Having a bad day? Feeling blue?
You might want to visit Jocelyn Milton, associate director of University of Tennessee Minority Student Affairs and a self-proclaimed "mom to everybody."
Milton, whose nickname is the "Knoxville Mom," acts as a liaison between students and Minority Student Affairs. She's ready to embrace anyone who comes to her office in need. "I'm a real big hugger," Milton said. "Some people come in just to get their hug for the day."
Part of Milton's job is "extending that arm" to students of every nationality and background. "Minority Student Affairs is not just for black students or minority students," she said.
She sees the Black Cultural Center, one of the primary tools of Minority Student Affairs, as a gathering place where all students can make new friends. "I've seen so many students who come to the center and end up having a ball. I’ve seen relationships that have endured past graduation."
The center's success is an example of the message that Milton and her colleagues try to promote. "Differences do not mean there are deficiencies in anybody," Milton said. "If you just take a minute to get to know someone, a friendship might be formed."
But promoting a universal spirit of friendship isn't always easy, so Milton draws on past successes to keep her motivated.
Her favorite memory of her years with Minority Student Affairs: "One young man would come and talk about different things. One day, we were really engrossed in this conversation and he said, 'Well, Mama … .' Then he just stopped and said, 'I just called you Mom. It was like I was sitting here talking to my mom.' Ever since that day, we have been close."
If that wasn't enough, Milton met the student's mother, who immediately recognized her, ran to her, embraced her and said, "Thank you so much for loving my son."
"That experience made me feel like my being here has made a difference," Milton said. "Those are the kind of things that make my job worthwhile; it's the students," she said. "Anybody who isn't there for the students, I say you're wasting your time."
In addition to her work with Minority Student Affairs and the Black Cultural Center, Milton serves as the UT Choir Adviser for the Love United Gospel Choir, a nationally recognized student singing group. Although this is only her third year serving as adviser for the choir, her interest in gospel music goes back to her childhood.
"I've been a long time supporter of the choir. I have a background in gospel music because of my family -- my mom is a gospel artist," she said.
Milton recently was elected to the board of the National Association of Collegiate Gospel Choirs, and is the only active college choir adviser on the board. "Our board is very diverse," she said. "Each brings what the president and founder says are our unique talents. He puts us to work in those areas."
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