CHATMAN DIVERSITY CENTER

Dedicated in 2019, the mission of the Dr. Cheryl Troutman Chatman Diversity Center is to engage Concordia students, faculty, staff and administration in building community and creating an institutional culture that respects, values, and celebrates diversity; and to provide opportunities for everyone to be agents of positive change in society.

What the Diversity Center Provides to the Campus Community

• Develop supportive and sustaining relationships across diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Serve as an advocate and respond to needs, issues, and concerns impacting diversity throughout the campus.
• Provide information and opportunities for student leadership, development, and scholarship.
• Serve as advisors and a support system for student organizations.
• Guide and direct students to on-and-off campus resources and services.
• Provide students with encouragement, advice and alternatives to a variety of challenges and opportunities.

Various academic, social and intercultural programs and activities are linked with the Diversity Affairs Office. Below are a few of the major campus initiatives and/or organizations. 

• Building Opportunities for Leadership and Development (BOLD) Scholarship Program
• Central High School - Intervention for College Attendance Program (ICAP)/Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID)/Seeds of Change Program
• Community Outreach 
  • Association of Black Women in Higher Education
  • ARTS US
  • Minnesota National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education
  • National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
• Diversity Conferences (Local/Regional) 
• Shades of Harmony Gospel Choir 
• Student Organizations
  • Black Student Union (BSU)
  • Concordia Hmong Unity Student Association (CHUSA)
  • Concordia Sisterhood of Empowerment (CSE)
  • Global Student Club (GSC)
  • Student for Latinos/as (SOL)
  • Indian Student Association (ISA)

Building Opportunities for Leadership and Development (BOLD) Scholarship Program

The scholarship is designed to provide students with the academic support and financial assistance needed for them to be successful here at Concordia University, St. Paul. Through this scholarship we help to assist students in developing their leadership potential. The goal of the BOLD Scholarship is to insure that students have a healthy and meaningful transition into the college environment and that students successfully complete their college education here at Concordia University, St. Paul. Through the scholarship, students receive individual attention, positive interactions, ongoing support and wonderful opportunities to grow intellectually, spiritually and socially. Participants are expected to:

• Utilize resources at Concordia University to improve their academic performance
• Attend individual meetings to assess each participant's needs and academic progress throughout each semester
• Attend on-and-off campus educational, cultural and social events planned or required by the program
• Encouraged to be involved in various organizations, social activities and other extracurricular activities

Shades of Harmony Gospel Choir 

The choir is a volunteer chorus made up of students, faculty, and staff from varying races, cultures and backgrounds who are interested in learning about, experiencing, and singing music from diverse cultures. The group focuses on the African American Gospel Choir tradition, but also explores choral music of other cultures. The group performs occasionally in Concordia's chapel service and/or an off-campus service performance.

Black Student Union (BSU)

Black Student Union aims to increase political, social and cultural awareness of the African American community. BSU's goal is to promote unity and diversity to revamp and stabilize a presence on campus through a series of events, socials and forums. 

For more information about BSU, please contact BSU's Staff Advisor: Larrick Potvin at lotvin@csp.edu.

Concordia Hmong Unity Student Association (CHUSA)

Concordia Hmong Unity Student Association (CHUSA) provides advocacy, leadership and community building opportunities on campus.  CHUSA’s mission is to promote Hmong culture, practices, and history through academic leadership workshops, events and collaborations. CHUSA offers students a channel to make meaningful connections with other students and the overall campus. CHUSA’s presence on campus is widely known and highly respected.

For more information about CHUSA, please contact CHUSA’s Staff Advisors: Victoria Thao (vthao@csp.edu) and Loc Luong (luong@csp.edu)

Concordia Sisterhood of Empowerment (CSE)

Concordia Sisterhood of Empowerment is an organization that encourages young women of Concordia to celebrate individual accomplishments, support each other in difficult times, and empower one another to become leaders in the community. CSE offers students a channel to build connections with other women on campus to support them along with having workshops/lectures to discuss women's rights and society's view on women. 

For more information about CSE, please contact CSE's Staff Advisors: Linda Lee (llee@csp.edu) and Esther Vuong (vuong@csp.edu)

Global Student Club (GSC)

Global Student Club is a club for all CSP students who are interested in learning about new cultures, countries, and global topics. GSC provides a place for any enrolled CSP student to share their global experiences, learn from other students about their global experiences, learn about new cultures, and have fun!

For more information about GSC, please contact GSC's Staff Advisors: Kate Larson, (klarson@csp.edu) and Tiffanie Loeb Schneider (loebschneider@csp.edu)

Student for Latinos/as (SOL)

Student for Latinos/as purpose is to increase awareness and appreciation of the U.S. Latino/a, Chicano/a, and Latin American culture and heritage at Concordia St. Paul. They are committed to fostering relationships within our CSP community and beyond. The club hosts a variety of events including movie nights, sports challenges, and loteria!

For more information about SOL, please contact GSC's Staff Advisors Lina Baker (lbaker@csp.edu).

Indian Student Association (ISA)

The Indian Student Association wishes to enrich the cultural atmosphere at Concordia by celebrating Indian traditions and festivals. They seek to be a dynamic organization that creates an active social network for the Indian community at CSP. 

For more information about ISA, please contact Kimberly Newton (knewton@csp.edu).