Chapman University has hired Athina Cuevas as the new Assistant Director of the Chapman Cross-Cultural Center (CCC) and Promising Futures Program (PFP) in order to support students of all backgrounds and identities. 

The CCC at Chapman, created in 2017 by the Dean of Students Office, is designed to spread empathy and community and support students in developing their own identities. Meanwhile, the PFP, created in 2011, is a program devoted to supporting first-generation students in college, a goal that Cuevas has worked to achieve in previous positions. 

Before being hired at Chapman, Cuevas worked at Harvey Mudd College in the Upward Bound Program, a college access program geared to helping first-generation and low-income students in their college experience. 

Cuevas was also a sister of the Omega Phi Beta Sorority and has been active in the local alumnae chapter. The Omega Phi Beta sorority will be coming to Chapman next school year. 

“Regarding the Golden Panthers, I am simply a sister supporting the expansion endeavor,” Cuevas said. 

Cuevas underwent the hiring process earlier this year, which was run by a panel of staff, faculty and students. Cuevas has been officially working at Chapman since late March 2023.

“When I read the job description, I was like, ‘Ooh, this description, I feel like it's meant for me.’ And that's when I started just completing the application,” Cuevas told The Panther. “When I did my on-campus interview, the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) did an amazing job communicating with me and preparing me.”

Araceli Martinez, the executive director of the CCC and PFP, told The Panther how Cuevas’s role will add to their team.

“This position will, without question, benefit PFP and the CCC,” Martinez told The Panther. “(Cuevas) has had great experience working with students through TRIO umbrella programs that support our diverse communities and first-generation students. These are college preparatory programs for high school students and assist them through the high school to college transition.”

Regarding the future of the CCC and PFP, Martinez stressed the importance of evolving the programs while still retaining the positive aspects. 

“We want to acknowledge and honor the history of both (the CCC and PFP) while pivoting and moving forward with new changes and trends,” Martinez said. “For next year, we want to continue reaching out to students to collaborate and partner with as well as departments, staff and faculty.”

Misty Levingston, the Director of Black Excellence and Achievement at Chapman, said that she believes Cuevas will add on to the welcoming atmosphere of the CCC.

“When we met (Athina) for her in person interview, I was like, ‘I could work with her.’ Just her vibe (and) her personality was very much complimentary to our office,” Levingston told The Panther. “We have a great vibe in our office. We all help each other. We all have experience in our positions, what we bring to the table… Her being here just complements our DEI office.”

Levingston worked with Cuevas this year to prepare for the cultural graduation ceremonies that Chapman holds to support graduating students with differing identities. The graduation programs are the international graduation, first-generation, Middle Eastern, lavender (LGBTQ), veterans, Asian Pacific Islander Desi American, disability, Black graduation and Latinx graduation. 

In future years, Levingston expressed her excitement to work with Cuevas through her work with first-generation students. 

“In the future, because we have a lot of intersecting identities, I can see a lot of our Black students (who are) first-generation students collaborating on programming to ensure that the students get the services that they need and to just have that sense of belonging,” Levingston said. “It's just a great program, and I'm excited for all of it.”

Now that she has gotten settled in her new position, Cuevas is excited about many aspects of Chapman’s CCC and PFP programs.

“I'm really looking forward to really collaborating with faculty and staff and creating programming,” Cuevas said. “Overall, it's been a smooth, very exciting and fruitful transition into Chapman.”