The Office of Multicultural Student Services at Ferris State has big things coming for students.
The mission of OMSS is to provide a space to celebrate diversity on campus and provide students with opportunities for leadership development.
OMSS works with students to connect them with resources for transitioning to college, as well as assisting with retention and graduation for underrepresented students on campus.
The office is also in charge of hosting several events throughout the year for students to attend to celebrate our diverse populations on campus.
Colleen Green, hired in January of this year, is the new senior diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging officer at Ferris. She is also the current standing director of OMSS.
Prior to coming to Ferris, Green worked at Central Michigan University as the director of the Office of Indigenous Affairs. She also worked in the Student Transition Enrichment Program.
Green chose to come to Ferris because of the atmosphere, as well as what the students have to offer.
For Green, maintaining OMSS as a safe and open space for students is one of her top priorities.
“I think that the former directors did a fantastic job of educating our campus on the diverse cultures that are here,” Green said. “It’s more so continuing that legacy that was built, then continuing to look at higher education as being transformative for our students, doing right by our students to create that sense of belonging, and also educating them on different cultures and opportunities.”
Green also stated that by celebrating diversity on campus, students will be better prepared to handle a diverse workforce post-graduation.
The work that Green is building on focuses on educating student life with various events for Black History Month, Asian American Pacific Islander Month, Hispanic Heritage Month and Native American Heritage Month, among others.
As the current standing director of OMSS, Green’s focus is not solely on supporting students to the best of the office’s ability but also on supporting an inclusive culture on campus.
“It takes a village to get our students graduated,” Green said. “The hope is to make sure that when you start here as a freshman, you feel like you belong, and you find those lifelong friends.”
Green also stated that the office put a heavy focus on getting feedback from students about what they want to see in OMSS and on campus.
During Green’s time at Ferris, she has worked with student organizations on campus to provide students with opportunities to learn about different cultures and celebrate diversity.
Students seem to be happy with the path OMSS is on and what Green is doing with the office as well.
Diagnostic medical sonography senior Keymoni McKinney appreciates the space that OMSS provides for students.
“I feel like it brings everybody together,” McKinney said. “Making a home so anybody can walk in here and just sit and chat or do homework, it’s like a home away from home.”
Social work sophomore Jenaysha Warren is happy with the engagement Green has with students at OMSS.
“It’s more of a positive atmosphere than last year,” Warren said. “If she’s not in her office, she’ll jump into conversations. There was one time when they had a staff meeting and she let me, and some friends, stay as long as we were giving input.”
Currently, the office is searching for a long-term director. Green will be bringing in two candidates within the next month.
However, Green will continue to serve in her position as senior DEIB officer, as well as overseeing the LGBTQ+ Resource Center and the Hispanic Latino Cultural Center.
OMSS has several upcoming events in celebration of Native American Heritage Month, including guest speakers, a trivia night and a beading demonstration event.