Armenta Hinton

I've been in the field of education for 30 years, and I've been in my current position for 6 years as Vice President of Student and Campus Life, ADA 504 Coordinator, and Title IX Coordinator. My career journey has taken me through various roles in higher education - I was Director of Diversity and Title IX Coordinator at Elizabethtown College, Associate Dean of the college at Allegheny College managing academic affairs, student life, inclusion and diversity, and worked in Intercultural Affairs at Susquehanna University. I even spent time abroad as a cultural hub manager for a town and served as a board member for many cultural and artistic organizations. My main area of expertise today is student development - helping students navigate spaces in student affairs. I manage a team of about 6 people who ensure we follow all the regulations around ADA and 504, which means making sure all students have access and can learn in ways that work for them, ensuring disabilities are honored and don't hinder their education. I also oversee Title IX compliance around sex and gender-based discrimination, as well as Title VI which covers discrimination based on race, religion, genetic differences, and veteran status. My work is essential because getting it wrong would be in the newspaper, but doing it well means creating a fair and equitable learning environment. A typical day is very kinetic and fast-paced - it starts with team meetings and we work through situations as they come for our students. I oversee many areas including military and veterans services (we have the second largest military and veteran population in Pennsylvania in higher ed, second only to Penn State), international student services, campus security with Clery Compliance, disability services, student conduct, the care center, intercultural Student Success, and the Center for Male Engagement. We are the protectors of the educational experience - while professors teach in the classroom for about 12 hours a week, we have the students the rest of the time, helping them with everything that makes student life successful and helps them persist to graduation.