BY MOLLY ADAMSON
When walking across campus, Dean of Students Sentwali Bakari takes time to say hello to students. However, his days making his way across Drake’s campus are coming to an end.
Come mid-September, Bakari will be moving on to the University of Colorado Springs as the Vice Chancellor for Student Success.
“I’m looking forward to enhancing student life there and being able to work closely with the students and getting to know that culture,” Bakari said. “I look forward to finding opportunity to be involved in the Colorado Springs community.”
Bakari has been working at Drake for 13 years and has 25 years of experience in higher education.
From starting as a professor who taught first-year seminars and taking African-American students to the Big 12 Leadership Conference to interact with other students like them, Bakari has been involved around campus.
Bakari has won multiple awards including the International Education Administrators Fulbright award in 2013. This recognition enabled him to travel to England to learn how to better serve international students and promote multiculturalism and diversity on Drake’s campus. Last fall, Bakari was able to be the Dean at Sea for the Institute for Shipboard Education.
One of Bakari’s favorite things has been participating in the Noon Basketball Association. The group is made of Drake students, staff and faculty who play basketball regularly at 12 p.m.
“It was a chance for me to get to know people, like the faculty members who I would see on campus making our college beautiful,” Bakari said.
Bakari’s last day at Drake is September 15. His new position becomes effective October 3.
Dr. Jerry Parker will act as the interim Dean of Students. Drake is working to organize the search committee for Bakari’s replacement.
Student Body President Thalia Anguiano said at the Student Senate meeting last week that the search committee will hopefully be established in the coming months.