Centenary Hosts Attaway Fellow Mahjabeen Rafiuddin

SHREVEPORT, LA — Mahjabeen Rafiuddin, an advocate for social justice, will be welcomed to Centenary's campus as an Attaway Fellow in Civic Culture. Rafiuddin will present a convocation examining the "New Dawn of Global Ready Graduates" in the Whited Room on Thursday, November 10, beginning at 11:10 a.m. The convocation will focus on the impact of diversity trends in our nation on college students today. The event is free and open to the community.

Mahjabeen Rafiuddin

Rafiuddin's twelve years of experience include cultural competency training and consultancy in corporate, non-profit, and educational settings. She is currently the Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) at Rollins College. She leads efforts to expand OMA's capacity to offer leadership development to students, faculty, and staff in multicultural protocols. She also manages efforts needed to prevail over obstacles in the exchange of ideas, affiliations, associations and organizational change caused by cultural difference and uneasiness.

She has received four major awards for her service: the "Drum Major for Peace Award," the "Sullivan Medallion" for service, the "MOSAIIC" award for service, and, most recently, the "Immigrant Leadership Award."

Rafiuddin will be on campus for several days, meeting with student and staff groups about diversity issues, as well as facilitating a Train the Trainer for Safe Zone on Friday and Saturday to prepare campus leaders who want to subsequently instruct others on campus.

Funded by and named for Douglas and Marion Attaway, the Attaway Professorships in Civic Culture, Attaway Fellows, and Attaway Scholars designations are awarded to intellectuals who have made notable contributions to the public discussion. Any student, faculty or staff member may propose Attaway Fellows or Scholars to the Convocation Committee, who, in turn, make recommendations to the Provost.

About Centenary College of Louisiana

Centenary College is a private, four-year arts and sciences college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1825, it is the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Centenary is one of 16 colleges and universities constituting the Associated Colleges of the South and has been recognized as "One of the Best 371 Colleges" by the Princeton Review and one of "America's Best Colleges" and one of "America's Best Private Colleges" by Forbes.com. In 2008 Centenary College celebrated 100 years in Shreveport and Bossier City.