Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship

James Span, Jr., executive director of Student Inclusion and Diversity, passed away Saturday, November 23, at 51 years of age.

Span was born and raised in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and attended Morehouse College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1996. He also earned a Master of Divinity degree in sociology from the Interdenominational Theological Center in 2003.

Span joined the CMU community in May 2005 as a residence hall director in Campbell Hall. He served as an academic advisor and pre-major advisor from April 2016 to June 2019. A lifelong learner, Span continued to pursue his own education as he advised students. He earned an MSA in Leadership from CMU in May of 2019 and later enrolled in CMU’s doctoral program for higher education leadership.

In the summer of 2019, Span shifted into the role of Associate Director of Cultural Programming in the Office of Multicultural Academic Student Services. A year later, in July 2020, Span became director of the MASS Office, where he supervised the team behind initiatives such as the MAC Scholarship, cultural and heritage months, student service offices, and numerous registered student organizations.

Wade Tomson, associate director of campus visits and events, said Span was the guiding voice for many of the programs coming out of the MASS office and the Center for Student Inclusion and Diversity, including the “I am anti-racist” campaign. He helped a small team with a limited budget do “big” things, Tomson said.

“James provided the thoughtful consideration behind all our initiatives,” Tomson said. “He helped us turn our big dreams into realities, always focusing on what would have the most impact.”

In January of 2021, Span became executive director of Student Inclusion and Diversity, a role he held until his passing.

“James was a mentor and role model to every person he came into contact with,” said Stan Shingles, interim vice president of student affairs. “His integrity and character always stood out; he was a true servant-leader and modeled CMU’s Leadership Standards every day. His presence at CMU — and in the lives of many others — will be sorely missed.”

Span believed strongly in the power of mentoring in higher education and worked on numerous mentoring initiatives at CMU, including MentorCollective, IMPACT and the First-Gen Council – where he focused on support for first-generation college students. And, over the course of his nearly 20 years at CMU, Span personally mentored hundreds of students and young professionals, including Emma Massey, assistant director of mentoring in the MASS office.

Massey met Span in her freshman year at CMU, where he served as the advisor of the Multicultural Advancement and Cofer Scholars program. As a first-generation college student, Massey said she often lacked confidence to pursue things she wanted, like leadership roles.

“But James just poured confidence into me,” she said. “It was the most beautiful gift and he offered it to everyone. Even if you couldn’t see it for yourself, James would see your potential for you. He wouldn’t tell you where to go or what to do, but he would guide you and help you find that passion and ability within yourself. He just poured so much of himself, so much light, into us.”

Span helped Massey apply for leadership roles in IMPACT and, later, for the graduate higher education leadership program at CMU. Now, as an assistant director in the MASS office working on mentoring relationships, Massey sees Span’s legacy come full circle.

“He helped me find the potential in myself and gave me guidance on how to stay organized and engaged on campus,” Massey said. “I wish he could see me in this role that we both envisioned for me.”

A celebration of life

Span is survived by his mother, Martha Hudson, his siblings and a host of family and friends.

Members of the CMU community will hold a remembrance ceremony in honor of James E. Span, Jr., at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 5, 2024, in Plachta Auditorium.