Meet the Assistant Director

Who Is Baba Adrian?

Meet Baba Adrian Mercado, the inspiring Assistant Director of the African Male Resource Center at Chicago State University. As a proud graduate and charter member of T.E.M.B.O., Baba Adrian is dedicated to connecting with young men on campus, showing them the transformative power of getting involved and persevering through adversity.

Born and raised on the southeast side of Chicago, Baba Adrian's journey to success was marked by challenges. After being denied admission to several universities, Chicago State recognized his potential and accepted him into their University College program, designed for high school graduates who showed promise despite facing obstacles. However, the pressures of home life and academic stress led Adrian to drop out in 2013, forcing him to work as a sanitation worker at a meat factory to support his family.

Determined, Adrian gave education another chance in 2014. During this time, he faced the devastating loss of two first­ blood cousins and a mentee to gun violence, that nearly made him give up. However, with the unwavering support of Baba Kwesi from the AAMRC and Tim Lee from HRL, Adrian persevered, becoming a rising student leader and a man of

T.E.M.B.O. Through hard work and determination, he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications/ Public Relations.

Now, as the Assistant Director of the African Male Resource Center, Baba Adrian Mercado is committed to using his skills, experience, and empathy to uplift and guide the next generation of students at Chicago State University. His testimony serves as a powerful comment to the importance of resilience, support, and the transformative impact of education.

Contact Information

Assistant Director Adrian Mercado
Office:773-821-2796
Email: amerca21@csu.edu
Office Hours: 11am - 5:00pm Mon-Fri