Helen Rucker Center for Black Excellence

Tori Mills (She/Her) 

Affinity Centers Coordinator & Lead for the Helen Rucker Center for Black Excellence

Hey! My name is Tori and I am the Affinity Centers Coordinator and Lead for the Helen Rucker Center for Black Excellence. I was born and raised in San Francisco, CA. I attended UC Riverside for my undergraduate and graduate degrees. I was first introduced to the work I do now during my time working as a student assistant at UCR’s African Student Programs. A few fun facts about me are, I’m a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., I am a second generation San Franciscan, I love scary movies, I love rollercoasters, and I have been sky-diving. I love working at the Helen Rucker Center because I am super passionate about the work I do and love helping students achieve their goals.

Da'Ja Robinson (She/Her)

Community Support Liaison 

Hi, my name is Da'Ja Robinson, and I serve as the Community Support Liaison for the Helen Rucker Center for Black Excellence (HRC) at CSUMB. I’ve had the privilege of being a part of the HRC family for nearly 4 years, but I’ve been deeply rooted in the Seaside, California community since 1987. In my role, I work to bridge the relationship between campus and community experiences. This includes organizing events both on and off-campus, fostering networking opportunities, building relationships, and connecting community-based organizations and youth programs. My goal is to elevate and amplify the Black experience at CSUMB, ensuring a more inclusive and dynamic campus environment.

D'kota Seymens-Brackett (He/Him)

Student Coordinator 

My name is D’Kota Seymens-Brackett, I am from Bakersfield, California and I major in Kinesiology. A fun fact about me is that many people would call me the “Marvel encyclopedia” and that I am a huge fan of Marvel comics, especially Spider-Man. I like working at The Helen Rucker Center because of the interactions I can have with other black students on campus and how we can talk about social issues in this country and black history as well. And honestly I love the laughs we have too.

Matthew Sanders (He/Him)

Student Coordinator 

Hello everyone! My name is Matthew Sanders. I’m a first-generation college student originally from Oxnard, CA. I’m majoring in Business Management, and this is my second semester at CSUMB. After graduating, I envision myself stepping into a management role where I can lead purposefully, especially in event coordination or community-focused initiatives.

David Stewart (He/Him)

Media and Marketing Student Coordinator 

Hi, my name is David Stewart, I am a senior and Cinematic arts major, from the Central valley. And a fun fact about me is I like watching anime.

Gennelle Watkins (She/Her)

Student Coordinator 

My name is Gennelle Watkins, and my hometown is Salinas, Ca near Monterey. My Major is Social and Behavioral Sciences concentration in Sociology and Minor in Pre-law. I am a Transfer student from a local Community College, and it is called Hartnell College. I love to sing and I have a Boston Terrier, and her name is Bossy. It is my second time working at the HRC, and I like working here; because we are able to connect  with each other and other students along with collaborating with others.

Mikayla Ewing (She/Her)

Student Coordinator 

My name is Mikayla Ewing, I’m a psychology major with a music and biology minor. I’m from Oakland, California but I moved to Stockton/Lodi last February. A few fun facts about me are that I love to sing, dance, and everything involving music, and I was homeschooled for two years. I love working at Helen Rucker Center because I feel like I have a home on campus and I enjoy being around people that look like me with like-minded goals and experiences.