Getting To Know: Dean Taiwo Adefiyiju
March 8, 2023
In our newest segment, "Getting To Know," we profile recent hires at CCRI and provide
an in-depth look at their role at the college, their background prior to joining our
community, and how their work reflects CCRI's guiding principles. Email [email protected] to nominate a co-worker.
In early December, Providence, RI, native Taiwo Adefiyiju joined the CCRI community as our new Dean of Students with the goal of providing a vibrant and engaging college and campus experience for our entire student
body.
Dean Adefiyiju previously worked at her alma mater, Providence College, where she
served as Assistant Dean of Students & Director of Cultural Education, a role that
allowed her to work more closely with students and develop support teams for students
with behavior concerns while implementing success plans for underrepresented students
struggling with a variety of issues.
Upon enrolling at PC as a student, Dean Adefiyiju struggled at first without her twin
brother, whom she had attended school with at every level through senior year of high
school. Once she adapted, she took on a variety of leadership roles in student organizations such as the Board of Multicultural Student Affairs,
Afro-American Society, and the Step Up Mentoring Program, and served as a resident
assistant. That experience helped her realize her true ambition and led her to a career
helping students overcome the same hurdles she faced in her academic journey.
In today's "Getting To Know" segment, we dive deeper into Dean Adefiyiju's goals at
CCRI, her most memorable experiences at PC, and how a near-tragic event during her
senior year of college taught her a new outlook on life.
While it’s still very early in your tenure at CCRI, what are some of the goals you’ve
established as the new Dean of Students?
What I’m really looking forward to doing is creating a place of belonging where all
students know and feel like they belong. The Rhode Island Promise scholarship adds
a different layer to all of this in that there is a new perspective in terms of student
needs, therefore it’s imperative to get to know the students first. We also have to
acknowledge the demands of parenting parents and create a space of belonging to help
them achieve their academic goals. Above all else, we want to be intentional; it all
starts with something simple like learning how to say their name. This demonstrates
to students that you value them and that they belong.
During your time at Providence College, what would you consider your most rewarding
endeavor or achievement?
I took great pride in helping students create lasting memories with individuals from
all walks of life and demonstrating to students the power of storytelling. With every
name there is a story. We also implemented cultural agility programming/trainings/affinity
groups that helped students and staff recognize their own unconscious biases while equipping them with real-world strategies, techniques, pedagogy to engage in
meaningful conversations and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) on campus.
Having worked on a number of different committees and with underrepresented students
at PC, what would you see is the biggest key to promoting cultural awareness at the
college level?
We must appreciate shared differences. Exposing students to the multitudes of opinions,
cultures, and backgrounds (through internships, volunteer work, classroom, networking
and student clubs) can better equip students to thrive in their future workplace while
helping them enrich their own personal lives and thoughts. I also think it’s important
to help students establish their “why” – their purpose. You should also get to know
your students. While students may share similar end goals (graduation or obtaining
a degree) we should appreciate the differences in their journey.
How have your life experiences helped you in terms of being relatable to students
and being able to understand their needs and expectations once they step foot on a
college campus?
Through the years, I’ve learned to stress the importance of storytelling. I often
share with students that I feel I’ve failed as a leader if they strive to want to
be like me because my goal for each student is for them to be better than me. By offering
your students the chance to develop the ability to communicate respectfully with peers
from other backgrounds, you better prepare them to operate in the ever-shifting workplace
and changing society. The reality is you can learn something from every mistake, failure,
or setback. As they say, you miss 100 percent of the opportunities you don’t take.
Days before your commencement at PC, your family’s home caught on fire. Thankfully,
no one was injured. Did that moment – and the response from your network at PC – in
any way shape what you wanted to do with your career beyond PC?
The outpouring from the Providence College community is one I simply struggle to put
in words. You may encounter obstacles or life-changing events that derail your plans
at that moment, but, for me, I was determined not to let this matter derail my future.
In this specific instance, knowing your “why” is important. You must identify your
place of peace and know your support network. Things happen in life, but that should
not impact the goals you set for yourself.
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