Following their “March in Remembrance” on Saturday, Shippensburg University’s Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) hosted a dedication ceremony for the Rev. Diane Jefferson at 5 p.m. outside of Gilbert Hall.

Saturday afternoon’s dedication featured remarks by Assistant Vice President of Inclusion, Belonging and Social Equity Manuel Ruiz; Diane Jefferson’s daughter and alumni Shanda Jefferson; former PA Secretary of Education and alumni Khalid Mumin; and Shippensburg University President Charles Patterson.

A large audience of university students, alumni, faculty and community members were brought together to celebrate and remember the life and work of Diane Jefferson. Throughout the half-hour meeting, attendees expressed their love and emotion in unison with the speakers.

The purpose of the dedication was to reflect on the memory of Jefferson and to announce the coming changes to the MSA Office in Gilbert Hall.

Following cheers of support from the audience, Shanda Jefferson reflected on the values her mother imparted onto her and the campus community. 

“She would say, ‘Education is the great equalizer. It equalizes all things,’” she said. “She would always want to strive to do better and to give more … She would never stop, and so we can never stop.”

Shanda Jefferson continued, explaining the actions taken by Shippensburg University to honor mother’s work, including a scholarship fund. 

“We will never forget her. We will never leave her legacy go. We will never leave the spirit of Diane L. Jefferson out of the MSA office,” she added.

Khalid Mumin took the time to thank Shanda Jefferson, Patterson and the audience for keeping Diane Jefferson’s legacy alive. He spoke about his story coming to Shippensburg University and working with Jefferson, who he and many students refer to as Ms. Di.

“She said, ‘I want y’all to come up with a group to empower young Black men to be able to stay on campus and graduate,’” he recalled. 

Following her guidance, Mumin and other students in MSA designed an organization called Men of Culture, which went on to become the B.R.O.T.H.E.R.S. Organization.

“What I also ask of you is that we come back here next year. Bring your friends, bring your frat brothers, bring your Sorors. Come back here each year and continually elevate what Ms. Di stood for,” he added.

Shanda Jefferson returned to the stage to thank Manuel Ruiz and Patterson for helping to elevate the work of her mother.

Patterson took the stage to address important announcements regarding the future of the MSA Office.

“We are actively searching for the next director of the Multicultural Student Affairs,” he said. “Not to replace Ms. Di, that is not possible, instead we will find someone who can carry on our mission with the same kindness, the same compassion and the same love that Ms. Di brought to Ship every day of her life.”

Patterson discussed the recommendations given to his administration by an ad hoc committee. The three recommendations are as follows:

• To name the Afro-Am office Diane L. Jefferson Afro-Am.
• To establish a fund for MSA to aid in programming and student emergency needs.
• To name the MSA program Diane L. Jefferson Multicultural Student Affairs.

During his announcement,  Patterson unveiled a new plaque to be displayed in the Afro-Am office in Gilbert Hall. Also revealed was a new waypoint sign to be displayed outside of Gilbert Hall that reads, “Diane L. Jefferson Multicultural Student Affairs.”

“Colleen and I have always led by example, and we are more than proud to contribute to advancing the establishment of the Diane L. Jefferson fund,” he said. “I am providing a check here, in front of everyone, as an example of my clear demonstration of support and continued support for Ms. Di and Multicultural Student Affairs.”

According to Patterson, around $5,000-$6,000 has been donated to Ms. Di’s fund in the past few days. He expects that this amount is likely to increase in the coming future.

“We will continue to nurture, challenge and uplift one another just as she did, and make every student who walks through these doors feel valued, cared for and capable because this is want Ms. Di wanted,” Patterson said.

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