IE Black Educators in Education
By Alyssah Hall
As we push further into 2025, Black Voice News is proud to introduce a new series focused on the impact of Black academics in leadership roles at colleges and universities across the Inland Empire.
Research shows a direct correlation between faculty diversity and student diversity. A diverse faculty positively impacts students in a number of ways including a student’s sense of belonging and the college or university’s ability to retain students of color–especially Black students. In addition, faculty members of color often provide mentorship and serve as role models for students of color encouraging them to persist in their pursuit of education and the attainment of a degree. It is also important to note that all students–not just Blacks–benefit from a diverse faculty.
Michael L. McClellan Makes History as 1st African American Associate Superintendent at Chaffey College
Michael L. McClellan, Ed.D. is the first African American to hold the position of Associate Superintendent of Instruction and Institutional Effectiveness at Chaffey College, and is responsible for the advancement of student success, learning budget development, curriculum development and anything under the category of instruction.
Monique Stennis Navigates Equity in Higher Education and Encourages Students to Thrive
Monique Stennis is a first-generation college graduate who has worked in higher education for over 15 years, and is now an adjunct teacher at the University of Redlands, where she teaches courses on business, communications and management, and is also a co-chair of a committee to promote diversity, equity and inclusion.
Dance Professor Imani Kai Johnson Challenges Traditional Learning Practices
Imani Kai Johnson, a professor of dance and Black Studies at UC Riverside, emphasizes the importance of dance and music in our lives and culture, and has developed a curriculum that goes beyond stage entertainment to engage the body in a way that interacts with the world.
Meet Dr. Brandon Gamble, CSUSB’s Director for the New Office of Black Student Success
Brandon Gamble has been appointed as the inaugural director of the Office of Black Student Success at California State University, San Bernardino, where he aims to expand support services and create a Black experience course for entering students.
Meet La Sierra University’s First Black President Dr. Christon Arthur
Christon Arthur, La Sierra University’s sixth president and first Black president since the school’s founding in 1922, is working to increase the university’s student population to 5,000 students in 10 years while maintaining a welcoming environment for all.