Q: What is your year and major at UMBC?

A: I am a second year graduate student in the Intercultural Communication Master's program.

Q: How is your major applicable to diversity education?

A: Well…in my program we discuss and apply the concepts and definitions within culture to current events, personal experiences, and many other places.  What I am learning in my program directly relates to diversity and the conflicts that arise and what can be done.

Q: Why did you decide to apply for the Diversity Educator Internship?

A: I applied for two main reasons: (1) to apply the skills I have learned in my master's program to the facilitation and presentation of diversity concepts and campus workshops.  (2) to contribute to an environment that is accepting, appreciative, and understanding of diverse populations.

Q: How would you define diversity?

A: For me, diversity is a state, a state that is composed of many different races and ethnicities functioning and working together.  Within these different races and ethnicities exists distinct practices, behaviors, and customs.  In turn, functioning in a state of diversity signifies enrichment of knowledge and information that would not otherwise be known, recognized, or acknowledged.

Q: How does UMBC foster an appreciation for diversity?

A: Many offices and departments at UMBC provide opportunities for observation, participation, and leadership in a multitude of programs.  The Office of Student Life creates and implements programs, events and workshops, in which students and faculty can take part.  In addition, this office serves to educate and involve all departments on campus, such as the Modern Language department and the Gender studies department, to host events that encourage appreciation and discussion of diversity topics and issues.              

Q: What are ways that students can participate in advocacy for diversity?

A: The opportunities to act as an advocate are endless.  Students who desire to participate but do not want to take on the responsibility that being a leader entails can attend any dialogue, workshop, or event that is hosted.  However, being an advocate does not simply imply attending and participating in specific events.  Being an advocate is a daily act that is fulfilled everywhere someone goes.  An advocate is a representative of and model for diverse appreciation and understanding.  An advocate stands up for the beliefs, practices, and customs of others in that no one individual should be discriminated against or stereotyped.  Therefore, being advocate means having a security in one's own beliefs but a simultaneous mindfulness and appreciation for the beliefs of others, and the acting upon this.

Q: After graduating how will you continue to be an advocate for diversity?

A: Of course, whatever field I go into should have something to do with Intercultural Communication.  I would love to be a diversity trainer or a Spanish teacher.  Either way, I will carry out what I have learned while at UMBC and during this internship into all aspects of my life after graduation.  I will continue to act as an advocate no matter who I am with and where I am.  In my opinion, every situation and every moment provides a possibility for diversity education, however small the lesson.

The UMBC Circle of OMICRON DELTA KAPPA
National Leadership Honor Society is currently accepting applications!

Applications due: by Noon on Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Applications must be submitted online at http://odk.org/audience/prospective_members/membership_application_form

The UMBC Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK), the national leadership honor society, is seeking applications for its student memberships. Founded at Washington and Lee University in 1914, ODK currently has more than 250 Circles on campuses throughout the United States. The UMBC Circle began in 1981 and was recharged in 2007! Come join our circle and help invigorate the UMBC community!

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE UMBC CIRCLE OF ODK?

The purpose of the Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society is threefold.

1. To recognize those who have attained a high standard of leadership in collegiate activities and to aspire to higher achievements.
2. To bring together the most representative students in all phases of collegiate life and thus to create an organization which will help to mold the sentiment of the institution on questions of local and intercollegiate interest.
3. To bring together members of the faculty and student body of the institution on a basis of mutual interest, understanding and helpfulness.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

• Undergraduates of at least Junior standing (by credit level) with cumulative GPAs in the top 35% of their respective classes
• Juniors must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.10
• Seniors must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.27
• Graduate students with at least a 3.500 cumulative GPA
• Graduate students must have completed at least 12 credit hours at UMBC
• Currently enrolled as students at UMBC
• Transfer students must have completed at least two full semesters at UMBC
• Exhibited exemplary academic and leadership achievement
• Excellence in one or more of the following areas of campus life:
• Scholarship
• Athletics
• Campus or community service/social/religious activities/campus government
• Journalism/speech/mass media
• Creative/performing arts

WHY APPLY TO THE UMBC CIRCLE OF ODK?

• You become part of lifelong campus and national network of ODK members
• You become part of a select group that promotes leadership on our campus
• People take notice of " leaders among leaders"
• Job recruiters and graduate school admissions look for ODK members

WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM INVITED TO JOIN ODK?

Invited members will be notified via e-mail by Wednesday, April 11, 2012. If you accept your invitation for membership, you must complete a member information form and return it with your initiation fee of $80.00 on or before 4pm on Thursday, April 12, 2012. You must attend the initiation ceremony on Sunday, April 29^th from 3-4pm in order to become a part of ODK.  More information will be provided at a later date to those invited to join ODK.

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
(dates are subject to change) 

• Wednesday, March 14 – Applications due by Noon. Applications must be submitted online
• Wednesday, April 11 (or before) - E-mail notification concerning application
• Thursday, April 12 - Mandatory membership form and $80 initiation fee due
• Sunday, April 29; 3pm-4pm– Initiation Ceremony in Commons Skylight Room (MANDATORY)
• Friday, May 4 – First General Membership Meeting

APPLICATIONS DUE: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2012 by Noon.

• Applications must be submitted online at http://odk.org/audience/prospective_members/membership_application_form by Noon on Wednesday, March 14, 2012.
• Paper or e-mailed applications will not be accepted.
  
  

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jackie Aliotta
Facilities Coordinator & Omicron Delta Kappa Advisor
Commons Operations
The Commons, Suite 335
410-455-1438
jaliotta@umbc.edu

Q:  Tell me a little bit about yourself: Major? Hometown? Favorite animals? Random facts?

A: I am an Asian Studies major and a Korean minor, I may change to modern languages though. I was born in Baltimore but raised in Trinidad. I’m a new transfer from Penn State, PSU!  I like giraffes, mustaches, and hotdogs!

Q:     How did you learn about the Diversity Education Internship (DEI)? Did you know right away that you wanted to do it?

A: A friend of mine was working front desk in the Mosaic and she told me about the application and I jumped right on it, what better way to get to know a diverse group of people faster than working in the Mosaic Center?

Q: Have you volunteered in any other diversity positions before you started? How did you learn skills you needed to know for this internship?

A: I had many leadership roles at PSU before attending UMBC; I was President of the Black Student Union and VP of Rainbow Paws, our LGBTQA org, and a student mentor for high school students through a program called Talent Search. Also, the summer before my transfer, I was training to work as an Ethnic Outreach Coordinator in our LGBT office on campus at PSU.

Q: How many hours each week do you work in the OSL Mosaic Center? What do you do during that time?

A: We are required to devote 5 hours of time a week but it always ends being more because the office is so much fun. We spend a lot of time joking around but we take care of business too. I am on the marketing and outreach team with Andrea and we try our best to spread the word about the office and internship. We also facilitate discussions held here and those are always an enriching experience.

Q: What is the most difficult thing you have encountered so far into the internship? What is the most interesting thing you have encountered?

A: Personally, I feel the most difficult thing I have encountered is the use of sensory language. I have a pretty big mouth and always say what is on my mind so it can be difficult to just sit back and listen. I have to say that that is also the most interesting thing I have encountered because when I just listen I learn so much more about a person and the things around me I couldn’t identify myself.

Q: What would you say to other students inquiring about becoming the next generation of DEIs?

A: I would say if you know want to get to know, work, and meet great people then try to become an intern. Not just anyone can come in here and represent the office; you have to have good a work ethic, personality, and most of all, communication skills. You have to know how to communicate because understanding a diverse group of people requires an affinity comprehension.

Q: What are your plans/goals for after UMBC?

A: Graduate school of course because a bachelor’s degree will not take you as far as it used to. I would love to get my PhD in communication because I love conversing and the art of languages. I plan to work in the University system, either as a professor or in Student Life.

Q: What is your year and major at UMBC?

A: I am a junior and I am a psychology, sociology, gender studies student.

Q: How is your major applicable to diversity education?
A: My majors assess the ways in which power and privilege, as well as subordination and oppression, functions within society. Understanding that diversity and the intersections of the status positions we occupy impact our everyday experiences is a valued factor in my studies.

Q: Why did you decide to apply for the Diversity Educator Internship?

A:  I applied because I believed in the different components the position had to offer: providing knowledge and vocalization for various groups, being an advocate for social justice in appreciating difference, and finally recognizing what about my personal skills could be utilized to educate others (and myself) about diversity.

Q: How would you define diversity?

A: Diversity is the acknowledgment that difference exists. These differences are across ethnicity, gender, sexuality, sex, religion, class, ability… Anything that makes us who we are. Ultimately, the statues we perform influence our perspective, our opportunities and our recognition.

Q:How does UMBC foster an appreciation for diversity?

A: UMBC’s Office of Student Life offers students the abilities to actively get involved with diversity. There are multiple opportunities for students to engage with different cultural and faith based groups, or just about any organization composed of people working towards a common goal. By becoming involved with these organizations, students are able to get an enriched experience in diversity.

Q: What are ways that students can participate in advocacy for diversity?

A: Advocacy begins with knowledge and continues with action. Students have the ability to get involved with organizations and events to learn more about the types of diversity on campus; afterwards, they can pursue their passions. Advocacy takes the form of appreciating that diversity is good, as well as dispelling negative attributions. Instead of just accepting that a statement is racist, sexist, etc., advocacy is asking why it is wrong, for whom it is wrong and in what ways can it be addressed properly.

Q:After graduating how will you continue to be an advocate for diversity?

A: Personally, working towards change has been a goal of my research on negative constructions of masculinity and depictions of queer identities. I’m sure that this will not change after graduation: I will take the knowledge and skills I’ve gained at UMBC that have allowed me to engage diversity in a meaningful and productive way in my professional field. Acts of advocacy do not need to be large scale; they can be every day acts of kindness that spread a message of acceptance rather than disregard.

The Diversity Educator Interns are a mix of six, talented undergraduate and graduate students who work to fulfill the Mosaic Center's mission and vision. The DEIs co-facilitate cross-cultural and diversity awareness discussions and educational workshops for UMBC student, staff and faculty groups by request. Want to know more or want the DEIs to present to your class or group? Contact mosaic@umbc.edu.

Name: Chengcheng Zhou (Cici)

Major: This is my second semester in UMBC. I’m currently a graduate student in the Intercultural Communication Program.

Q: How is your major applicable to diversity education?

A: As you see, my major is Intercultural Communication. So, basically, what we learn in my program is applying concepts and skills of intercultural communication to different fields ranging from linguistics to politics.  The diversity education program contains a lot of cultural exchanges and contacts. It’s the best place that I can think of to apply what I have learned in class to practice.

Q: Why did you decide to apply for the Diversity Educator Internship?

A: For me, the name of Diversity Educator Internship itself is attractive. I think it could be a really good opportunity for me to apply what I’ve learned in class to all the activities in this program. It also opens the floor for me to draw on my previous experiences-- contacting and doing workshops with people from different cultural backgrounds--to help contribute a more respectful, civil and accepting campus.

Q: How would you define diversity?

A: Diversity, for me, is being aware of the differences among people and willing to embrace them with mindfulness.

Q: How does UMBC foster an appreciation for diversity?

A: First, the diversity can be presented in student population. We always can run into people from different culture backgrounds on campus, India, China, Spain, etc.. Second, there are a series of talks open to our campus that address a multitude of issues relevant to diversity.

Q: What are ways that students can participate in advocacy for diversity?

A: I think being a advocate, firstly, is being open-minded to everything that you come across in your daily life. Secondly, be mindful and respective to all those differences that you come across. Of course, participating different workshops and training about diversity is also a good way.

Q: After graduating how will you continue to be an advocate for diversity?

A: I definitely will bring what I’ve learned at UMBC to China. No matter what my career will be in the future, I will introduce the Intercultural Communication to my colleagues and friends.

The Diversity Educator Interns are a mix of six, talented undergraduate and graduate students who work to fulfill the Mosaic Center's mission and vision by promoting cross cultural programs, education and collaboration. Want to know more? Contact mosaic@umbc.edu.

Name: Andrea Duval

Major: Modern Languages and Linguistics major studying French and Intercultural Communication

Hometown: Native New Yorker

Q: Favorite animals? Random facts? 

A: I love dogs (especially big cuddly ones), hamsters, and my baby betta fish! Random facts...  There's no pizza quite like a Brooklyn pizza. 

Q: How did you learn about the Diversity Education Internship (DEI)? Did you know right away that you wanted to do it?

A: I heard about it in an email I received from the MLL department here.  I thought "This sounds perfect!" and decided to apply.  I knew that this was right up my alley, and I'm glad I went for it. 

Q: Have you volunteered in any other diversity positions before you started? How did you learn skills you needed to know for this internship? 

A: My freshman year I volunteered in the English Language Institute as  conversation partner, helping international students develop their conversational English. It was a great experience and put me in a position where I had to develop the necessary skills to communicate across cultures.  And those skills are invaluable as a DEI. 

Q: How many hours each week do you work in the OSL Mosaic Center? What do you do during that time? 

A: I work an hour a day in the Mosaic as a part of the Marketing Team, keeping our information updated on myUMBC to inform the student population of our upcoming events, and to put the word out about what the Mosaic is and what we do. 

Q: What is the most difficult thing you have encountered so far into the internship? What is the most interesting thing you have encountered?

A: Learning to let go of your fears and volunteering to do something I might not usually be comfortable doing, like sharing a personal story and stepping out of my comfort zone.  It's important in this internship to be able to put yourself out there, or else it would be hard to help anyone else. 

Q: What would you say to other students inquiring about becoming the next generation of DEIs?

A: Do it! Apply, inquire, ask questions, and most importantly be willing to be active in the center.  Come in and talk to an intern, find out what goes on in the Mosaic, and think of ways to help make it even better! 

Q: What are your plans/goals for after UMBC? 

A: I feel that graduate school is a definite for me.  Whether it happens right after graduation or a few years down the road depends.  But I plan to further my education, and I can't wait to find out what opportunities await me. 

 All discussions will be held in the Office of Student Life’s Mosaic Center for Culture & Diversity, Commons Rm. 2B23 on Wednesdays during free hour (12-1pm).

Wednesday, February 15^th, 12-1pm

No Such Thing as “Post Racial”: Dealing with racism in a “post racial” society (In honor of Black History Month)

Wednesday, February 29^th, 12-1pm

The 2012 Elections: What’s at stake for minorities and women if the GOP is elected?

Wednesday, March 14^th, 12-1pm

The Other F Word: What feminism looks like in 2011 and how the role of women continues to evolve (In recognition of Women’s History Month)

Wednesday, March 28^th, 12-1pm  

Exploring Mixed Identities:  Examining identities and experiences from a mixed race/mixed ethnicity perspective.

Wednesday, April 11^th, 12-1pm

Navigating the Varying Cultural Aspects of Sexual Assault

(In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month)

Wednesday, April 25^th, 12-1pm

Where Do We Go From Here? Reviewing the legislative session and marriage equality in Maryland

(In early recognition of National Gay and Lesbian Pride Month in June)

Wednesday, May 2^nd, 12-1pm

Being Asian American: Exploring and Dispelling the Model Minority Myth

(In recognition of Asian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month)

Invitation to participate: Students or faculty interested and able to serve as a co-facilitator for any of these dialogues are encouraged to contact the OSL Mosaic center at 471-455-2686 or mosaic@umbc.edu.

Please note: Groups of 10 or more must RSVP via email (mosaic@umbc.edu) at least 2 work days in advance of each dialogue.