MUNCIE, Ind. – Brenda Greene, director of Ball State University's Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA), has accepted a position at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Her last day at Ball State is June 2.

Greene, who has been at Ball State since 1987, says despite having mixed emotions about leaving, the new position as special assistant to the chancellor for diversity and multicultural affairs in North Carolina was hard to refuse.

"The university is a small, liberal arts school – about 3,200 students – which makes it very exciting for me," said Greene. "I'm just ready for a change and this opportunity seems very appealing for a variety of reasons."

In her new position Greene won't work directly with students as she does now. Instead she will serve as university liaison and leader for a realm of multicultural and diversity issues.

Greene and her staff work with three student organizations who sponsor a variety of events, lectures and programs which focus on African-American, Asian-American, Native-American and Latino awareness, appreciation and celebration. She also works with students, student organizations and university employees not directly involved with OMA.

"Thanks to her efforts, many areas within the university incorporate multiculturalism in their programming and planning," said Barb Jones, associate vice president for student affairs. "She has shown a great willingness to work with people at all levels of the university — through workshops, meetings, classroom involvement and even casual conversation."

What began as the Office of Minority Student Development, which primarily focused on the needs of African-Americans, is now a broader defined, all-inclusive office which actively supports a wide variety of student efforts, Jones said.

"Her influence and work with students has built a solid foundation that will continue to move forward," Jones said.

Greene is proud of OMA's accomplishments over the years and agrees with Jones that OMA has a promising future.

"The kids are incredible," she said. "They bring so much excitement and vision to this office and to this university. I will miss them, but I also know they will continue to be sensitive to the needs of all students, from a variety of backgrounds, with a variety of needs."

Greene says many of tomorrow's students will increasingly be bi- and multi-racial and such students are refusing to "choose sides." As a result, universities will need to be sensitive to their specific needs in the future. Offices such as OMA will serve the needs of these students.

"It's criminal to graduate students who have no understanding of diversity issues," she said. "It's vital that we prepare our students with a ‘portfolio' of experiences with others different from themselves -- it makes them better students, better workers, better human beings."

Greene says she's confident Ball State will continue to move forward with diversity education and appreciation in the years to come.

She will be missed both professionally and personally, said Jones.