Invasion of Privacy: Director of Multicultural Affairs at SUNY Geneseo, Clifton Harcum

Photo Courtesy of SUNY Geneseo

Clifton Harcum is easily findable on campus! If you see him make sure to say hi!

In the third Invasion of Privacy of the semester, The Lamron is discussing Clifton Harcum, Director of Multicultural Affairs at SUNY Geneseo; located in Blake Hall, Harcum oversees the Multicultural Affairs events and all that goes on inside the Multicultural Center.

In his sophomore year of college, Harcum started his job as a student worker in Residence Life. A mentor of his worked in the Office of Residence Life at his school, which was classified as a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), and saw leadership skills in him. He applied and got the job; he says that this is what initially gave him the inspiration to help people by working in higher education. He worked in this position until his senior year.

Originally from Maryland, he has worked in many different roles over the years, including the Executive Director at the Maryland Chamber of Commerce. Harcum started working in higher education in 2005, and worked in Maryland for thirteen years as a director of Residence Life, Academic Success, and other similar positions. Coming to New York around 2018, he started off at Jefferson Community College, then moved to SUNY Potsdam, and eventually landed at SUNY Geneseo, where he has been working for the past four years.

His change in direction for his life’s work came from his love for the outdoors. A minimalist lifestyle was attractive to him as he came to New York to hike and camp; he was able to do this when he lived on Saranac Lake for a brief period. Compared to city life, he liked the laid back lifestyle that SUNY Geneseo provided.

After much talk about the diversity here and in surrounding colleges, he explained that he wanted to be a breath of fresh air for people who might feel suffocated in their environment. We talked for a while about the importance of a different perspective; with many students coming from New York City and Long Island, Harcum recognized it can be a significant environment change, stating, “I came here to help students who wish they had someone that looked like me to advocate for them and give them a voice.” 

Harcum loves his job, saying that one of his primary goals is to get people to connect and talk with one another. Students come from all different backgrounds and, being the Multicultural Affairs Director, Harcum feels as though he is able to “find ways in which we can get people to connect as human beings.” Interviews and awareness are both something that Harcum finds crucial in this day and age since human connection is so important to him. Finding commonality and connection while respecting others’ cultural identities is a big reason why Harcum does the work he does.

Harcum brings a lot of experience to the table as he is from out of state, went to school at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), and has worked in higher education for a long time. These life experiences have shaped him as an individual and he brings all those qualities together to do his job to the best of his abilities. Harcum explained that he is happy where he is and loves his job. He likes the comfort that comes with his position—he feels as though he can be himself. He believes it is important that “we’re an institution that is aiming towards creating an inclusive environment.” He later explained how this does not just mean skin color, but cultural and body language as well.

One of the best parts, he says, is seeing people just be. He sees the Multicultural Center as not a concept or complex place, but a space where he sees people from “all different cultural backgrounds interacting in an authentic way, where people are being themselves.” He feels as though he is doing his part at SUNY Geneseo to show students “a different way in which the work can be approached that gets results” and that really is the goal.

The Multicultural Center is planning some amazing activities in these upcoming months including a Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration and Halloween Social. Clubs can feel free to reach out and reserve the center for events/meetings as well! Harcum has experienced students who might be scared to enter the space or feel as though they cannot come in, but he says it truly is for anyone and everyone. The Multicultural Center, as Harcum puts it, is “a space where you don’t have to perform” and he takes pride in that.