During his junior year at North Carolina State University, Alvin Sturdivant struggled to find his path. After switching majors three times — from education to sports broadcasting to clinical psychology — he still felt like something was missing. It wasn’t until a candid conversation with his mentor, Dr. Anona Smith-Williams, an advisor for Black students in the college of education and psychology, that he discovered where his true passions lay.
“[During our conversation] she expressed that she didn't really see a lot of passion when I was talking [about my future plans],” Sturdivant said. “She wanted to ensure that I was choosing a path that I would love and that would be fulfilling —- one that would give back to me in the way that I was expecting to give to my career.”
The realization led him to where he truly thrived: mentoring peers, fostering community as a resident assistant and advocating for meaningful change. It was in these roles that he discovered a deep passion for student affairs.
Now, after years of leadership in higher education, Sturdivant is bringing that passion to the University of Portland. On Feb. 1, he will assume the newly created position of vice president of Student Affairs and inclusive excellence
In his new role, Sturdivant will oversee student development, Residence Life, Health and Wellness, leadership programs and community engagement, while incorporating responsibilities from the former role as Assistant Provost for International Education, Diversity and Inclusion. His work centers on advancing the Holy Cross Catholic mission, fostering an inclusive campus climate and supporting the university's diverse student body.
His arrival comes at a time when higher education is under immense pressure. Nationwide, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives face political and legal challenges by the Trump administration, with some institutions scaling back DEI programs. But Sturdivant remains unwavering in his commitment to ensure UP remains inclusive and accessible.
“I grew up in a working-class community and family, and college was not something that was available to everyone in my family or my community,” Sturdivant said. “I want to ensure that it remains accessible and available to folks who look like me and folks who come from backgrounds like mine.”
Sturdivant has spent his career making that vision a reality. At institutions like Saint Louis and Seattle University, he worked to foster inclusion and belonging, particularly for students from underrepresented backgrounds. At UP, he plans to do the same thing, starting with listening.
“I want to learn as much as I can about what's currently in play, about what's working, about what's not working,” Sturdivant said. “That [way] we can ultimately build this plan that will identify the more critical pieces that we need to be addressing.”
His “listening tour” around campus will involve one-on-one meetings with students, faculty and staff and attending campus events to hear directly from the community.
University President Robert Kelly, who oversaw the search process alongside a committee of students, faculty and administrators, said Sturdivant stood out for his ability to connect with students while keeping institutional values at the forefront.
The role is not easy, however. Few individuals have held the position of vice president of Student Affairs at UP in the past 30 years. Fr. John Donato, who previously served in this position, understands these difficulties well.
“[It is challenging to have students] know that they're heard and that we are working on better policies,” Donato said. “We can do this together, and we don't have to be at odds with each other, but we actually work better by sharing our thoughts and constructive feedback in a way that we build something together better.”
Sturdivant embraces that philosophy. He envisions his role as an advocate, ensuring that students’ voices are not only heard but reflected in decision making.
“I'll be present and available and accessible,” Sturdivant said. “I'll be at your events, and I'll be at games, and I’ll also be sitting down one-on-one with a range of different students just to hear about the different experiences that you're having. I will be communicative and transparent.”
His leadership will be guided by the University’s Holy Cross Catholic mission, which he sees as the foundation for fostering inclusion.
“We are committed to who we are as [a] Holy Cross [Catholic Institution],” Sturdivant said. “That's the anchor. While we might find ourselves challenged by some of what's happening at the federal level when we're making decisions, at our core, we will draw back to who we are as an institution and how Holy Cross informs that.”
Beyond his professional responsibilities, Sturdivant is eager to immerse himself in the Portland community. A lifelong athlete, he plays in an adult softball league, a sport deeply embedded in his family’s history.
“My mom, my biological mom, was a softball player,” Sturdivant said. “And all four of us [children] — three boys and a girl — played softball or baseball growing up, and it is the one sport that we all had in common and the one sport to this day that we all still love very dearly.”
As he prepares for his first day on campus, Sturdivant is focused on what matters most: building connections.
“I know that I can't get out and meet everyone all on the first day or the first week,” Sturdivant said. “But becoming a part of the community is something that's really important to me, and I can't wait to get started.”
Julianna Pedone is the News and Managing Editor for The Beacon. She can be reached at pedone25@up.edu.
