It’s been three years since McMaster’s Black Student Success Centre opened its doors, creating a space on campus to support and champion Black students in every aspect of their lives.

And in that time, it’s become an invaluable student resource.

Fourth-year computer engineering student Brandon English volunteers for Black Boys Code, teaching computer science skills to marginalized Black youth. He first came to the BSSC in search of a quiet space to mentor the kids.

Over time, English started to hang out at the BSSC and connect with community members, staff and peers. Recently, he applied to be a part of the BSSC team at Welcome Week.

“Whether it’s just people coming around to eat, or if they’re staying for the programming, they do a lot to make sure that our community is taken care of,” English said.

It can be tough to find those people that are able to have a heart to heart with you about schooling, transitional periods, or life in general, English said.

“The BSSC, it’s a place to fill that need… you can truly feel you’re welcome and it’s a space on campus where you can just be yourself.”

Connection and belonging

The BSSC is “really committed to supporting the entirety of the student journey,” said Clare Warner, director of equity, inclusion and anti-racism.

That starts with outreach in high school, guiding students through the application process, then their transition to university, followed by future planning through career and grad school support.

The BSSC offers mentorship, culturally informed services and flagship events like the Black Student Welcome in September and Black Grad.

They also host a number of events to bring students together, including speaking events where they host alumni and Black leaders in the community who can talk to students about the specific challenges they face.

“There’s something deeply powerful about visibility and connection, seeing oneself reflected in community,” said Faith Ogunkoya, Manager, Black Student Success.

“These moments don’t just foster belonging; they reshape students’ understanding of what’s possible for them at McMaster and beyond.”

“We talk a lot about underrepresentation and systemic barriers, but really at the core our students are seeking affirmation; the confidence that they belong and are valued and can thrive in these spaces.”

“McMaster’s an amazing place to study, and we want to ensure that Black students experience that from the very beginning, ” Ogunkoya said.

The BSSC centres students as co-creators of the work. This Students as Partners model ensures that its programs are responsive, relevant and rooted in lived experience, Ogunkoya said.

“Students are amazing to work with, and I just love, love, love working with them as partners to think through responding to those needs,” Ogunkoya said.

Village of support 

Ogunkoya remembers the moment when the BSSC’s impact on students hit home for her.

It was at a Black Student Welcome event. They’d brought together Black professors and staff members from across McMaster, gathering on the fourth floor of the Hub to welcome first-year students and show them their village of support. The space holds around 700 people, and they filled it to capacity.

Students that day “walked straight into that community,” Ogunkoya said.

“Already they are seeing lots of people in their programs. They’re meeting up, they’re getting mentorship already, they’re making friends.”

That kind of early connection is critical to cultivate students’ confidence right from the start, Ogunkoya said. “That sense of, ‘I can’t see myself, I’m underrepresented’ — we mitigated it right from the very beginning, from their first week of school.”

Even as she celebrates the BSSC’s progress, Ogunkoya is planning for the future.

“We’re proud of what we’ve built — and we’re designing for longevity,” said Ogunkoya. “This is not a moment; it’s a movement.”

“Black student success is not a buzzword — it’s an imperative,” Ogunkoya said.

A $1.5-million investment from the RBC Foundation, announced in 2023, enabled the BSSC to continue to grow with additional salaried positions, mentorship opportunities for youth, lectures and networking events.

Recently, the BSSC was honoured with the Onyx Initiative Education Award. They’re also planning to host a national Black Student Success Conference, slated for 2026.

The BSSC’s achievements have drawn recognition from other institutions, with several reaching out to learn more, including Brock University and the University of British Columbia.

“They recognize that what we’ve done at McMaster is both innovative and replicable,” Ogunkoya said.

“A lot of universities want to drive change, but McMaster is living it. And that positions us as a national leader in Black student success.”