Dr. Ajay Nair

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Dr. Ajay Nair

Biography

Dr. Ajay Nair joined Columbia University as the Associate Dean of Student Affairs in September 2006 for Columbia College and the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Dr. Nair comes to Columbia from the University of Pennsylvania where he was a member of the faculty in the Asian American Studies Program with appointments in Urban Studies and South Asia Studies, and where he previously served as Director of the Pan-Asian American Community House.  Prior to his appointment at Penn, Dr. Nair held positions at Penn State and the University of Virginia, where he served in a variety of capacities as faculty member, student affairs administrator and academic administrator. 

Dr. Nair’s research interests include quality assurance in educational systems, service learning and civic engagement, and 2nd-generation Asian American identity. His current book project focuses on the complexities of 2nd-generation South Asian American identity.

As the Associate Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Nair helps lead the Division of Student Affairs at Columbia and oversees the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) and the Center for Student Advising (CSA).  He is charged with developing and promoting multicultural awareness among all undergraduates. OMA connects alumni, students, staff, and faculty around the common theme of diversity by advising cultural organizations and offering a variety of diversity education and constituency-based leadership development programs, providing mentoring and peer support through the Columbia Mentoring Initiative and the Alumni of Color Outreach Program, and serving as an advocate for all students with respect to diversity issues.  Dr. Nair also teaches courses through Columbia University’s Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Race.   

Dr. Nair’s wife, Paayal,  is a School Psychologist. They have two children—Krishna is 4yrs old and their daughter Rani is 2yrs old. 

Melinda Aquino

Biography

Melinda Aquino currently serves as the Senior Assistant Dean of Multicultural Affairs at Columbia University. In addition to overseeing office operations, she has served as director of diversity education and training for the undergraduate schools and has developed a progressive four-year curriculum available to all students. She has also created and facilitated tailored trainings and social justice workshops for a wide range of campus offices/areas, including Student Affairs, Athletics, Residential Programs, Greek Life, student newspaper and various publications, and Student Development and Activities.

With over ten years of experience in higher education, her experiences have had spanned a variety of fields in Student Affairs. Prior to Columbia, she worked at New York University’s Office for African American, Latino, and Asian American Student Services (now called the Center for Multicultural Education and Programs) for over five years. In addition to overseeing outreach and programming for the Asian, South Asian and Pacific Islander population, she initiated and oversaw women of color programs, Jewish/ student of color coalition projects, graduate student of color forums, and projects on arts and activism. She also has worked with new student orientation, fraternity and sorority life, alumni affairs, and student government at the University of Florida and University of Miami. At each of these institutions she has received honors for her work, including being inducted to the University of Florida’s Hall of Fame, the University’s highest distinction, for her leadership contributions.

Melinda, a Florida native, graduated summa cum laude from the University of Florida earning a BA in English/ Cultural Studies. She received her MA in English and American Literature from the University of Miami (FL) concentrating on post-colonialism and ethnic American literature. She has since earned a second Masters degree in Cinema Studies at NYU’s Graduate School of Arts and Science and its Tisch School of the Arts. Continuing her work in cultural studies and post-colonialism, she expanding her purview of research to examine films and political resistance in developing nations and the impact of new media in social construction of racial identity. Her current work examines cultural hybrity and “techo-Orientalism” in cyborg science fiction literature and films.

Marta Esquilin

Biography

Marta Elena Esquilin received her Bachelors degree in Sociology and Women’s Studies from the University of Vermont. She received her Masters degree in Higher Education Administration from Teachers College, Columbia University. Prior to joining the OMA staff, Marta worked with a variety of New York City community based organizations including the Posse Foundation, University Settlement, and the Double Discover Center at Columbia University. Her work in these organizations focused on youth development, college access for historically underrepresented students, and social justice education. When she is not at the IRC, she can be found reading science fiction, specifically Octavia Butler, or playing any instrument she can get her hands on.

Erin Reed

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Erin Reed

Biography

Erin has worked steadily in the administrative field since graduating from the John Jay High School of Criminal Justice in Brooklyn, New York. In her spare time Erin enjoys being sarcastic, watching “Family Guy” with her son, eating, and when she can afford it, SHOPPING, which is the ultimate high.

Kerry John Poynter, MA

Biography

Kerry received his M.A. in Administration of College Student Affairs in Counselor Education & Counseling Psychology at Western Michigan University. He was employed at the Duke University Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Life from 1999-2006 where he coordinated programs and supervised the 2,500 sq. ft location. Previously he was the coordinator of the LGB Office at Western Michigan University.

He is the author or co-author of several articles or chapter including "Tips for Setting Up Safe Zones on Campus" in the Gay & Lesbian Guide to College Life (2007), "Safe Zones: Creating LGBT Safe Space Ally programs" in the Journal of Gay & Lesbian Issues in Education (in press), Digital Video Brings Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Training to Life" in About Campus and the chapter "Multiple Identities: Creating Community on Campus for LGBT Students" in n. 111 of the New Directions in Student Services series titled Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation: Research, Policy, and Personal Perspectives.

His role models include Dr. Evelyn Hooker, a groundbreaking researcher who showed that homosexuals were happy and well-adjusted people, and the icon that is Madonna. He is a sci-fi fan (make sure to see his Capt. Janeway and Seven of Nine dolls in his office) and wastes too much time mixing mp3's together on his computer while dreaming of becoming the next superstar DJ like Offer Nissum, Junior Vasquez or Peter Rauhofer.

Kerry John Poynter, MA

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Marta Esquilin

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Melinda Aquino

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