Penn State Worthington Scranton has created a new position -- Coordinator of Multi-Cultural Programs -- to serve international and diverse populations at the campus and last month, Martin Lacayo was hired to fill the postion. He started on Aug. 15.
Lacayo, a United States Marine Corps veteran, has a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and a Master of Science degree in student personnel administration.
He comes to Worthington Scranton from East Stroudsburg University, where he served as an academic success coach in their Academic Enrichment and Learning Center. In that role, he assisted academic advisors and students with academic planning, while coordinating intervention and outreach initiatives focusing on the enhancement of study skills and academic preparedness.
Prior to joining ESU, Lacayo worked as an academic advisor/veterans coordinator at Bloomsburg University, where he coordinated the Veterans Affairs Office's services and programs.
Additionally, he has extensive experience working in the areas of multicultural affairs, academic advising, college housing, veteran services, and access/retention programs.
In his new role at PSWS in this newly created position, he will work to increase cultural awareness, diversity programming and establish a support office for international students and students from special populations, such as veterans, and non-native students.
Lacayo will also develop student diversity program initiatives that bridge in-classroom and out-of-classroom learning and implement an ‘early alert’ and intervention program to assist those students on campus.