The Office of Student Engagement provides leadership development opportunities, new-student guidance, and programs that enhance the Yale College experience for students and their families.
About Us
The Office of Student Engagement was launched in response to the 2015 internal review recommendations for cohesion among the four Cultural Centers. The findings of this review deemed it vital for their effective functioning that the Centers draw together under one leadership/supervision.
Our Mission
The Office of Student Engagement encourages, supports, and complements student learning by providing leadership development opportunities, new-student guidance, and programs that enrich students’ academic, social, cultural, ethical, and intellectual growth.
Student Engagement seeks to cultivate citizens in possession of a rich awareness of heritage and a desire to move into the sort of leadership roles that will benefit every element of society.
Our Vision
Student Engagement works with students to find optimal ways to solve their problems, helps students build communities, and coordinates university efforts to maintain a safe campus environment.
Burgwell Howard
Sr Assoc Dean Yale College, AVP Student Engagement
Email burgwell.howard@yale.edu
Telephone +1 (203) 432-2906
Address 55 Whitney Ave 2nd Floor, New Haven, CT 06510-8225
- Student Engagement Area Head
- Yale SafetyNet
- FGLI Community initiative
- Off-Campus Life
- Athletics Liaison
- Discrimination & Harassment Resource Co- Coordinator
- Voter Registration/Engagement
Silvia DeCastro
Senior Administrative Assistant II Yale College Dean’s Office
Email silvia.decastro@yale.edu
Telephone +1 (203) 432-2906
Address 55 Whitney Ave 2nd Floor, New Haven, CT 06510-8225
- Executive Assistant to Dean Burgwell J Howard
- Supports Student Engagement Area
- Cultural Connections, Coordinator
- Family Weekend, Coordinator
- Nakanishi Prize, Coordinator
- FGLI Community Initiative Support
- Intercultural Affairs Council, Liaison
- Peer Liaison Program, Liaison
- Yale SafetyNet Support
- Yale Votes Initiative Support
- Job Searches Unit Support Staff
Iman Ali
Director, Student Engagement
Email iman.ali@yale.edu
Address 1 Hillhouse Ave, New Haven, CT 06511-8241
Timeica Bethel
Assistant Dean; Director, Afro-American Cultural Center
Email timeica.bethel@yale.edu
Address 55 Whitney Ave 2nd Floor, New Haven, CT 06510-8225
- AfAm House Strategic Planning, Staff Supervision, Programming, and Budget Management
- AfAm House Student Assistants (SAs)
- AfAm House Graduate Assistants (GAs)
- Cultural Connections Program Director
- AfAm House Resident Groups Advisor
- Intercultural Affairs Council Member
- Camp Yale Programs Committee Member
- Undergraduate Organizations Affiliate Committee Member
- Black Alumni Engagement
- Liaising with campus partners, stakeholders, and the New Haven community
- Davenport College Fellow
Carolina Davila
Assistant Dean; Director, Latino Cultural Center
Email carolina.davila@yale.edu
Address 55 Whitney Ave 2nd Floor, New Haven, CT 06510-8225
- La Casa Graduate Assistants (GAs)
- La Casa Student Coordinators (SCs)
- La Casa student organizations advisor
- La Casa operations
- Intercultural collaborations with center Assistant and Associate Directors
- Unit planning with Student Engagement Area Head
Eve Famutimi
Student Life Program Director
Email eve.famutimi@yale.edu
Address 55 Whitney Ave 2nd Floor, New Haven, CT 06510-8225
- Cultural Center finances
- Budget review and analysis
- Procurement and Business Office Liaison
- Office Management
- Onboarding and Offboarding
- Camp Yale Programs coordination
- Unit-wide processes and procedures
- First Year Orientation Planning Committee
- Jonathan Edwards College Fellow
Sydney Feeney
Assistant Director, Afro-American Cultural Center
Email sydney.feeney@yale.edu
Address 55 Whitney Ave 2nd Floor, New Haven, CT 06510-8225
Lena Ginawi
Assistant Director, MENA Cultural Community
Email lena.ginawi@yale.edu
Address 1 Hillhouse Ave, New Haven, CT 06511-8241
Brianna Gutiérrez
Assistant Director, Latino Cultural Center
Email brianna.gutierrez@yale.edu
Address 55 Whitney Ave 2nd Floor, New Haven, CT 06510-8225
- La Casa Strategic Planning, Budget Management, & Staff Supervision
- La Casa Peer Liaisons
- La Casa Senior Events
- La Casa Alumni Relations
- La Casa Graduation Activities
- Peer Liaison Program Director
- Trumbull College Fellow
- Yale College DEIB Committee Member
- Yale College Orientation Committee Member
Hessan Lewis
Financial Admin. Asst., Student Engagement
Email hessan.lewis@yale.edu
Address 55 Whitney Ave 2nd Floor, New Haven, CT 06510-8225
- Financial Administrative Assistance
- Cultural Center financial transaction support
- Center-affiliated student organizations financial reimbursement
- Workflow digitization and optimization
- Procurement and purchasing assistance
- Student employment support
Matthew Makomenaw
Assistant Dean; Director Native American Cultural Center
Email matthew.makomenaw@yale.edu
Telephone +1 (203) 4326269
Address 55 Whitney Ave 2nd Floor, New Haven, CT 06510-8225
- Native American Cultural Center (GA)
- Native American Cultural Center (PLs)
- Native American Language Program
- Camp Yale Program, Cultural Connections
- Lecturer, Education Studies Program
Denise Morales
Assistant Director, Native American Cultural Center
Email denise.morales@yale.edu
Address 55 Whitney Ave 2nd Floor, New Haven, CT 06510-8225
- NACC GA
- NACC House Staff
- NACC House Operations and Programming
- Cross Center Collaborations
Sheraz Oki
Associate Director of the Asian American Cultural Center
Email sheraz.oki@yale.edu
Telephone +1 (203) 436-4356 x64356
Address 55 Whitney Ave 2nd Floor, New Haven, CT 06510-8225
- AACC Graduate Assistants (GAs)
- AACC Peer Liaisons (PLs)
- AACC Undergraduate Student Coordinators (USCs)
- AACC Affiliate Organizations Advisor
- AACC Operations AACC Programming
- Grace Hopper College Residential Fellow
Joliana Yee
Assistant Dean; Director, Asian American Cultural Center
Email joliana.yee@yale.edu
Address 55 Whitney Ave 2nd Floor, New Haven, CT 06510-8225
- AACC Strategic Planning, Staff Supervision, Programming and Budget Management
- Asian and Asian American Alumni Engagement
- Yale College Family Weekend, Lead Coordinator
- Intercultural Affairs Council, Chair
- First-Year and Transfer Student Advising
- University-Wide Committee on Sexual Misconduct Advisor
Athletics
Yale has over 30 men’s and women’s varsity teams; over 40 club sports (most co-ed); and Yale Intramural program.
The Yale Intramural program welcomes participants of every athletic level. Teams are organized through the residential colleges, allowing students to play any one of the 30 sports, and participation reinforces the community of the residential colleges, values of sportsmanship and fair play, and the lessons learned through competitive sports.
Cultural Centers
The Cultural Centers at Yale serve as gathering places for communities of various ethnic and cultural backgrounds to foster a sense of cultural identity, encourage student leadership, facilitate critical reflection, and stimulate informed action and social justice advocacy.
Cultural Connections
Cultural Connections (CC) activities center around developing relationships with CC community and Yale’s student support systems. CC counselors are current students who serve as mentors to first years and share their knowledge of Yale’s intellectual, cultural, and social resources with their younger peers.
Family Weekend
On Family Weekend, Yale College welcomes families, friends, and members of the community to participate in dozens of cultural, academic, and social events.
Intercultural Affairs Council (IAC)
The Intercultural Affairs Council (IAC) is dedicated to creating cultural awareness and inclusivity on campus by providing student advocacy and support to registered student organizations in their sponsorship of events that promote intercultural dialogue and understanding.
Peer Liaisons
In their capacity as Peer Liaisons, selected upper-level students affiliated with certain Yale College communities provide invaluable mentorship to first-year undergraduates.
Fellowships and Prizes
The Edward A. Bouchet Fellowship Program is named in honor of Yale’s first African-American graduate and the first African-American in the United States to earn a Ph.D.
The Mellon Mays Fellowship is a project of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation’s Higher Learning Program. Fellowship supports students in the humanities work on paid research projects during the academic year and to pursue full-time research during the summers between sophomore and junior years and between junior and senior years. The program also provides some assistance with student loans.
The Nakanishi Prize recognizes high academic achievement and exemplary leadership in enhancing race and/or ethnic relations at Yale College.
FGLI Thrive
FGLI Thrive is an administrative effort to empower first-generation, low-income students at Yale.
YaleVotes
YaleVotes is an informational portal through which students may determine their specific voting distric; register to vote; maintain up-to-date address and registration information; request an absentee ballot; and find local and national election information and updates.
Additional Resources
Student Engagement Office
Email student.engagement@yale.edu
Telephone +1 (203) 436-2349
Address 55 Whitney Ave 2nd Floor, New Haven, CT 06510-8225
