Derrick Langston

  • Multicultural Student Success Coordinator, Black Student Cultural Center

Derrick Langston is a Multicultural Student Success Coordinator in the Black Student Cultural Center. He joined the BSCC staff in May of 2019 and during that time he has helped to create several programs and initiatives as well as contribute to existing programs that the BSCC offers. Derrick worked to create the “Brother to Brother” Black male support group, a newly established group to help Black male students at UWM. He also spearheaded a peer mentoring program for BSCC students. Derrick routinely hosts the “How to get a 4.0” presentation series that is designed to provide students with tangible tactics to ensure academic success. Derrick serves as the advisor for the Black Graduate Student Association that works to establish and maintain community among Black graduate students. Derrick also serves at the co-advisor for the Black Student Union and the co-chair of the Summit on Black Male Youth.

As a doctoral student in the Communication department, Derrick also brings six years of collegiate teaching experience with him to DEI and the work he does in the BSCC. Derrick taught Public Speaking and Interviewing here at UWM as well as his previous institution, Southern Illinois University, where he earned two bachelor’s degrees and a master’s degree. Academic skills building is Derrick’s specialty; he helps students with a myriad of topics such as: How to do homework, how to take notes, studying, how to give speeches, how to write research papers, how to give presentations, speech anxiety, test anxiety, time management, stress management, how to write resumes and cover letters, applying for jobs and graduate school, etc. Derrick also places a high value on mentorship and providing an empathetic ear to the concerns of students as a way to assist them.

Derrick is very passionate about helping students and providing them a space and opportunity to speak freely about their concerns, worries, hopes, and goals. He is a loving husband and father who wants to instill the value of education and the importance of kindness in his daughter.