The Multicultural Center is in the process of hiring a new full-time coordinator.

Senior Anthony Simpson, a Multicultural Center student coordinator, said the center is doing well without a permanent coordinator in place and that they have already begun creating plans for the spring semester when the new coordinator is hired.

Donell Young, assistant director of the Department of Student Life and the senior coordinator of the Office of Student Content, is the acting coordinator at the center and is hiring the new coordinator. Young has been filling in for [former coordinator Pablo Mendoza since July 12, when Mendoza officially resigned to pursue another job](https://www.themaneater.com/stories/2013/7/8/mcc-director-pablo-mendoza-resigns-new-job/).

He said he believes that the students will enjoy having someone there full-time.

“Having a great adviser, a great leader, will only amplify the great work that the multicultural student leaders have already been doing,” Young said.

Young said he is looking for someone with a master’s degree, at least one or two years of experience and one year of related experience working with multicultural students. He would also prefer someone with a background in counseling or higher education administration.

“(The) expectation is to have someone who has a true sense of working with multicultural groups,” Young said. “We want someone who can advise the student groups at the multicultural center and all the student groups that come in and use the space.”

Senior Kelsey Kupferer, director of Diversity Peer Educators within the Multicultural Center, said many of the center’s student leaders are looking forward to getting a permanent coordinator.

Simpson said they are looking for a coordinator who is “vibrant … easygoing and understandable” and is capable of bringing new perspectives to the table.

Student Life has involved student leaders within the Multicultural Center, such as Simpson, in the hiring process.

“(It’s) cool that Student Life has included us in the process,” Simpson said. “They really care what students want.”

Kupferer said they want someone who will be a good adviser to a wide range of student groups. She wants a coordinator who will be able a mentor to students and will be someone to whom students can talk.

“We want someone who is good at facilitating difficult dialogues,” Kupferer said.

Young said that the new coordinator will concentrate on creating programming, maintaining the budget, controlling social media and advising students in the center. Young is looking most for someone who will be an advocate for the students.

“The students have worked hard this semester, and I need to acknowledge the student leaders there because they have truly helped the center stay afloat with their hard work and dedication and commitment to the center,” Young said.

The Multicultural Center’s goal is “to serve any and all under-represented populations on Mizzou’s campus,” [according to its website](http://multiculturalcenter.missouri.edu/about-us/).

Kupferer said that the center is important to both majority and minority students.

“The Multicultural Center provides a safe place for minority students to just hang out and have programing that is relevant to their interests,” Kupferer said. “It’s also really important for majority students because it is a place they can come and learn about things they might not have a chance to learn about in other places and engage with people they might not have otherwise met.”