Joseph Selden's computer keeps beeping. He humbly explains that his e-mail box is notifying him of hundreds of congratulatory messages about an award that he recently received.

Selden, however, would rather talk about the clutter on his bookshelves.

One shelf holds photos of his family, including its newest member -- a cocker spaniel named Henry. Pictures of families and babies cover the next shelf. The top shelf holds memorabilia from Selden's college years and past projects.

"Those who made the dean's list get medals," he said, picking up a silver medallion from the shelf.

The medals, Selden said, will be distributed at an upcoming diversity students' meeting.

Some may say his shelves are a misuse of working space, but to Selden, each picture is a shining success story. They are the children of Penn State alumni who feel a strong connection to Selden and the College of Communications.

As director of multicultural affairs for the college since 1994, Selden has made many such connections with both students and faculty. He recently was promoted to assistant dean for multicultural affairs.

Douglas Anderson, dean of the College of Communications, also nominated Selden for the Barry Bingham Sr. Fellowship, an honor that the National Conference of Editorial Writers bestowed upon him for 2001.

The fellowship recognizes Selden for his work recruiting and retaining minority students in the journalism program. According to College of Communications data, the retention rate for diversity students has averaged at 92.3 percent since 1992.

Since Selden's arrival at Penn State in 1994, enrollment of students of color in the college has exceeded the enrollment in the rest of University Park.

"It's a phenomenal increase," Selden said. "We are about to set a major record in the United States as probably one of the most aggressive communication colleges in the country (in diversity recruitment)."

Selden, however, makes it clear that he is concerned with more than just numbers. He cares about his students and works as an academic advisor in addition to his numerous other duties.

"I happen to be African American, but I'm a professional for all students," he said, explaining that he sees students of all races and ethnic backgrounds if they come to him for help.

"I feel like sometimes I am a short order cook at McDonald's during lunchtime, and whoever comes to the door I have to provide a service," he said. "They might ask for a hamburger, they might ask for fish, and they might ask for fries."

Selden said he does his best to help out students with whatever they might order.

Karla Tomlin (senior–journalism), a scholarship recipient in the college, said she always goes to Selden instead of her assigned academic adviser.

"If anything's going wrong, you can always track him down, and he'll do whatever he can to get the problem solved," she said.

Tomlin said she had a friend from another college who made the dean's list one semester and received no formal recognition. When she told Selden about it, he made a special card acknowledging the friend's accomplishment.

When he isn't meeting with students, Selden is working towards a doctorate in counseling education, which he plans to complete in 2003. His dissertation is on counseling for diversity students.

"How does one stay competent in the field of diversity?" he asked. "It's a dynamic field. It's one in which you have to stay current just about every year . . . because people's cultural values, traditions, morals may change."

Eve Munson, an assistant professor of communications, also came to Selden for advice in preparing to teach a course on women and minorities in the media.

"Diversity issues are crucial at Penn State and in America," Munson said. "Joseph (Selden) does an excellent job of helping the rest of us in the College of Communications deal with those issues."

Selden also works with minority scholarship recipients and multicultural student groups within the college, such as Penn State Association of Journalists for Diversity, which is a chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists. Selden renamed the group to make it more inviting to students of all backgrounds.

In 1999, PSAJD won the national award for a student chapter.

"It was nice to go in front of 3,000 African American journalists to receive this award as the best student chapter in the country," Selden said. "I mean, that's just incredible."

Selden also is involved with the National Association of Minorities in Communications. Penn State boasts the largest student NAMIC chapter in the nation.

When most students are away from campus, Selden works with a communications program for high school students, the Penn State Multicultural High School Journalism Workshop.

In 1998, Selden was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Thinking that his time for life was ending, he went to the U.S. Open because of his love of tennis.

"What was so special was that I had a student who told me that 'Mr. Selden, it's not your time,'" he said. The comment inspired him to battle the disease, and he called the student an angel sending a message.

Selden's surgery was successful, and he has continued his positive attitude toward helping students in what he called a "second life."

"I just feel like if you're going to do this job, to me, it's almost like the way I play tennis," Selden said. "I go all out. I give everything I have."