Umoja center hires new academic advisor Travis Richards

Travis Richards was hired as a new academic advisor over the summer at the Umoja Center for Pan African Student Excellence, one of the cultural centers on campus. Richards recently graduated from Loyola Marymount University in May 2024 and received his doctorate in educational leadership and social justice. His experience in the educational institution led him to reflect on what racism looked like within the context of this generation. He highlights that nothing is new, everything is systemic.

“What I learned from there that I want to bring back is knowledge, as BIPOC we don’t have access to knowledge because nobody is coming back to the community or back within the systems,” Richards said. “The system does not support us as they should so as a result we tend to push away from it, the numbers don’t lie, there’s a large amount of retention when it comes to what higher education professionals and students do. If you don’t have individuals who look like you in these spaces of power, privilege, and access the students are going to push away.” 

Richards explains that academic advising is more than just setting up your DARS and picking classes, when working at a cultural center, it goes beyond that. 

“We are literally coaches, because we’re not just trying to set you up for just academic success, but for life,” Richards said. “That’s the distinction, once you have a culture, the essence of who you are, you’re going to be seen and amplified a little more to do your best. To do your best, but also know that you have the support, you can achieve anything.”

Richards believes that oftentimes BIPOC students feel intimidated because of the higher expectations that they face compared to fellow peers, but emphasizes the importance of holding up the mirror and reflecting on how you are doing this for you. 

 “As an advisor, it breaks my heart, I want students to excel, that’s the main objective,” Richards said. “I want to be a space of calmingness, I want them to throw out the anxiety and leave those insecurities at the door because when they’re in this space they are the main objective.”