RC Staff
Demetrius Colvin (he/him)
Director of the Resource Center
As the director of the RC, my role is to maintain a centralized location on campus that recognizes and celebrates diverse and underrepresented identities and create meaningful avenues for both privileged and marginalized individuals and groups to learn together about privilege and intersectionality and actively contribute to equity on campus. Prior to Wesleyan, I worked at Macalester College, where I was the assistant director of the Lealtad-Suzuki Center for Multicultural Life. I also previously worked as the coordinator of the Multicultural Resource Center at Amherst College. I earned my BA in international studies from Case Western and also my M.Ed. in counseling from the University of Maryland College Park. I am also an affiliate faculty member in the College of Education Studies at Wesleyan and the instructor of the course EDST 221: Decolonizing Education, where Freirean approaches to dialogue are used to help students learn about the sociopolitical realties of the educational systems within which they have been educated. If you have an idea or need that you think The Resource Center may be able to address please contact me or one of my staff members! My email is dcolvin@wesleyan.edu.
Emmy Penisson (they/them)
Associate Director of the Resource Center
Prior to working at Wesleyan, I was a Residence Director for UMass Amherst and prior to that I was a Graduate Residence Director for Indiana University of Pennsylvania. I earned my dual B.A. & B.S from the University of Pittsburgh in English Literature and Psychology as well as my M.A. in Student Affairs and Higher Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. As the associate director of The RC, I play a key role in advancing the coordination of heritage month programming, supporting student affinity groups, and contributing to initiatives like the First Things First program for first-generation and low-income students. Feel free to reach out anytime you need support, a friendly face, or some hope amidst the chaos. My email is epenisson@wesleyan.edu.
Evelyn Maldonado (she/her/ella)
Administrative Assistant
My role as an Administrative Assistant, IV for The Office of Equity and Inclusion at Wesleyan University, is to support April Ruiz, Associate Vice President and Dean for Equity & Inclusion, and to support Demetrius Colvin, Director of The Resource Center, and The Resource Center with organization, administrative duties, financial affairs, events coordination, and planning. Please let me know how I can help make The RC community and facilities your home away from home!
Programming Assistants
The Programming Assistants support and create diverse community programming related to The RC areas of focus of Race, Ethnicity, and Nationality, Gender and Sexuality, and Socioeconomic Status and Disability. If you have an idea to support multicultural communities at Wes, please reach out to us!
2025-2026 Programming Assistants: Gad Nkurunziza, Heaven Constant, Chingun Tsogt-Erdene, Amber Bretz, Shekinah Mba, Zain Punjawani, Marlene Bermudez, Ariadna Garcia, Tess Soriare, Sophia Karson, Connor Davitt
Marketing Assistants
Marketing Assistants are in charge of translating great ideas and initiatives into legible and effective marketing and communication strategies through web, print, and social media. We create marketing materials for the center and work collaboratively with the Resource Center interns to ensure that all sociocultural/affinity/social justice related programs are properly represented and advertised on campus.
2025-2026 Marketing Assistants: Nagis Husssaini, Tran Chau, Minaal Khwaja, Daniela Hernandez, Bryce Hartz
Office Assistants
As Office Assistants we staff the Resource Center’s office hours and are available to assist Resource Center interns and other students with projects related to the center’s mission. We collaborate with other staff members to create events and initiatives supporting multiculturalism on campus. Our goal is to create a welcoming environment in the center and be a resource for any visitors! At least one office assistant is always working in the Resource Center during all hours of operation- come find us if you have questions about the center or want to collaborate on a project!
2025-2026 Office Assistants: Rey Alvarez, Harmony Hoogs, Guillermo Arellano, Yaju Pradhan, Sean Mejia, Asper Cisse, Sage Westrick
Office Manager
Office Manager is responsible for making sure the Resource Center runs smoothly and is always staffed and stocked. They run the Resource Center lending library, compostable materials program, space reservations, and all the inventory needs of the center.
2025-2026 Office Manager: Reniand Somenou