Jennifer M. Jones serves as the Assistant Dean of Student Life and Director of Student Activities & Multicultural Student Affairs. She received her BA in Sociology from Southern Methodist University. She also holds a Master of Liberal Arts from SMU. Jennifer has been at SMU for 23 years. She is a member of a number of professional organizations where she serves on a number of committees. Her main objectives for the Department are to assist the university in its retention and recruiting efforts through out of the classroom experiences, be an educator and advocate for diversity on campus, and be a major resource for students in achieving academic success.
Dawn F. Norris
is the Associate Director of Student Activities & Multicultural Affairs. She has been at SMU for
8 years and previously worked with the Tate Lecture Series and Residence Life & Student Housing. Dawn serves as the advisor for the Student Foundation and Senate Organizations Committee
and was honored with the M Award in 2008. She earned a B.S. in Business Administration from Centenary College (Go Gents!) and a Masters in College Student Personnel from the University of Dayton (Go Flyers!) Dawn’s family includes husband Chris, SMU Law ’04, and children Grace and Jack.
Shannon Sumerlin
is the Coordinator of Fraternity and Sorority Life and has been at SMU since August 2005. She
earned a B.S. in Sports Management from the
University of Florida and holds a juris doctorate from Florida State
University. After her undergraduate career, she traveled as a
consultant for her sorority and served as a regional officer in the
Pennsylvania area before moving to Texas. Shannon is a member of the
Florida, Pennsylvania, and Texas State Bar Associations. Her husband Brent
also works at SMU as a professor in the chemistry department.
Jordan McCarter is the Coordinator of Student Programs at
SMU. She holds a B.A. in History from Tufts University and an M. Ed in
Higher Education Administration from Vanderbilt University. During her
time at Vanderbilt, Jordan worked in the Office of Student Activities as
well as the Office of Greek Life. Jordan originally hails from
Chattanooga, Tennessee and is a proud member of the Red Sox Nation! Go
Sox!
Fernando M. Salazar is
the Coordinator of Hispanic Student Services. He earned his Bachelor of
Arts in Government from the University of Texas at Austin with a minor
in Mexican American Studies. His work experience ranges from the Texas
legislature and the private sector as a consultant on Latino community
issues. He is a Dallas native and has strong ties within the Dallas
Latino community. His main objective for Hispanic Student Services is to unify
student groups, produce strong leadership and promote Hispanic related
issues on the SMU campus.
Nessa Duque is the Coordinator of Asian American Student
Services. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from
California State University San Marcos and holds a Master of Education
in College Student Affairs from Azusa Pacific University. While at APU,
she served as the Graduate Assistant in the Office of the Provost and
the Los Angeles Term Program where she developed a passion for engaging
students in diversity, global education and service oriented
opportunities. Nessa supports students in embracing their cultural
heritage as well as connecting the university community through the
celebration of diversity.
Ke’Ana Hardy is the Coordinator of African American Student
Services. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas
at San Antonio in Communication with a concentration on Public
Relations. She also earned a Master of Arts in Communication Arts with a
focus on culture and media from the University of Incarnate Word in San
Antonio, Texas. Before joining SMU, Ke’Ana served as the Program
Coordinator for Intercultural Services at Texas Woman’s University.
Prior to that, she coordinated self-sufficiency programs and special
events for low income minority families in San Antonio. She uses her
past experiences in event planning and student organization advising to
help promote cultural awareness and understanding to the SMU community.
Danika Nicholes
is the Student Association Accountant and newest member of the SAMSA Team. She received a Bachelor of
Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting & Finance
from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA and has a MBA with
a concentration in MIS & Finance from Dallas Baptist University. Her
previous background has been in the corporate sector, and she is excited
to be working in higher education and at SMU. She and her husband
Roderick are proud parents of Chloe and Myles.
Lydia Dale is the
Administrative Assistant for Student Activities & Multicultural Student Affairs. She
just celebrated 25 years of service to the University, serving all of those years in Student Activities. She was honored with the “M” Award in April 2000. Lydia received an Associates Degree from Richland College and attended the University of Texas at Dallas majoring in business management and financial accounting. Lydia lives in Emory with her husband Jason. Their daughter Melissa is a senior at SMU. In addition to her duties in SAMSA, Lydia is also the Program Assistant with the SMU Human Rights Education Program.
