Student Affairs in Higher Education masters student Jonathan Rosario is in the thick of it. He’s providing general assistance and support in planning Colorado State University’s Diversity Symposium (September 16-18).
He took time from his busy schedule today to visit with Source and give us a student’s perspective on diversity.
Q: What is the importance of diversity for you, personally?
A: Diversity is important to me because I believe it’s everywhere in the fabric of our society and our world. It’s everywhere we go.
Our identities and experiences impact how we navigate the world. My identities show up in my relationships with friends, family, classmates and co-workers. In working with students, I’ve learned that their identities play a huge part in their experiences as students at CSU.
Having conversations about diversity is important because it allows us to grow as multiculturally competent members of the community, which is essential in order to create communities that are truly inclusive and welcoming of all members
Q: Can you tell us about a diversity initiative here at CSU and how you’ve seen—with your own eyes—what a difference it’s made?
A: The example I’ll share has to do with multicultural competency and inclusion. Students have fantastic opportunities to engage in important and sometimes difficult conversations regarding inclusion and social justice.
Every year SLICE offers a social justice retreat called Campus Step Up. Students are able to focus and reflect on their own personal growth. They acquire the skills and confidence to act on causes about which they care deeply.
I’ve seen the outcomes. I participated in “Justice Diversity Training” this summer, in a session about what it means to supervise people in a socially just way. I was moved by the stories from supervisors across the Division of Student Affairs who spoke about how they were striving to supervise this way.
Q: Tell us about your role in the symposium this year and what you plan to do after graduation.
A: I’m providing general assistance and support in planning the symposium. I helped read proposals, communicate with presenters, and had a part in logistical planning and advertising. My anticipated graduation date is May 2015. I’ll be doing a national job search; I hope to obtain full-time employment in Residence Life.
Q: Knowing what you know from your experiences in the Student Affairs in Higher Education program, can you name one strategy you think could work or that is being used to level the playing field and give people from underrepresented backgrounds more opportunities to enter the math/science fields?
A: I believe mentoring programs are successful in helping students from underrepresented backgrounds feel welcomed, included and supported in various spaces. Student organizations and department mentoring programs are effective because they allow students from underrepresented backgrounds to feel connected with peers who share similar interests and identities.
Diversity Symposium, September 16-18
This year’s Diversity Symposium will be held Wednesday, September 16 through Thursday, September 18. Visit the website to read more about the highlights of the symposium.
