John W. Rawlins III

Campus Diversity Officer/Director

John (He/Him/His) is a Campus Diversity Officer and Director of the UC San Diego Black Resource Center. He is an EDI/Student Affairs professional with 18 years of experience as an administrator and advocate for students, more specifically students of color. John is a native of the Washington, DC Metropolitan area and earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University and his Master of Arts degree from The Johns Hopkins University. John came to UCSD in 2022 from California State University San Marcos (CSUSM), where he served as Director of the Black Student Center and Special Assistant to the Chief Diversity Officer in the Office of Inclusive Excellence. John's passion to support students of color began during his undergraduate career, where he served in many leadership roles in student organizations and campus advisory boards. John would begin a celebrated career at Ithaca College, continue at The Johns Hopkins University, and the international headquarters of his fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., before heading West to CSUSM.

John holds memberships with NASPA, ASCAP, and is a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He is President Emeritus of the Cornell Black Alumni Association and serves on several alumni boards for the institution. John is also a Gospel recording artists and vocalist who has performed on national and international stages alike. He has been honored to share the stage and sing with artists such as jazz icon Wynton Marsalis and Gospel legend Kirk Franklin.

Tori Bussey-Neal

Associate Director

Jasmine Henderson

Assistant Director 

Jasmine Henderson began her role as the Assistant Director of The Black Resource Center (BRC) in June 2023 during..., where she also served as the emcee for two years in a row. Jasmine is proud to have led the charge to launch UCSD’s first Black Diaspora and African American studies major, marking a significant achievement for the university. She played a key role in organizing UCSD's Sankofa Homecoming, a celebration that honors the deep-rooted traditions of homecoming within the Black community. Jasmine oversees both large and small programmatic initiatives, as well as the BRC Student Success Educator (intern) program. Her leadership style focuses on the personal and professional growth of each student to ensure their success both during and after their time at UCSD. 

With a decade of experience in higher education, Jasmine is deeply committed to student development and achievement. Her passion for student success began as an undergraduate, where she served as a Board of Director in student government on her college campus and held leadership roles as president of several student organizations. These experiences shaped her belief in the transformative power of higher education, and she is dedicated to being a part of that journey for other students. Jasmine is also a first-generation college graduate, having earned both her Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees from San Diego State University (Go Aztecs!).

Outside of her professional work, you may catch Jasmine mentoring underserved youth, helping to foster success and confidence in the next generation.

Fernando Brown

Facilities, Operations, & Events Coordinator 

Fernando Brown (He/Him/His) began as Facilities, Events, and Operations coordinator in September 2023. He is responsible for administrative and programmatic support, which includes day-to-day operations, BRC infrastructure, facilities management, and event coordination.

He has a rich history in operations and facility management. At California State University San Marcos, he served as the Assistant Athletic Director, Operations, where he managed the athletic facilities, game day operations, ticket sales, and equipment inventory for 13 NCAA DII teams. Fenando has also contributied to the day-to-day operations of two NFL organizations; Super Bowl XLV; and Student-Athlete Academic Success programs.

A San Diego native, he graduated with a B.A. in Social Sciences from Cal State University San Marcos and a Master's in Educational Leadership - Student Affairs from San Diego State University. In his role as coordinator Brown emphasizes the importance of aligning the physical space with the center's mission and values. He values creating an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity and promotes equity, ensuring that all students and the broader UC San Diego community feel represented, respected, and a sense of belonging in the BRC.

Danielle Simien, LCSW

Meg Olinger