Jamillya Hardley has been named the Grand Rapids Community College Director of the Woodrick Center for Inclusion and Multicultural Affairs, following her two-month service as the interim director. She is set to officially begin on Monday, April 29.
Hardley began serving as the interim director in February, and appeared at a Q&A panel on April 2 and spoke to faculty and staff, as well as students about why she would like to continue in her position. In this panel Hardley emphasizes that she believes in the importance of her work and creating an environment where students can grow.
The Collegiate contacted Hardley via email but she was unable to be reached.
Hardley is a Grand Rapids native and first-generation graduate from the University of Michigan and began her GRCC career in October of 2021 as the Assistant Director of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI).
Through her ODEI work, Harldey has gained experience facilitating intergroup dialogue, developing staff diversity training and teaching first-year experience courses. Providing students with safe spaces and helping to foster relationships has become a point of pride for Hardley.
In addition to her work at GRCC, Hardley has spent nearly a decade working in student conduct, academic advising, career development, residence life and athletics. She also taught as an adjunct professor at Grand Valley State University for four years and earned her Masters in Higher Education with an emphasis in college student affairs leadership from GVSU.
Currently, Hardley is pursuing a certificate in the Educational Specialist in Leadership program at GVSU and will begin a doctoral program in the Fall of 2025.
GRCC will be holding three forums on May 2, 3 and 6 for the Vice President for People, Culture, & Equity role. This is a new position that was created after the reworking of the college’s ODEI and the new vice president will be working primarily with the college’s administration and overseeing the human resources department.
