The Office of Minority and International Students is located on the second floor of Worner Campus Center on the Colorado College campus. Feel free to stop in the office anytime or contact one of the following for an appointment:
Roger Smith, International Student Specialist Worner Center 233 (719) 389-6897 Roger.Smith@ColoradoCollege.edu
Here's a little more information about who we are! Rochelle Mason
Rochelle Mason is Director of the Office of Minority & International Students at Colorado College and has been at CC since August of 1990. She is frequently a guest lecturer throughout the community on topics concerning diversity, multi-culturalism, cultural competencies, inclusiveness and the psychology of prejudice. Prior to returning to CC (she is an alumna), she worked for six years at the Urban League of the Pikes Peak Region, Inc. as Educational Coordinator. Rochelle earned her Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs in 1996 and her BA Degree in Drama from Colorado College in 1984. After graduating from Colorado College, she worked extensively in regional theatre. One of the main goals of the Office of Minority Student Life is to promote positive relationships within the larger Colorado Springs communities of color and Rochelle has received several commendations over the years from the local chapters of the Urban League and the NAACP for the College’s continued sponsorship and support of youth programs. Rochelle has lived in Colorado Springs since 1969 and is a proud mom to her young son Donovan. She enjoys reading, singing Mariachi music and tap dancing!
Kristina Lizardy-Hajbi
Kristina Lizardy-Hajbi serves as Minority Student Specialist and has been in this position since August 2006. Kristina is originally from Trinidad, Colorado. She is a biracial Latina/Italian first-generation college graduate who is deeply committed to issues of social justice, diversity, equality and transformation around the contexts of race/ethnicity, class, sexual orientation and gender. Kristina also carries with her a background and training in religious studies/theology and is an Ordained Minister in the United Church of Christ. Kristina earned her Master of Divinity Degree (Justice and Peace Studies concentration) from Iliff School of Theology in 2006, where she also started a group for students of color on campus. She received her BA Degree in Religious Studies from CU Boulder in 2001 and is now currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Research, and Policy at UCCS. Prior to coming to CC, Kristina was Program Coordinator of FaithTrek, a theological and vocational exploration program for mostly at-risk high school youth. Additionally, Kristina worked as an on-call chaplain for St. Anthony Central and North Hospitals in Denver for two years. In her spare time, Kristina enjoys hanging out with her husband Ali and their baby guinea pig Mr. Bubbles, cooking, writing and reading great poetry, and avoiding Colorado Springs traffic on I-25.
Roger Smith
Originally from Alberta, Canada, Roger Smith is the newest member of the Minority and International Student Life team! As the International Student Specialist, Roger will provide a range of immigration compliance and advising services to international students. His mission is to encourage successful cultural, social, and academic adjustment of students from abroad and to enable these students to promote global diversity on campus. Roger is committed to the idea that an international dimension is essential to a quality education, to building a critical awareness of world issues and to equipping us with global competencies for constructive leadership in a diverse world of work and community. His experience includes employment with Up with People, a global education program in which he held the position of North American Event Coordinator. More recently, Roger worked at Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin where he worked in Alumni Relations, Development, Cultural Diversity and International Education. Smith earned his Bachelors degree in Business Administration/Management from Carroll University (Waukesha, WI) in 2002 and is currently completing his MBA in International Business at Lakeland College (Sheboygan, WI). Roger is married to Karen Smith (from the Netherlands) and is a proud father of two children – a daughter, Nevaeh and son, Landon. His favorite hobbies include: running, movies, snowboarding, going to coffee shops, and he is passionate about international travel!
Barb Loerbs
Barbara Loerbs has been the Staff Assistant in the Office of Minority Student Life since April 2005. Barb and Rochelle have a connection to Oxnard, California where Barb was born and raised. And like Rochelle, she is also a tap dancer. Barb had a career working with the government, first with the Navy in California and then with the Air Force in Colorado as a Configuration Manager. It was this career that got her started with her travels. She now travels all over the United States. Before coming to Colorado College, Barb worked as an Administrative Assistant at the School of Nursing at Purdue University. When she returned to Colorado, she decided she wanted to keep working on a campus and was hired at CC. Working in the Office of Minority Student Life has been rewarding in that she has a connection with the students and gets involved in all of their activities. Barb is the mother of three grown children – a son, Andrew, and twin daughters, Catherine and Cindy. She also has three grandchildren – Darren Ray is 11, Ashley is 10 and Brooke Lynn is 2. The one most spoiled in her family is her puppy – a seven year old cocker spaniel named Cody. In the little bit of spare time that she has, Barb likes to travel, scrapbook, shop, visit with friends, and spend time with her family.
We look forward to hearing from you soon! |
