Walsh University has appointed Carrilyn Long as the University’s new Director of Multicultural Affairs.
As Director of Multicultural Affairs, Long will be responsible for coordinating a broad range of student centered activities and programs to promote multicultural education and development for students, faculty and staff. The director will work collaboratively with many University departments and entities including the Student Success Team, Student Activities, International Student Services, and Academic Advising. The Director of Multicultural Affairs reports directly to Walsh Dean of Students Bryan Badar.
"It is a tremendous honor to have Carrilyn Long join the Student Affairs team as the Director of Multicultural Affairs. The scope of her professional experience as an administrator, educator and mentor will be an incredible asset to further develop multicultural programs, services and support at Walsh University," said Dean Badar. "Many of our students have already expressed how incredibly blessed they feel to have a person with such a clear passion for student development serve in this role on campus. We very much look forward to supporting Carrilyn in her new role on campus."
In addition to her new responsibilities, Long will continue in her current role as the Field and Clinical Placements Coordinator with the Walsh Division of Education.
Carrilyn Long joined the Walsh University community in 2013 as an adjunct faculty member in the Division of Education. Prior to Walsh, she spent 20 years of her career at Stark State College serving as a faculty member in Human and Social Services Education, and was eventually appointed as the Dean of Education and Human Services. Carrilyn is very involved in the Stark County community and has been recognized for her outstanding service and leadership. This past March, she was honored for her community-building efforts with two local awards, the Walsh Woman of Distinction Excellence in Academic Leadership Award and a 2018 Black History Month Trailblazer Award from the Canton City School District.
"My passion has always been in supporting all students and helping them to succeed. Throughout my career, I have been active in retention initiatives that help to support students of color in their pursuit of a higher education degree. In fact, my doctorate focused on the retention of African-American students in the college setting," said Long. "It’s important for everyone on a college campus to reach out to students daily, and ask them how they are doing and if they need anything. I think it is vitally important for all students, no matter who they are, to feel that level of support at their institution."
After receiving the endorsement of Walsh’s Diversity Council last fall, Long developed Walsh’s Cultural Connections program, which kicked-off in January 2018 with its first Mentorship Dinner. The Cultural Connections Program was designed to pair multicultural students with mentors who hold leadership roles in the community.
Long earned her bachelor’s degree in Family Relations and Human Development from The Ohio State University, her master’s in Social Service Administration from Case Western Reserve University and is currently completing her doctoral dissertation from Walden University.