Dr. Pamela Ross McClain invested the past 13 years of her career writing and overseeing paperwork as the Saginaw School District’s grants director for federal and state funds.
Now she has an open door to more frequently express her own outlook and persona, like when she was a young poet during the 1980s at Arthur Hill High School.
For Delta College, she is the first-ever chief officer of culture, belonging and community building.
But it’s not like she’s a newcomer. She recalls school-age field trips, and later taking classes out on the edge of Bay County, and early in her career when she was an adjunct professor at the Ricker Center in Buena Vista.
An example of her efforts to make sure all are respected and included will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 15, in Room J-131 on the main campus.
The discussion topic will be, “Racial Identity, Intersectionality, and the 10 Cultural Lenses. Admission is free and attendees are welcome to bring their lunches. Parking is in the east campus lot, which is on your side if you enter from Bay Road and the opposite side if your route is via Mackinaw Road.
Patrons may wish to prepare by researching “The 10 Lenses: Your Guide for Living and Working in a Multicultural World,” authored by Mark Williams, a nationally-known business writer.
Even without the advance prep, participants will receive tools to examine their social identities, privilege, and power.
“I look forward to working toward making sure that everyone feels seen and valued in our learning community,” Dr. Ross McClain says. “My ultimate goal is to make sure that every student has a nurturing and supportive learning experience that will contribute to successful completion of their educational journey at Delta College.”
She holds a bachelor’s degree in English and Afro-American and African Studies from the University of Michigan; a master’s degree in Afro-American Studies from Cornell University; a doctorate from Michigan State University; and a secondary teaching certificate from SVSU.
