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By Stephanie Smith - January 19, 2009
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| Oluronke Taiwo of the Black Student Advising Centre. (Nick Pearce Photo) |
A big welcome to Oluronke Taiwo, the new black student advisor at Dalhousie’s Black Student Advising Centre (BSAC).
Originally from Nigeria, Ms. Taiwo brings extensive knowledge to BSAC: she has two master’s degrees (one in medical microbiology, the other in social work from Dalhousie), two bachelor degrees and four diplomas.
“The vision I have for BSAC is that all blacks in the Diaspora are brought together,” says Ms. Taiwo, whose job is to counsel and advocate for black students. “My second goal is to be inclusive with all the other departments and groups at the university, whereby we all work together for the benefit of the students. My long term goal is to create a database of professionals who will volunteer to be mentors for the black students at the Dalhousie University."
BSAC offers many programs for black students from Nova Scotia and elsewhere and indeed students of any ethnicity. The centre provides a resource room for peer support, a space for meeting and academic encouragement. It also has a computer lab. Students are encouraged to drop by for information on employment, scholarships, bursaries and special events, on and off campus.
Mentors help out high school students through conversation and support and are a shoulder to lean on in tough times.
“A high school student came to me and told me that if the mentor hadn’t been there they wouldn’t have been able to go through it,” says Ms. Taiwo.
Ms. Taiwo finds her work with the students very rewarding. She brings an incredible amount of passion and energy to her job.
“I am doing something to empower these students who have been put down. I went through something similar myself... and I tell those I counsel that they too can be successful.”
From Dr. King's dream to Barack Obama’s message of hope:The Black Student Advising Centre will host a dialogue between Dalhousie students, staff and community on Monday, Jan. 19. Entitled “A Legacy of Hope,” the event will remark on the relevance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream to peoples of African descent in 2009. The event starts at 6 p.m. in the McInnes Room, Student Union Building. A reception follows at 8:30 p.m. |
Readers Say
January 19, 2009 9:51 AM
More than 40years ago around the time Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke thess words, a child was born. A male child was born into the family of the Obamas - He was the dream Martin Luther King saw, the man with the Audacity of Hope to come (A model for all African descent, the man to make history and help renew the American promise) ..... was it a coincidence or Fate. I think it was Fate, it was meant to be, Barack Obama was destined to be born at that point in time and it was Fate also for Martin Luther King Jr. to give his speech (I could say he was the fore-runner of things to come). He prepared the ground, he saw into the future, he made known what was to be in the future.
The Obama victory signals a significant shift in U.S.It is also a remarkable change for all Black Americans and Africans as a whole – the victory signals to them that “They can be whosoever they want to be regardless of where they find themselves".
This is history, a significant history that torches everyone all over the world. I do believe that Obama will bring "Change we can believe in" and that he gives us reason to be hopeful. And just like he said, he is not promising a change that will happen in 2month,1year, 2 years. It’s going to be a gradual process of change but it’s definitely the start of a great change for a better America.
Well done Mrs Oluronke Taiwo for this great Historic Dialogue - You were destined to be the present Black Student Advisor at a time like this. So remember - YES, You Can
January 19, 2009 10:22 AM
Congratulations again Mrs. T. We are proud of you!
January 19, 2009 10:22 AM
Congratulations again Mrs. T. We are proud of you!
May 22, 2009 5:31 AM
microbiology.have a high national diploma would you please help me get a scholarship
thank
January 28, 2010 7:27 PM