A steady hum of activity fills George Washington University’s Multicultural Student Services Center. In the corner of the center’s cozy, living room-style lounge, Vanice L. Antrum, MSSC’s new director, observes the flow of students around her. This spot, she says, is where she learns the most about her role because it’s not only about the programs or initiatives she leads but also about understanding the nuanced stories of students’ lives—their fears, dreams and what it truly means to belong on a college campus.
Leading from experience
As a Black woman who navigated a predominantly white institution during her undergraduate years, Antrum understands firsthand the complexities of feeling “othered.” For her, the Multicultural Student Services Office on her campus served as a “home away from home” that shaped both her college experience and her career aspirations.
“I wouldn’t have made it through college if it weren’t for the Multicultural Student Services Office,” she shares. “Having a space where you’re seen and heard makes all the difference, and I want MSSC to be that space for GW students.”
Antrum arrives from Salisbury University, her alma mater, where she served as director of multicultural affairs in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. In this role, she oversaw campus-wide diversity programs, provided training and support for faculty, staff and students and developed strategic initiatives to enhance the campus climate for underrepresented communities. As co-developer of Salisbury’s new First-Generation Sea Gull Scholars Program, she helped create the university’s first programmatic effort to support all undergraduate first-generation students.
“Vanice is the embodiment of a student-centered scholar practitioner. She is a strategic visionary, guided by research and student lived experiences, with an ability to hold nuance,” says Jordan Shelby West, associate vice provost for Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement. “Her leadership, presence, joy, care and love for this work, the staff, the center, and most importantly the students has been felt in just four months.”
In her first months at GW, Antrum has focused on redefining belonging for students from historically marginalized backgrounds. Her goal isn’t simply to manage the center but to transform it into a dynamic space where every student feels valued, no matter how they identify.
“Whether it’s through programming, partnerships or the spaces we offer, our mission is to make every student feel like they belong here,” she says. “It’s really important to spend time with students, including those who don’t frequent the center, to understand how we can create spaces that work for everyone.”
Listening and learning
Antrum’s philosophy is grounded in the belief that inclusion cannot be a one-size-fits-all model. Instead of relying on prescriptive solutions, she prefers to meet students where they are.
“Each student is different and so are their needs,” she explains. “In higher education, there’s often a tendency to think, ‘I know what’s best because of my experiences.’ However, I prioritize sitting down with students and engaging in conversation with them.”
As part of the Office for Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement, the center provides structural support for students and student organizations, partners with faculty, staff and alumni and serves as an integral partner to the D.C. community. Since 1969, the MSSC has been dedicated to building a welcoming, enriching and inclusive environment at GW.
The center’s team is instrumental in fulfilling this mission. This fall, Hailey Williams, program coordinator for race, ethnicity and culture, and Uwaila Stewart, program coordinator for gender and sexuality, joined the staff. They work alongside Senior Student Program Coordinator Elise Greenfield, now in her third year at GW. Graduate Assistant Amaya Bullock, who is in her second year at the center, and a dedicated group of 10 returning undergraduate students also contribute to the center’s success.
Antrum ensures that every team member has the resources and support they need to thrive, all while recognizing the complex, intersecting identities students and staff bring to GW. Creating a truly inclusive environment, however, is no small task, especially within a community as diverse as GW.
“People often assume that everyone who visits the center shares the same ideas,” she notes. “However, there is a diversity of thought here, and it’s essential that we support that.”
Empowering and educating
Antrum collaborates closely with student organizations on campus, assisting them in planning events and initiatives that amplify student voices. Through these partnerships, she has witnessed the transformative power of inclusive programming, fostering meaningful dialogue and understanding.
Beyond supporting student-led initiatives, the MSSC also hosts its own programs to promote cultural awareness. One recent event hosted by Williams explored the concept of the “Oppression Olympics,” sparking a conversation about how marginalized groups sometimes compete for recognition. Another program hosted by Williams focused on “diaspora wars,” addressing tensions between different cultures within the Black community. These events do more than educate—they foster empathy, provide catharsis, and bridge generational and cultural divides.
“It’s about giving students agency over their identities, creating a space where they feel recognized and respected,” she says. “When students can express their whole selves, it empowers them.”
Antrum’s commitment to honoring identity includes supporting students through the more personal challenges they face, whether it’s navigating gender expression or dealing with the anxiety of returning home for break.
“We might be discussing large-scale national issues one day, but for some students, what’s most pressing is their family dynamic or a personal milestone,” she says. “I have to remain mindful of those individual experiences, too.”
Creating a community
For Antrum, her work extends beyond the campus of GW. She is committed to raising the standards for diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education, believing that every institution must adapt to meet the demands of a constantly evolving landscape.
“Diversity is not just a checklist—it’s about how we shape our communities and the environments we create,” she says. “Inclusion isn’t a destination; it’s a continuous journey.”
To further this mission, Antrum is building connections with other universities in the D.C. area, exchanging ideas and collaborating on initiatives that aim to elevate the student experience across the region.
“We can learn so much from each other by sharing best practices and working together toward a more inclusive future,” she says.
One of her key goals is to shift how diversity, equity and inclusion are viewed—from a set of compliance requirements to a core aspect of campus culture. At GW, she strives to weave diversity into every facet of campus life, inspiring students, faculty and staff to embrace it as a shared responsibility.
“It’s a campus-wide commitment,” she explains. “And that starts with changing mindsets, not just policies.”
Honoring the past, shaping the future
As Antrum leads the MSSC into the future, she acknowledges the past. The Multicultural Student Services Center, she notes, has a rich history dating back to its roots as a support system for Black students in the 1960s. Today, the center serves a more diverse student body, welcoming all historically underrepresented groups at GW.
“Our role has expanded, but we can’t lose sight of where we started,” she says. “It’s about honoring that history while evolving to meet the needs of today’s students.”
This sense of continuity is especially significant as the center approaches its 56th year. Antrum envisions a “renaissance,” a transformative opportunity to reinvigorate the center’s mission and expand its physical space on the fifth floor of the University Student Center. This growth will allow the center to allocate new resources to serve various communities, including the creation of a resource room for women-identifying students, like the one already established for LGBTQIA+ students.
“Having these spaces is important for students who may not find them elsewhere on campus,” she says. And she wants those students to take an active role in shaping the center’s future.
“I tell students, ‘If I’m missing the mark, let me know,’” she says. “I’m not above feedback; I encourage it.”
Writing the next chapter
As the Multicultural Student Services Center enters its second half-century, Antrum is dedicated to cultivating a lasting sense of belonging. While she takes pride in the strides already made, she understands that the work of fostering inclusion is a continual process.
“I believe in constant evolution,” she shares. “The needs of students are always shifting, and we must remain adaptable and responsive.”
Antrum is also deeply focused on leaving a meaningful, enduring legacy. By working closely with the university’s development teams to secure funding for future initiatives, she envisions expanding the center’s reach—both in physical space and program offerings. One of her core goals is to create environments that not only meet students’ immediate needs but also equip them with the skills and values to thrive as leaders in a diverse world long after they graduate.
“Ultimately, if I’ve helped just one student feel more understood, acknowledged, or confident in who they are, I’ll consider my time here a success,” Antrum says. “And if we can continue to make every student feel like they belong, I know we’re heading in the right direction.”