NEW ALBANY, IN, (July 11, 2013) – June Huggins, the director of the Center for Mentoring at Indiana University Southeast, will be named the 2013 Charlie Nelms Alumni Award recipient at the annual IU Alumni Jazz Brunch on July 20.
June Huggins at her desk on the IU Southeast campus
The event is one of several signature IU events at the Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration. The brunch is a collaborative effort between the IU Alumni Association and the Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Multicultural Affairs.
Huggins, who earned her undergraduate and master’s degree from IU Bloomington and a second master’s degree from IU Southeast, said each IU campus has a long, successful history in engaging with students.
“I’m proud to have helped students at IU Southeast get connected to resources that will help them reach their potential and achieve their academic goals,” she said.
Nominating her for the award were Kimberly Pelle, IU Southeast coordinator of nontraditional student programs, and Channell Barbour, associate director of campus life.
“June exemplifies IU’s strategic diversity goals and is constantly looking for creative ways to reach and engage underrepresented students,” Pelle said. “She actively advocates for this population on campus.”
Huggins also reaches into the New Albany community to help improve the quality of life in Southeast Indiana.
She has served on the board of directors for both the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana and the Center for Women and Families, and she has developed various pre-collegiate outreach initiatives in several middle and high schools throughout southern Indiana. Huggins is currently the president of the Women’s Foundation of Southern Indiana.
About the Center for Mentoring
The vision of the Center for Mentoring is to help students make connections that lead to success through providing a nurturing environment and fostering inclusion. Any student enrolled at IU Southeast is invited to participate in the Center’s mentoring program. Under Huggins’ direction, the center also works collaboratively across the IU Southeast campus with other student service units.