines is a member, the GABLE-S weekly LGBTQQIA support group and an A.S.K., a free tutoring service for multicultural students.
Gaines called Riley a “phenomenal asset” to the university. “He fervently believes that all people are equal. He advocates for students and works tirelessly to ensure that students are having the best experience on campus.”
“Dr. Riley initiated so many positive programs and activities that have set a template that we can build on in the future in order for us to continue the outreach, support and leadership opportunities for our students,” said Dr. Tim Pierson, vice president for Student Affairs.
Pierson credited Riley for his role in the ODI’s sponsoring of more than 50 “programs, trainings and/or educational workshops aimed at increasing the awareness, knowledge and skills of students, staff and faculty pertaining to issues of diversity, social justice, inclusion and equity.”
Pierson also commended Riley for his work with the Social Justice in Action Leadership Summit, a weekend-long summit; the L.I.F.T. Leadership Series, a leadership symposium held monthly with a focus on strengthening cultural- based leadership; and 20 scholarships to the Mountain Lake Leadership Conference for student leaders in the university’s 14 culturally-based organizations.
As for the future of the ODI, Riley began training Courtney Jones, the new interim director of the ODI, on Jan. 24.
Jones was previously meant to assume the role of assistant director but will serve as interim director until the university selects the permanent director. She has five years of previous experience at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, where she served as assistant director within the university’s Office of Multicultural Affairs.
Riley said no decisions have been made about who will permanently assume the role of ODI director, but he believes Jones is a “young, energetic professional who I think is looking for that opportunity”
In the meantime, Riley hopes the ODI will continue to grow. “I hope we’ll continue to empower our students from minority and cultural backgrounds,” he added.
He also hopes the university will put more resources behind campus- wide programs on diversity and that the mentor program will develop more.
As for Riley’s new position, UC Berkeley approached him about the opportunity at the end of the fall semester.
Riley aspires to become a vice president for Student Affairs within the next five to 10 years and, ultimately, a university president; he felt the position at UC Berkeley would help lead him in that direction. He also appreciates the university’s international reputation.
The decision to leave Longwood was a difficult one for Riley. “I’ve enjoyed interacting with the students, I’ve enjoyed helping them develop their interests and counseling with them, but for me this opportunity definitely aligned with what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go.”
As director of the LEAD Center at
UC Berkeley, Riley will supervise a staff of 15 to 20 people, in comparison to his staff of five at Longwood. He will oversee fraternity and sorority life, leadership programs, student activities, advising and multicultural programs similar to the ODI.
Riley will miss the students more than anything else at Longwood. “Out of all the universities I’ve worked with, I’ve enjoyed my relationship probably the most with these students here,” he said. “I’ll miss the energy and the passion that these students have.”
However, if Longwood presents Riley with the chance to return to the university in a position that aligns with his future goals, he is open to returning one day.
“I hope that if the future opportunity for me to come back ever presents itself, I can take that opportunity.”
