Multicultural Academic Enrichment Programs

Ed Laster has over 20 years of experience at the University of Louisville. Formerly, he was the Assistant Director of REACH and the Assistant Director for Academic Support in the Division of Transitional Studies. Laster holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Education from U of L, and he is currently working on a doctorate in Education.

Laster started working at U of L in the West Louisville Education Program back in the 70s. He has experienced the University from numerous perspectives. Not only has he been a student, but he has also been a member of U of L's Board of Trustees. Additionally, he has held numerous positions affiliated with the University, a few examples include President of U of L's School of Education Alumni Board, Chair of the Staff Senate, The Cardinal Newspaper Board, Board of Trustees Personnel Committee, Board of Directors for the University Research Foundation, Avenues to Teacher Certification, Board of Directors for the University of Louisville Hospital, and he was a member of the 200203 NCAA Self- Study Group. Currently he is the Vice-chair of the Department for Public Safety Advisory Board. He chaired the Presidents' Commission on Diversity and Racial Equality from 2000-04, and vice-chaired the Commission from 2004-06.

Laster (a.k.a. Mr. Ed) is a student-centered person who believes in helping students from the day they enter the University and providing them a supportive environment until they graduate.

Phyllis M. Webb received a Bachelor's degree in Journalism in 1974 from Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Ky. She worked as a Writer, Assistant News Manager and Interim Managing Editor for the Louisville Defender Newspaper for a year and started her career at the University of Louisville in 1975.

As a writer and editor, Webb's work has been published in the Louisville Defender Newspaper, Minority Voices Magazine, MAEP Newsletter and most recently the Women's Center News, a publication of the Women's Center Newsletter. See the fall 2006 and winter 2006 editions of the Women's Center Newsletter at www.louisville.edu/provost/womenctr for articles. Ms. Webb was instrumental in helping communications students become involved in starting a student chapter affiliate with the National Association of Black Journalists. Read more about the NABJ in the spring 2007 MAEP Newsletter.

Webb served on the University's first University-Wide Celebration of Diversity Public Relations Committee in 1990. As part of a graduate level internship class ECPY, Webb was instrumental in administering the 4-year college version of the Noel-Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory (SSI) to select sample of students in 1999 under the purview of the Office of Student Affairs.

She received a Master's degree in College Student Personnel in December 2000. She is a former Staff Senator having served on three distinct committees: SHARE, Staff Grievance and the University Awards and Designation committees. She serves as a volunteer captain in her office encouraging staff to sign up for volunteer opportunities; a volunteer for the Jefferson County Middle School Coalition and the Community Relations Council.

Mrs. Webb served as former Treasurer of the Business and Professional Women/Louisville chapter, 2005-06 and co-chaired the organization's Ruth L. Koch Scholarship Committee which issued the 1st scholarship in spring 2006. She serves as an at-large board member of her neighborhood association (Councilman Kevin Kramer, District 11), and works on the association's publicity committee. She serves as a volunteer captain in her office encouraging staff to sign up for volunteer opportunities; a volunteer for the Jefferson County Middle School Coalition, the Community Relations Council and the Every1Reads Program.

Melvin L. Turner, Sr. is a native of Knoxville, Tennessee. He received his Bachelor's degree in Biology from Tennessee State University and his Master's degree in urban Education from Indiana University.

A high school teacher, and curriculum coordinator, Melvin Turner was hired at the University of Louisville in 1973 as Coordinator of Tutoring in the Office of Black Affairs. He has worked as a career specialist, coordinator of education service, director of DASH (Directed Academic Study Hour), a special tutoring project. Turner created an acronym for the word "Attitude" which is designed as a positive daily reminder of the vital role a person's outlook plays in one's personal success. Turner speaks numerous times during the year to various organizations through U of L's Speaker's Bureau and as invited guest of other organizations. Turner was appointed by the Governor of Kentucky to be the Martin Luther King Commissioner for the Commonwealth. He is a former member of 100 Black men of Louisville; a life-time member of the National Alliance of Black School educators and currently is the Northwest representative for the Kentucky Association of Blacks in Higher Education. He is a volunteer with the National Conference on the Black Family in America.

Veronica (known by many as "Sissy") has been employed in the MAEP office for over three years having previously worked in the Upward Bound Program at U of L. She is a "people person" and is on the left as you enter the building's front entrance. Purple is her favorite color and her hobbies include family activities such as sports and church programs.

Mrs. Tonia D. Thomas serves as a Senior Program Coordinator for the School of Medicine Office for Minority and Rural Affairs since July 1996. She previously served as a Program Assistant with the Medical School Admissions Office. She is a Louisville native and a graduate of U of L with a bachelor of Science degree in Sociology. She coordinated the Professional Education Preparation Program for entering college freshmen and the MCAT-DAT Summer Workshop for college students preparing for their MCAT or DAT. She is also the Advisor for the Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students and provides academic guidance and resources to prepare pre-medical and pre-dental students for admission into professional school.

Office hours are 9:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m., M-F. (Appointments are preferred). Feel free to call 852-0230 or send an email to tdthom01@louisville.edu.

Alona Pack serves as the academic advisor for all ethnic minority nursing students and is also responsible for their recruitment and retention. She is the faculty advisor for the Black Student Nurses Association (BSNA), which is a recognized student organization (RSO) that provides mentoring, networking, community service activities. It is comprised of both upper and lower division nursing students. BSNA meets the fourth Monday of the month at 4 p.m. in the Minority Affairs Building multipurpose room. Office hours: (Appointments preferred). Flexible hours during early registration period. Call 852-1191 for an appointment. or email ahpack01@louisville.edu