Board of Counselors Fund

Today, the Board has grown to more than 60 members chosen from Oxford’s most committed alumni, friends, and community partners. The board now plays a leading role in helping to create the conditions for students to thrive and work towards their full potential, as individuals, and as groups. To achieve these aims, the board raises funds to support programs with an emphasis on scholarships, leadership development, career exploration, and fostering a sense of community and belonging for all students. Board members have also funded campus building renovations and new construction to both preserve Oxford’s history and ensure students benefit from first- rate facilities.

In 2018, the Board established The Counselors Fund, inviting students to develop leadership skills by applying for grant money to fund promising ideas that will continue to grow the sense of community that is the heart of Oxford.

The Counselors Fund Task Force was established to review these student grant applications and approve funding for worthwhile initiatives. In the past grant recipients have used funding to attend educational conferences and competitions, host campus-wide ethnic and cultural-themed festivals and religious holidays, organize social impact initiatives, conduct research, visit places of interest including museums and sites of historic significance, and bring various forms of enrichment to campus including music, films, and speakers, to name a few.

The open application period runs from late- September through mid- March. The grants are considered on a rolling basis. Students are notified within one week of completing the application. If the request is time sensitive, a response can be fast- tracked.

Stakeholder Roles and Responsibilities

Counselors Fund Operations Team

The Fund’s Task Force Co- Chairs formed an official team to divide the work of promoting and administering the Counselors Fund. The team has five working Oxford Staff members who, along with the Fund Task Force Co- Chairs, attend meetings. They include the Assistant Director of Alumni Advancement and Engagement, the Director, Life Design, Leadership and Engagement, a Marketing Operations Specialist and a Student Liaison to the Board.

Other administrative stakeholders who play important roles include Oxford’s Dean, the Associate Dean of Alumni Advancement and Engagement, The Chairman of the Oxford Board of Counselors, and the Faculty/Staff sponsors (required for students to apply for a grant).

Stakeholders

• Dean, Oxford College: Badia Ahad
• Chairman, Oxford’s Board of Counselors: Michele Sims
• Associate Dean of Advancement and Alumni Engagement: Kevin Smyrl
• Assistant Director of Alumni Advancement and Services: Latasha Brown
• The Counselor’s Fund Task Force Co- Chairs: Dr. Michael Mc Quaide and Jennifer Purdon
• Director, Life Design, Leadership and Engagement: Claire DePalma
• Marketing Operations Specialist: Julia Kim
• Student Liaison to the Board of Counselors Fund: Chloe Kahn

Board of Counselors Fund Taskforce Members

• Participate in the Counselor Fund meetings throughout the year.
• Deliberate and vote on grant applications and policies as they need to be developed.
• Support co- chairs with their responsibilities as needed.
• Serve as mentors to student grantees as the opportunity arises

Henry Anthony
Joe Bartenfeld
Keith Burns
Santana Flanigan
Judy Greer
Paul Jackson
Michele Johnson
Michael Silverio
Avis Williams