Office of Multicultural Learning Reflects on 25 Years of History

Formerly known as the Center for Multicultural Learning (CML), the OML was housed in a portable around the areas of what is now Dowd. Photo provided by Pauline Phuong Nguyen

The Office for Multicultural Learning recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. Established in 1999 to address the needs of a growing diverse community at Santa Clara University with the help of a grant by the James Irvine Foundation, the OML began its mission in diversity, equity and inclusion. 

“The history of the OML is beautiful because it’s led by people,” said Chris Harris, director of the OML. “If nothing else, OML is a true representation of people demanding what they want and what they deserve.”

The organization was originally named the Center for Multicultural Learning, before faculty and staff decided to change the campus environment to promote diversity and better serve students of color. Pancho Jiménez and Laura Fujieda—though they no longer work at the office—were both there for the beginning of the OML, helping build the foundation of a lasting legacy.

Fujieda began at the University in 1999, working at the OML as a project manager and at the Drahmann Center as an advisor. 

“Our goal was to build confidence in students that the University was really looking to support students of color,” Fujieda said. “The director was Father Sonny Manuel, and he brought in folks from across campus to try and bridge connections for students.”

Increasing visibility of the new office was one of the first goals of the OML. “It was a lot of us attending different events, putting on different events and really trying to introduce ourselves to the community,” Jiménez said. “Another big piece of that grant was there was money available to put on programming that reflected what the OML was trying to do at the time, even trying to do now.”

Fujieda explains how she could see that the University saw the importance of diversity and would support the changing environment of the campus. She also had personal reasons for joining this work, finding a way to support students like herself.

“I grew up in LA in a poor neighborhood and I was fortunate that I was able to go to a different school in a very wealthy neighborhood,” Fujieda said. “I’m also first-gen and so that combination of continuing to support students who struggle.”

Jiménez shares a similar personal story: both of his parents were first generation and his father, Francisco Jiménez, also attended Santa Clara University. 

“Listening to my dad’s stories about his experience as a child and then moving to high school and college, I just felt it was important to do that work,” Jiménez said. “To honor their struggle a little bit and to try to make life a little easier, smoother, and more welcoming for students like my parents.”

“It has grown a lot and there’s always room to grow further,” Jiménez said. “I think the OML provides a wonderful service to the University and more to the students.”

Harris, the director of the OML since 2023, believes the office still provides that same support for students as the University continues to recognize the varying identities of students. 

“I think that we’re getting better at doing it at scale,” Harris said. “I think we can serve more as we continue to grow our resources.”

As director, he plans to keep the same value of always listening to what the students need.

“That’s always kind of been my MO and my career philosophy,” Harris said. “I think the first thing that I always wanted to do was just to figure out and ask people ‘How can I help you?’”

Throughout his time as director, he has made progress in the goals he’s set for himself with the OML. One of those goals was increasing accessibility around campus, which he notes the University has taken steps to go beyond compliance. 

Looking forward to the future, Harris hopes to maintain the agency they have as they continue accomplishing the vision of the OML.

“We’re connected to a larger vision, we regularly coordinate with others,” Harris said. “So we’re involved, but I think that we drive a lot of our own direction.”