Latrice Harris-Collins, director of community relations and outreach in Undergraduate Admissions, has been named acting director for Black student initiatives and will oversee the university’s Urban Scholars program.
Amanda Markwardt will join Marquette as the Urban Scholars coordinator on Monday, Sept. 11. Markwandt previously served as a multicultural initiatives specialist in the University of Wisconsin – Parkside’s Office of Multicultural Student Affairs.
The Urban Scholars program provides up to 45 full-tuition scholarships per year to high school seniors from the Milwaukee area. The program seeks, but is not limited to, first-generation college students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds who show great academic promise and commitment to enhancing their community through intentional action and involvement.
Since she joined Marquette in 2004, Harris-Collins has connected with thousands of incoming first-year students as well as their families. She has also worked closely with students in the Milwaukee community through her recruitment efforts with Milwaukee Public Schools and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee.
Harris-Collins previously served as interim executive director of the Educational Opportunity Program, a federally funded TRIO program that motivates and enables low-income and first-generation college students to enter and succeed in higher education.
Markwardt joins Marquette after being named the inaugural recipient of UW-Parkside’s Supervisor of the Year Award in June, recognized for her commitment to campus employment as a high impact practice for students. At UW-Parkside, she was involved with the Always Reaching Upward Mentor Program, DACA/Undocumented initiatives and resources, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Celebration, Hispanic Heritage Month programming and Asian Heritage Month programming.
“I am excited to welcome Latrice and Amanda to the Urban Scholars team and to the broader Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion,” said Dr. Chris Navia, vice president for inclusive excellence. “Both Latrice and Amanda share our mission of shaping a campus community that is more inclusive and equitable for all.”
As previously announced in Marquette Today in May, the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, under the leadership of Navia, will manage the growing Urban Scholars program.
The Urban Scholars Advisory Council will provide student input and perspective as it evaluates the program. Follow Marquette Today for further information.
Learn more about the mission of the Urban Scholars program and find scholarship information.
