Dr. Sapphire Cureg Joins BSC
Administrative Team as
Multicultural Affairs Director

(Bluefield)—Dr. Sapphire Cureg’s enthusiasm and forward thinking is immediately apparent, and her vision for the office she leads as Bluefield State College’s new Director of Multicultural Affairs calls for diversity to permeate and benefit the entire institution and everyone it serves.

“Diversity is more than numbers of students, and it cannot be relegated to an individual or a department,” she explained. “It’s about everyone – faculty, staff, administration, and students as well having a willingness to share, and at the same time, respect and appreciate others’ beliefs and values.” A career in administration, education, planning, and communicating—primarily in health care—has prepared Dr. Cureg for her new position. Most recently, she served as Diversity Liaison for the Mercy College of Health Sciences in Des Moines, Iowa. She also held key positions as a nursing home administrator in California, strategic planning director and government executive officer in Iowa. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Far Eastern University (Manila, The Philippines), and master’s and doctorate degrees from Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa An avid traveler, and constant seeker of cultural exchange experiences, she has visited other countries including Italy, Switzerland, Canada, the Carribean Islands, Austria, Germany, Japan, Hongkong, France, Greece, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas. She plans to broaden the scope of her travels in future years.

“ West Virginia has a specific culture and is predominately Caucasian,” she continued. “A yearn to learn about other cultures can motivate a person to broaden their horizons and interact with people of other colors, attitudes, ideas, and expectations.” She believes BSC could be a catalyst for embracing diversity. “I don’t want all of us to be the same,” she added. “I want to see differences, understanding those differences, and grow to become interacting, global citizens.”

The Office of Multicultural Affairs is much more than a one-person department, she said. “I want this office to be a vital resource for all stakeholders of Bluefield State College to use. Diversity is NOT one individual, and multiculturalism is not solely my responsibility. I will be a resource to create a climate that appreciates and utilizes our differences and our perspective for the good of all of us,” she stated.

Although she comes to West Virginia after having lived in Iowa and California, she has enjoyed her first few weeks here. “I have been warmly received by the College and by the people of this region,” she recounted. “I look forward to taking an active role on the campus and in the community.” Dr. Cureg can be contacted by phone (304-327-4512) or by e-mail scureg@bluefieldstate.edu

July 16, 2007

Multicultural Affairs Website