Meet The DEI: Nicole Shah

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 13:33:06 -0400
diversity, leadership, mosaic, student-life, umbc

Nicole is in her senior year, majoring in social work and minoring in sociology. She will be applying to the advanced standing program at the University of Maryland Baltimore soon. Her goal is to obtain her Master's in Social Work and work with the immigrant and refugee populations.

She has a special interest in social policy pertaining to underrepresented groups. Nicole also speaks a little of a few different languages, so one of her personal goals is to one day be fluent in at least one other language.

*The Diversity Educator Interns are undergraduate and graduate students who co-facilitate cross-cultural and diversity awareness discussions and educational workshops across campus.

Q. What made you get involved with The Mosaic Center as a Diversity Educator Intern?

A. I am a social work major with a passion for anything relating to diversity and social justice.

Q. What's your favorite moment as a DEI so far?

A.DRAG UMBC!

Q. What has surprised you most about working in a Center for Culture and Diversity?

A. I did not think that I could love UMBC more until I started working with the Mosaic Center and the lovely staff I have the honor of working with.

Q. Do you find anything challenging about being a DEI? If so, explain.

A. Coordinating multiple schedules to make events happen and the disappointment when event requests fall through at the last moment-after we've prepared.

Q. What might someone be surprised to know about you?

A.That I LOVE to dance-especially to reggae and salsa.

Q. What's it like to be a Diversity Educator Intern for The Mosaic Center?

A.It can be a lot of work and commitment (if you want to do it right!), but that dedication will definitely pay off because I'm learning valuable skills that will help me in every aspect of my life.

Q. When you aren’t performing DEI duties, what are you most likely doing?

A.At my social work field placement working with domestic violence victims, studying

or spending time with my family.

Q. How would (someone) describe you?

A.Warm, open-minded and nurturing.

Q. What do you wish other people knew about The Mosaic Center?

A.That everyone can use more diversity and cultural awareness in their lives.

Q. What would you say are some of your strongest beliefs about diversity?

A.Meet people where they are, everyone has the right to self-determination and be open minded because you WILL learn something new.

Q. What's your personal philosophy on what should be done about promoting communal diversity and inclusion?

A.I think it's a personal responsibility to try and educate people about it if you have the right tools to do it.

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Want to know more? Contact mosaic@umbc.edu - to request a workshop for your group or org complete a workshop request form! http://my.umbc.edu/groups/themosaic (form must be submitted at least two weeks in advance)