These selective icons merely symbolize the powerful and diverse images of African-Americans, which Major, New Student Admissions Minority Recruiter and Admissions Counselor, strives to maintain.

The luminous poster of Fat Albert hanging to the left of her desk, and other posters of music artists Brian McKnight and Winston Marsalis brighten her office cubicle. The artwork, as well as the stacks of Vibe magazines piled onto a corner table, reveal that Major is indeed tuned in to African-American culture.

To uphold a positive image, she surrounds herself with several African-Americans everyday including SIUC students. Behind her desk hangs a photo collage of students who have become closest to her during her 13 years at SIUC.

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As an SIUC alumna, Major works to be a primary guide for students. She received a bachelor’s in theater in 1981 and a master’s in 1985.

She has made an obligation to be involved in students’ lives and provide them with ample support toward success.

I try to let students know that they are welcomed, Major said. I’ve stayed in touch with maybe 300 students. Some of them will write to let me know what they are doing. Some will just call and write on a regular basis.

I know students who are now attorneys and engineers. That’s the thing I like about this job. It makes me feel better than any kind of promotion or raise that I could ever get.

Major takes her job seriously. She spends 12 hours a day counseling students in her office. Throughout the year, she also travels the Midwest recruiting students. This leaves little spare time for Major, spare time she uses to write an array of plays and skits.

However, she manages to be the adviser to four SIUC Registered Student Organizations:Oops! Entertainment, a theater group; Black Fire Dancers, a multi-dance group; Finesse, also a dance group; and Voices of Inspiration, a gospel choir.

This is a good way for me to make sure that students get the information they need to be successful at SIUC, she said. It’s crucial, but students need a support system. I try to be involved with the groups as much as I can.

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Carl Smiley, a junior in aviation from Chicago and a member of Oops! Entertainment, said if Major was not the adviser of the organization he would be doubtful about the group’s success.

When Brenda’s there and working with us our group seems to run as smooth as silk, he said. But when she’s not there, our leadership does not match what Brenda brings to the table. We’re like a deer caught in headlights.

Major said she tries to allow students to get hands-on experience without her watching over them. She wants to be there as much as possible, but her office duties are a priority.

I do have a priority to my job, she said. But I do know that when they look out into that audience they feel good to see me.

Because I have such a strong attachment with the students here, it’s hard when I’m on the road. Sometimes I feel like I need to be two people.

Major is a role model for several students, such as Dante Thomas, a senior in mechanical engineering from Metropolis. For two years, Major has continuously encouraged him to finish college. He does not know where he would be without her.

She’s able to relate to me with my school work a lot of things, Thomas said. She’s given me a lot of insight into moving forward. Of course, I would have learned some things, but if I didn’t have Brenda I probably would be two years behind.

I’m really blessed. If I was in trouble she would be there.

Major said her job is to be helpful toward students. Support and advice are necessities for college students.

The pleasure she gets from interacting with students has caused Major to continue her drive to ensure success for African-Americans. She has no intentions of leaving SIUC anytime soon.

I just feel so proud to be in the position I am in, she said. I thank God that students look to me as a resource. I just try to give back what is given to me. I can’t imagine a student experiencing college without someone to talk to.

So, I think it’s a reason beyond me that I’m still here. I’ll be here until it’s time for me to leave.