Don Sawyer III to Direct Multicultural Life at SUNY Cortland

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Don Sawyer III

CORTLAND, NY (07/22/2008)(readMedia)-- Don Sawyer III of Syracuse, N.Y., who is completing his doctorate in sociology at Syracuse University, joined SUNY Cortland on July 14 in the newly created position of director of multicultural life.

A current instructor and teaching assistant for the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, Sawyer will report to C. Gregory Sharer, the newly hired vice president for student affairs.

Sawyer will be responsible for developing and implementing programs, workshops and services to enhance awareness and appreciation of diversity, multiculturalism and pluralism. He will coordinate intellectual discourse among students, faculty and staff to promote the social benefits of diversity and multiculturalism, serve as a student advocate to ensure fair and equitable treatment and investigate ways to increase multicultural representation and enhance student graduation rates. Sawyer will advise student organizations, supervise a professional staff member and student workers.

"My hope is to focus on programming," Sawyer said. "I want to take diversity from being just in the Multicultural Life Office and bring it to all aspects of the campus so it has a greater impact. I would like to work with instructors and all parts of the campus, including bringing the community in for the program to be successful."

A native of Harlem, N.Y., who graduated from Mount Saint Michael High School, Sawyer has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Hartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y. He earned a Master of Science in Education: Multicultural Concentration and a Master of Arts in Sociology from Syracuse University.

As instructor and teaching assistant at Syracuse University since August 2007, Sawyer develops and teaches courses focusing on multiple areas in the field of sociology. He oversees and advises students and grades their work.

Previously, Sawyer served as a program consultant in the Office of Multicultural Affairs at Syracuse University from August 2007 to January 2008. There, he assisted with the development and coordination of the Multicultural Empowerment Network (M.E.N.).

Also at Syracuse University, Sawyer served four years as assistant director of student life. From 2002-03, he was assistant director of admissions.

A certified diversity trainer for Syracuse University and a certified conflict mediator for New York state, Sawyer founded and facilitated the Division of Student Affairs Umoja Student of Color Leadership Retreat.

Sawyer has given many public presentations on topics related to his research focus on urban education, school reform, the education achievement gap, access to higher education, cultural studies, pop culture in education and hip-hop culture.

Fulfilling leadership roles throughout the community, Sawyer is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and serves on the education team of the Southside Community Coalition in Syracuse. He also serves as a teacher of curriculum and facilitator of programs for urban youth at Mercy Works Inc., Vision Center. Sawyer provides leadership for Saturday Academy Fostering Excellence, an independent Saturday Academy for middle school students of African descent in the Syracuse community.

Sawyer's wife, LaToya, works as an administrative coordinator in Syracuse, N.Y. The couple have four children.

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