Umoja Center coordinator leaves Cal Poly Humboldt

Alexus-Harrelle Deshazier, coordinator for the Umoja Center for Pan African Student Excellence, announced her departure on March 13 after 14 years in Humboldt. She has taken a position at San José State University, where she will be serving as the program director for the Black Leadership and Opportunities Center. Deshazier said she could not reveal who will be stepping into her place at this time.

Deshazier entered Humboldt as a first-time freshman at the age of 17 in 2013 and has since navigated Humboldt as a student, employee, leader, mentor and inspiration.

In an email addressed to the campus community, colleagues, partners and students, Deshazier wrote, “I want you to know that this decision was not an easy one and came with a lot of time to think over what it would mean to leave a place where I grew to become who I am as a professional now.”

A goodbye gathering was held at the Umoja Center on March 30 for Deshazier, where she spoke about her experience of Humboldt as a student and how what she learned helped her as a professional.

“As a student, I was just always really passionate about connecting with other students and what I could do just from my position to make sure that other students have a good experience. I think that’s important going away to college, especially for students of color, for Black students,” Deshazier said.

Among the students influenced by Deshazier’s efforts is Lee Checa-Valdez, a psychology major, who shared the impact Deshazier has had on him.

“I love and adore Alexus so much,” Lee Checa-Valdez said. “Before I transferred up here, I came to Spring Preview in March 2024 and I met her when I was heavily involved in the Umoja at my community college, so seeing that was really cool.”

Travis Richards, academic advisor for Umoja, began his career in June of 2025, where Alexus was on the hiring committee for him.

Richards reflected on working alongside Deshazier.

“She let me know what this space is all about and its importance,” Richards said.

Richards continued with speaking on how her departure will influence her peers.

“She has been the heart and backbone of Umoja and now that she’s transitioning into a different space, it’s going to be a shift, but it’s also going to be a heartfelt shift for her to grow, so I commend her for choosing herself.”

Sean Checa-Valdez shared the importance of finding community in Humboldt and how Deshazier helped him find that space.

“She was the first Black person I met up here, so she immediately roped me into Umoja and connected me with other people that look like me,” Sean Checa-Valdez said.

Deshazier has inspired many students and peers, one of them being Devin Washington, an energy systems engineering major.

“To me, Harrelle is somebody who just kind of, was a staple or somebody that stood out amongst others, especially here in Humboldt,” Washington said. “There was a time when I was even considering coming back, and she was the pinnacle of my return here at Humboldt. So I got to give her a lot of credit and I feel like nobody else here could ever fill her shoes.”

Terrence Caballero, an English major, feels grateful for Deshazier’s presence on campus.

“She does the work to help people and she has saved so many people and put so many people on the right track,” said Caballero. While the next Umoja Center coordinator is unknown at this time, Deshazier had this to say:

“I can’t say who is taking over, what I can say is that I’ve done really hard work on making sure a foundation is laid for whoever goes, that the work will continue.”