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New director seeks collective effort from entire UA community

Kristy Mangos Arizona Daily Wildcat Alex Wright, director of UA African American Student Affairs, poses yesterday in front of the Martin Luther King building. Wright plans to enhance retention rates among freshmen and sophomore students.

Alex Wright has been the director of UA African American Student Affairs for just over a month, but already students are noticing an energetic man wandering around campus and randomly greeting people.

"I've been here five weeks and I feel I've met a thousand people," said Wright, who is also the associate director of the Department of Multicultural Programs and Services.

Wright replaced the previous director, Jesse Hargrove, who left the center in 1997. The position had since been held by Robin Lemon-Soape, the program coordinator of African American Student Affairs, said Kendal Washington White, director of DMPS.

Lemon-Soape held the position until Wright was chosen as the new director. She has since returned to her previous position as program coordinator, Washington White said.

Wright, who plays the flute and has run in 22 marathons since he was 16, came to the University of Arizona from Western Oregon University. He was Western Oregon's project director of the Student Enrichment Program and an instructor in the Health and Physical Education Department from 1994 to 1999.

Wright was also the interim director of a TRIO Program - a federally funded program that attempts to raise retention rates among low-income, first generation college students and students with disabilities.

"High retention involves intrusive support," Wright said. "Students and faculty must become involved in seminars, discussions groups, follow-ups and workshops."

One of Wright's goals at the UA is to extend the amount of interaction between students and faculty members - especially with younger students.

"I think it's particularly important to reach out to the freshman and sophomores because it is a fact that if the student makes it through the first year, their success rate goes up," he said. "I don't want to exclude the juniors and seniors, but the freshmen are crucial."

Olufunke Ajayi, a biochemistry freshman, said she was impressed with Wright's enthusiasm the first time she met him.

"I was going to class when he stopped me with a group of students and he was very acknowledging," Ajayi said.

"I heard stories that freshmen were neglected, but in some ways that is a false statement," she said. "It depends on who you run into. He benefits me just by communicating with me, checking up on me, seeing how I am doing at school and being understanding."

Wright said wandering around the campus during his spare time is his way of letting students know he is there for them.

"If people don't really know me - if I am sitting back in my office and they don't really get to know me - they are going to abandon me," he said. "I don't care what kind of student you are. Whether freshman or not, you need someone to watch over you and help you because college is a totally different ball game from high school."

Wright said he wants students to realize that faculty are available to "help them access resources in a more efficient and effective way and to help students utilize the study centers."

Washington White has also noticed his interaction with the community.

"I feel very confident in Alex's abilities," Washington White said. "He makes a point of visiting the Student Union and the Mall, and we know African-American students hang out (there)."

Washington White added that she thinks Wright can accomplish whatever he believes is important.

"He just started in August, but I think if he feels that it is a priority he is going to work really hard this year to make it a reality," she said. "As long as he gets the student, faculty, staff and black community's support, he will be more than helpful, but he can't do it alone."

Wright stressed the importance of UA campus community involvement, regardless of ethnic backgrounds or racial differences.

"This center is African American Affairs, but we have a responsibility in this center to reach out to the entire campus community - white, brown, black, pink - we want to have a center that's got something for everyone," Wright said. "It's not a black and white thing, it's a campus community thing. We want to see this place utilized by everyone."