Meet Pan-African Student Success Center Interim Coordinator Roryana Bowman
Roryana Bowman’s path to her role as interim coordinator for the Pan-African Student Success Center was an unexpected journey for the Ohio native.
Her passion for the deaf and hard of hearing communities inspired Roryana to move to California with her children and partner to pursue a degree in American Sign Language at Riverside City College. She will be earning her degree this spring.
Along the way, Roryana continued her education by also pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies at Cal State San Bernardino. While at CSUSB, Roryana enhanced her leadership skills and became involved on campus. She served as co-president of the Black Student Union, president of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, vice president of the African American Sisterhood, student representative for the Black Faculty, Staff and Student Association, and worked on campus as a student assistant.
The knowledge, skills, and connections she made at CSUSB positioned her to be the perfect candidate for interim coordinator of the Pan-African Student Success Center. According to Roryana, “I can understand [students] from being in their shoes, not even that long ago, which makes me passionate about the work that I now do in this center and in higher ed."
“My job as the coordinator of the Pan-African Student Success Center is to eliminate obstacles that Black and Pan-African students experience when trying to achieve their degree,” said Roryana.
She strives for the Pan-African Student Success Center to be a safe space where students can come and be their authentic selves. For Roryana, it is important for the center to be a home away from home for students.
“Our students are with us more than they are with their parents, especially when you think of students who are transitioning straight out of high school,” said Roryana.
According to the center's website, the Pan-African Student Success Center provides students the following services:
- Referrals for on-campus and community resources
- Complimentary coffee and snacks
- Access to a refrigerator and microwave
- Free printing
- Programs and events that help foster a strong sense of community on campus
- Cultural library
- Comfortable and friendly environment for relaxing, studying, and connecting with other Black students on-campus
The center also has games, a television, and mini career closet, where students can access professional clothes for interviews or events.
This year, a primary goal for the Pan-African Student Success Center is to help students graduate with either a job or paid internship lined up after graduation. Roryana makes it a priority to connect with students to discuss an action plan for life after college and refers them to on-campus and community resources to help them achieve their personal and professional goals.
To access information about the Pan-African Student Success Center, click here