2021 College graduate Ashley Codner named Makuu program coordinator

2021 College graduate Ashley Codner has been appointed the program coordinator of Makuu: The Black Cultural Center. 

Codner will oversee Makuu's communication and program management, helping plan the center's programs, collaborations, and partnerships. As the fall semester begins, The Daily Pennsylvanian spoke with Codner about her experience after graduation, her return to Penn, and her goals for the academic year. 

During her time at Penn, Codner majored in English and was involved in several cultural organizations with Makuu affiliation, such as UMOJA, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Caribbean American Students Association, and Sister Sister. She enrolled at Rutgers University to pursue a PhD in English after graduation. Three years into her graduate degree, she developed an interest in administration.

“I felt as though I was more interested in creating lasting change in terms of policy and that kind of strategic impact rather than research,” Codner said.

As part of this realization, Codner joined a diversity, equity, and inclusion advisory board within Rutgers’ School of Graduate Studies, focusing on creating equitable opportunities for graduate students of color. From there, she began engaging in more DEI spaces, eventually stepping into a role as Graduate Coordinator for Diversity Initiatives at the Stevens Institute of Technology. After a year and a half in her position, she said she decided that it was time for a change, which is when she landed a job as the program coordinator at Makuu.

“She has a passion for student support and understanding how to improve higher education, and she brings a wealth of talents to Makuu,” Makuu Director Brian Peterson told the DP.

Codner said that her experiences as a Black student at Penn will shape her approach to the new role. As an undergraduate student, she saw why cultural spaces were necessary — saying that as a Black woman, she often felt “daunted” by the University and that the University was not a space "made for [her].”

“I think having spaces like Makuu and the organizations that it supports, having those spaces where I could really find community were super helpful,” Codner said. “In the moments where I didn’t always feel connected to Penn the institution, I might feel connected to Makuu.”

One of Codner's goals in her role is to expand outreach to current students, prospective students, and alumni. She said she hopes that more students join Makuu after becoming students at Penn, and she also hopes that more students encounter Makuu within their Penn careers.

“I … want to be able to diversify our offerings enough that we can meet the needs of as many Black students as possible,” Codner said.