Administration

Student Minority Advisory and Recruitment Team celebrates 30th anniversary

The Student Minority Advisory and Recruitment Team (S.M.A.R.T.) at Penn State celebrated its 30th anniversary on Dec. 5, 2019, with a cake-cutting event at the Paul Robeson Cultural Center. S.M.A.R.T. is a student volunteer affiliate organization that was created to assist in the recruitment of underrepresented students.  Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Student Minority Advisory and Recruitment Team (S.M.A.R.T.) was founded 30 years ago by 17 undergraduate students, with the goal of sharing the success of underrepresented students at Penn State and assisting with the recruitment of ethnic minorities. These undergraduates felt that the student perspective was crucial in relaying to prospective minority students that Penn State was a great place for them to succeed.

Thirty years later, the student organization is as strong as ever, making major contributions in the recruitment of minorities at Penn State and playing an instrumental role in increasing the enrollment of underrepresented students.

To celebrate the historic achievement, S.M.A.R.T. welcomed home several previous executive board members last month, including Tony Moore, who earned a master of education degree in 1991 and currently serves as director of multicultural outreach in Penn State Undergraduate Admissions; Randy Houston, a 1991 alumnus and current president of the Penn State Alumni Association, as well as a lawyer and musician; and Stephen Mitchell, CEO/consultant of Mitchell Consulting Group. Joining this stellar trio, more than 50 current S.M.A.R.T. members attended a special cake-cutting event at the Paul Robeson Cultural Center and celebrated the organization’s achievements during an evening banquet on Dec. 5.

S.M.A.R.T. is a student volunteer affiliate organization advised by the Undergraduate Admissions office. The organization recruits new members each fall and spring semester, boasting more than 80 active members, including 10 executive board leadership positions. Members of S.M.A.R.T. collaborate with the admissions office and assist in recruiting underrepresented students by delivering campus tours, planning activities and programming related to special visitation events such as Spend a Fall Day and Achievers Weekend, and serving as a resource to prospective minority students and families, as well as current Penn State students.

Anyone who is interested in learning more about S.M.A.R.T. and how to get involved with the organization can email smart.psu@gmail.com

Last Updated April 15, 2021