WHO’s WHO @VCU: Meet Napoleon Peoples

Born in Philadelphia, Penn., Napoleon Peoples, director of the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, once had the dream of being an architectural engineer. But after he attended Wilberforce University in Ohio, that dream changed.

“I really wanted to be an engineer, and then I decided I wasn’t going to a technical university,” Peoples said. “I went to Wilberforce and started in psychology and liked it.”

The concept of psychology interested Peoples so much that he pursued the major up to four degrees. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from Wilberforce University. Then at Kent State University, he received a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling and a specialist degree in counseling psychology.

Upon receiving his specialist degree, Peoples worked in 1970 as a counselor under what is now VCU Counseling Services. He left the job after three years, however, to pursue his doctorate in psychology at Kent State University.

“When I left, it wasn’t even about getting a leave of absence,” he said. “I felt all the time that if you’re going to do academics, do it to the best of your ability.”

After he received his Ph.D., Peoples returned to work as a counselor and professor at VCU, where he taught many courses both on the undergraduate and graduate level. He also developed the course “Personality and Behavior of the African-American,” which is still being taught today.

Peoples left counseling in 2001 to become the director of multicultural student affairs when the first director, L. Victor Collins, left.

Though the responsibilities of a counselor and director both include dealing with students, Peoples said there are great differences between the two.

“You’re dealing with life and death,” Peoples said of his past job as counselor. “You’re dealing with people who are struggling with issues of strength or depression or any number of things, and you’re trying to help maximize their full potential.”

Helping people maximize their potential is a skill that student-worker Alicia Ward, a junior African-American Studies major, said he brings to his current job as director.

“Dr. Peoples relates really well to the students here,” said Ward, who works at the OMSA office. “People come in specifically to talk to Dr. Peoples, and I think that is an example of how well he relates to students.”

Communication with students has been a major part of Peoples’ professional career no matter the job. Still, he said he used to miss aspects from his former job as counselor. Peoples likened that sentiment to a gardener who eventually stops gardening.

“When you do anything repetitively over and over, you’re going to miss it,” he said.

The wee bit of nostalgia he had when first becoming director has not seemed to affect his focus. Under his direction, the OMSA has implemented 13 new programs.

Ijuanzee Isom, multicultural program specialist, is in his first year working under Peoples and said he has grown an appreciation for People’s commitment to his job.

“He has an excellent vision, and he is motivated to really innovate this office, not only for students at VCU, but also for the staff and faculty and (the Greater) Richmond community,” Isom said.

The goals of these programs, Peoples said, are to educate students about cultural diversity and its impact on individuals, the university and society.

“We live in a real mono-cultural society that’s moving toward multiculturalism at a rapid pace,” he added.

Despite differences, Peoples said humans share a common bond.

“When I look at human beings, that is the most important (part) of the whole ingredient, no matter what circumstance,” he said. “We are all human beings, and when people are suffering, or people are confused or conflicted, or people are having fun – they are all the same thing.”