Tara Brooks Named Director of Multicultural Affairs
Fairmont State University named Tara Brooks as Director of Multicultural Affairs on Jan. 3, 2011. She is also serving as an Associate Professor in the FSU School of Education and Health and Human Performance.
The dual appointment as a director and faculty member will allow Brooks to address diversity issues across the shared FSU and Pierpont Community & Technical College campus. She also serves as faculty advisor to the Black Student Union and has already been active on numerous committees with plans to develop more programming for making the FSU and Pierpont community a more inclusive environment.
“Tara’s appointment to this critically important position will help FSU and Pierpont to more effectively meet the college adjustment needs of a diverse student population. Her leadership will add vision and structure to our commitment to valuing diversity, which is a core value of both institutions. Tara is a gifted administrator and scholar. We are very grateful that she has joined us. The best part is that students love working with her,” said Dr. Quentin Johnson, Senior Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services.
Previously, Brooks worked as a Social Justice Specialist with West Virginia University Extension Service, where she worked very closely with the President’s Office for Social Justice. Brooks supported professional development activities, civil rights compliance, ADA accommodations, the Social Justice Team and led the Reaching the Underserved Team. In addition, she developed and delivered curriculum on diversity awareness at WVU, on campus and state-wide to both youth and adult audiences. She served on various committees and councils that were committed to developing programming for the betterment of all across the campus, state and the nation.
From 2007-2008, Brooks was a graduate assistant in the President’s Office for Social Justice, working very closely with the executive officer, as well as in the development of new initiatives for recognizing and appreciating campus diversity. She is currently finishing an Ed.D. in Special Education at WVU. Brooks earned a bachelor’s degree in Interdepartmental Studies in 1996 and a master’s degree in Special Education in 1998, both degrees from WVU. She has been a lecturer and adjunct professor in Special Education at WVU, as well as an adjunct professor at Wheeling Jesuit University and Waynesburg Graduate College. She has elementary and middle school teaching experience in Bowie, Md., and Keyser, W.Va., as well as experience as a Behavior Specialist in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Brooks is originally from Keyser, where most of her family still resides. She graduated from Keyser High School in 1992 and was very active in various academic, athletic, band and social activities.
Student AffairsTara BrooksMulticultural Affairs
