CLA PES Advisors & Staff
CLA-PES advisors and staff provide a number of services that address the needs of students with diverse backgrounds and characteristics.
Director of Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion | Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Program | PES CLA Undergraduate Education
[email protected] | 612-624-3877
Alexander earned a B.S. in management studies and a double minor in history and psychology from the University of Maryland, University College, European Division, Heidelberg, Germany, and a master's of education degree in counseling and guidance services from Clemson University with an emphasis in student affairs. He served in the United State Air Force as a non-commissioned officer for 12 years and considers one of his most noteworthy experiences, besides serving and living abroad for 14 years, is guarding 52 of the 60 American-held hostages of the Iran crisis.
Alexander has 26 years of experience in higher education in student and academic affairs working with traditional, non-traditional, first-generation, underserved, and underrepresented with high school and college students and their parents/caregivers with intersectional identities. Being a first-generation college student and African American man, his passions are African American/Black Identity development, and assisting underrepresented and underserved high school students to gain access to higher education and helping them to become successful in pursuing their dreams of obtaining a postsecondary degree. He is very active in the communities where he works and considers himself to be a change agent and transformational leader.
Alexander has co-authored articles and book chapters to include: The Miseducation of Nigger in American Public Schools, Talking About Race, Alleviating the Fear (2013); The Light of Knowledge and Reason: Some Essential Competencies that B-20 Faculty Need to Master in Order to Facilitate Student Success. The Journal of Educational Research and Interdisciplinary Studies (2013): Cultural Awareness and Congruence: A Paradigm Shift through Immersion and Intentionality, Journal of International Social Issues (2015); and Nurturing Cultural Competence while facilitating the developmental progression of the Cognitive Lens: Culturally Responsive and Relevant Pedagogy, Black Critical Studies Reader (2016).
Alexander has conducted various diversity, cultural competence workshops, trainings and presentations at the state, regional and national level including two-year and four-year institutions, nonprofit and for-profit organizations.
He is the recipient of numerous awards from colleges, universities, and national organizations he has served with but his most notable awards include Minnesota Education Equity Partnership (MnEEP) Ron McKinley “All My Relations Award” December 2016: JV Educational Consultants – The Calvin P. Styles Service Award The Educational Leadership Award (2016); John Latsch Winona Human Rights Award (2014, 2013 & 2012); MnSCU Academic and Student Affairs Annual Award for Innovative Partnering and Collaboration, Preparing Future Teachers for Cultural Competence, Culturally Responsive Teaching to Deliver Culturally Relevant Pedagogy in the Classroom - Collaboration with WSU Inclusion and Diversity Office, Southeast Technical College, WSU College of Education, Riverland Community College and Target Corporation (2013); Minnesota Campus Compact President’s Civic Engagement Stewards Award (2013); and the Tennessee Governor’s Certificate of Appreciation for the Passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act Conference: “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around” Conference (January 2005); and the New Professional of the Year Award, Southeastern Association of Colleges and Employers (2001).
Alexander’s favorite quote is by the late Dr. Asa Hilliard, “When you begin to do things that raise the achievement of the poorest and disenfranchised students, you may not always get applause. You need to be ready for that.”
Academic Advisor
Chong Vang was born and raised in Milwaukee, WI. However, he completed his BS at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. There Chong worked many on-campus jobs and connected with the TRIO program. He is a first generation American and the first of his family to receive a degree. Being the trailblazer for his family, Chong has always strived to support and empower those around him.
Outside of work, Chong enjoys watching sports, trying new food places, listening to music and playing video games. You can always talk about song recommendations to add to his playlists.
Appointment link: chong.appointments.umn.edu
Academic Advisor
Fadumo Haji-Aweis is a first-generation college student, Fadumo received her B.A. in English Literature and her M.Ed. with a Communication Arts/Literature Teaching License from the University of Minnesota. She was also a part of the PES program during her undergraduate years. Prior to joining the PES team, Fadumo was a middle and high school English teacher. She enjoys bringing new and challenging perspectives to the classroom as well as making corny jokes and TikToks with her young scholars. Fadumo is a part of the large and still-growing Somali community of Minneapolis and hopes to use her knowledge and lived experiences to better serve those that look like her and those who don’t. In her time outside work, she enjoys curating an aesthetically pleasing Instagram feed, traveling, film photography, hanging out with friends, and matching with her nieces.
Appointment link: fadumo.appointments.umn.edu
