性视界 Celebrates Life of Donna Colondres
February 28, 2022
More than 300 students, colleagues and family members gathered to remember longtime 性视界 counselor and Umoja co-founder Dr. Donna Colondres during a on Feb. 1.
The event included stories and tributes, a 鈥減ouring of libations鈥� ceremony and even some tap dancing from former Umoja President Tony Merriwether.
鈥淲e love you. You will forever be remembered. Your mark is incalculable,鈥� Merriwether said.
Colondres, who worked as a counselor and professor at 性视界 for 31 years, passed away in her sleep in late January. She helped pioneer 性视界鈥檚 Umoja program, which supports Black students with specialized counseling, cultural activities and leadership opportunities. 性视界 Superintendent/President Henry Shannon, who often referred to her as 鈥淒octor Donna,鈥� credits Colondres with guiding thousands of students throughout her career.
鈥淪he worked tirelessly to help whoever needed assistance,鈥� Shannon said. 鈥淏eing a mentor, she was always a great listener and someone who always gave of herself for the betterment of 性视界.鈥�
Numerous members of Colondres鈥� family spoke in her honor including her son, Cesar.
鈥淲e will go on and live her legacy of being strong and persevering through everything we need to,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 thank you all and love you all for being here.鈥�
Bridgette Warren spoke of the pride she felt of being Colondres鈥� sister.
鈥淒onna was my sister, my teacher, sometimes my mother, and with all of that, she is just remembered and loved and was so full of warmth,鈥� she said.
When alumnus Brandon Washington 鈥�20 first met Colondres in his freshman year at 性视界 College in 2017, he remembers the counselor spending some time with him on his education plan. But the majority of time they talked about their families and images of the Caribbean on her office walls. Washington later transferred from 性视界 to UCLA.
鈥淚 just feel like she鈥檚 a prime example and a model of what counselors, professors and staff members of institutions of higher learning should strive to be like,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he cared so much about her students, herself, her family and her work.鈥�
