Paul Robeson Cultural Center Recognizes Airelle Smith as 2023 Campus Partner of the Year
Paul Robeson Cultural Center Recognizes Airelle Smith as 2023 Campus Partner of the Year
This past May, the Paul Robeson Cultural Center (PRCC) at Rutgers University–New Brunswick recognized Airelle Smith, Assistant Director, Career Advocacy and Professional Inclusion, as the 2023 Campus Partner of the Year. This award is a new tradition that recognizes an individual who has gone above and beyond to engage with students and alumni to provide many opportunities for development and success.
The Paul Robeson Cultural Center (PRCC) was founded in 1969 and is dedicated to serving the Rutgers University community by offering a wealth of programs, initiatives, and services that reflect the robust history, heritage, and diversity of the African diaspora. Widely recognized as the first black cultural center on a college campus in the United States, the Paul Robeson Cultural Center is named after one of our most esteemed alumni, Paul Robeson, who was the third African American to graduate from Rutgers University.
“Airelle works tirelessly to develop high-quality and mutually beneficial relationships with her campus partners, focusing on providing excellent student support. I'm delighted that the Paul Robeson Cultural Center recognizes her for this,” states proud supervisor, Tamara Peters, Associate Director, Career Student Communities.
William Jones, Career Exploration and Success Executive Director adds, "This award says so much about Airelle’s authentic approach to relationship building on campus. She has had such an impact and done so much good in one year of her Career Advocacy and Professional Inclusion role!
Airelle has made quite an impact during her short time at the Office of Career Exploration and Success. Starting in March 2022, Airelle provides programming and support to the unique needs of Women, LGBTQ, Students with Disabilities, Asian American and Pacific Islander, Black & Latinx, and Indigenous Students. This is the second honor Airelle received this year, as earlier in May, the Center for Social Justice Education & LGBT Communities selected Airelle Smith as a recipient of the 2023 Dr. Zaneta Rago-Craft Award. Airelle received her undergraduate degree from Georgetown University in Philosophy. After graduating, she served as Capital Teaching Resident and Lead Teacher at Valor Academy in Washington, DC. Before working for the Office of Career Exploration and Success, she worked as a graduate coordinator for the office. She served as the administrative assistant at the Center on Violence Against Women and Children in the School of Social Work at Rutgers-New Brunswick and worked in non-profit and K-12 education. She's currently pursuing her master's degree at the School of Communication and Information in Communication and Media Studies.
The Office of Career Exploration and Success at Rutgers University-New Brunswick is continuously impressed and honored to have Airelle Smith recognized for her commitment to the career development profession and these career communities.
