Raven Williams Cuffee, Dean of Student Success
Raven Williams Cuffee reflects on Loyola’s new Thrive Center for Student Success and the importance of her role in helping every student find their place on campus
Photo by Aaron Boutwell
The tools we equip students with activate them as change agents and scholars.
A Place To Thrive
A student development professional at Loyola for the past 11 years, Williams Cuffee now leads the Thrive Center for Student Success. She describes the center as a comprehensive space for holistic success coaching, including resources around new student transitional support, academic monitoring and intervention, identity formation, and family programs. Through intentional outreach strategies and follow- up, the Thrive Center stays with students throughout their journeys.
Finding Potential
“I love working with college students because they have so much potential. I consider myself blessed to help them envision and achieve their professional and personal aspirations and watch their confidence grow. We have the perfect opportunity to do that with our students, especially through an intersectional identity lens.”
The City For Raven(s)
Originally from Michigan, Williams Cuffee never thought she would stay in Baltimore. A decade later, she has made the city her home, alongside her husband, Paul Cuffee, a Loyola public safety officer. “The community I’ve built here, you can’t find that everywhere.”
Dear Students:
“Don’t wait to step outside your comfort zone. Make connections early— and one of the best places to start is the Thrive Center. Our mentoring, outreach, and programming will help you flourish at Loyola and beyond.”
That’s So Raven
Outside of Loyola, you can find Williams Cuffee listening to Prince, exploring new restaurants in Baltimore (her favorite: Urban Oyster), and journaling.