Smith - Week 1- Holmes Cultural Diversity Center

Activities:

- Met with HCDC staff and became familiar with them and their responsibilities

- Started on gathering information and resident hall programming ideas for the PAWS Program

- Met student worker for HCDC

- Sat in on meeting with leaders of multicultural student organizations to discuss ideas and programs for Dawgs Days

- Sat in on meeting with the Dean of Students from Southern University to discuss ideas for him to take back to his campus to engage and retain minority student

- Work both parent and student orientation sessions to inform parent and students of the office's purpose, programs and events

Reflection:

This past week has made me thankful I chose to work in this office for the summer. I would not have considered this office if Cedric would not have changed jobs. I have moved outside of my comfort zone.  I believe this experience will be extremely beneficial for me and my future working with students. I have been getting weird look from student and parents when they walk by our table at orientation. Most whites see the world diversity and immediately do not associate themselves with that word. A white male may be the last thing they expect to see at our table. Diversity includes everyone. To be truly diverse, everyone must be included. I am hoping to help break down these barriers at orientation.

My focus of this summer will be working and revamping the peer mentor and ambassador program, which has been renamed to PAWS (Peers Assisting with Students). One main aspect of this restructuring will be that the mentor students will be going to the resident halls to mentor and have programs. It is my responsibility to search for programming ideas to promote diversity and educating student about university life. It has been real fun searching other universities and colleges’ websites look for ideas.

The HCDC will also be developing a new website. It will be my job to make sure the website is easy to navigate and will provide students with beneficial information about our office and what it can do to help students. I will also be making sure the website can relate to students of all backgrounds. Since I am the only white male in the office, my perspective is different from most in the office. The HCDC staff wants to make sure they are structuring things in a way that will be inviting to all students. This shows me the office has a real passion for their work.