Kaeleigh Banda
Cliff-Simon Vital, former interim director of the BIPOC Unity Center, has been appointed as permanent director of the renamed Unity Center.
Cliff-Simon Vital, former interim director of the BIPOC Unity Center, has been appointed as permanent director of the renamed Unity Center. The center has not had a permanent director in almost two years.
Vital announced his new position on LinkedIn Sept. 18 and Instagram Sept. 17. He was previously assistant director of the BIPOC Unity Center from August 2023 through July 2024, then associate director July 2024 through December 2024. He was then hired as the interim director Jan. 1 after Shadayvia Wallace, former associate director of the BIPOC Unity Center, left the college at the end of Fall 2024.
The last permanent director of the BIPOC Unity Center was Angélica Carrington, who held the position from January 2022 through November 2023.
Ithaca College launched a national search for a permanent director in May 2024 and relaunched it Spring 2025. In a September 2024 interview with The Ithacan, Stanley Bazile, vice president for student affairs and campus life, said the college paused its search for a permanent director because they could not find a qualified candidate.
Luca Maurer — executive director for student equity, inclusion and belonging — said via email that he is pleased to share that Vital has been appointed director of the Unity Center.
“His proven leadership as Interim Director since January, along with his experience and commitment, make him the right person to lead this important work,” Maurer said via email. “We are excited by the vision Cliff-Simon brings to this role, and look forward to the positive impact he will continue to have on the campus community.”