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Diversity key theme across campus
February 02, 2007
As an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, Angie Hambrick came to a realization: Latino culture is not the same as Mexican culture.
The thought only occurred to her after a student from the Dominican Republic introduced Hambrick to the dance, food and dress of her native country. It was then Hambrick recognized the differences between the two cultures.
“I came to the realization that culture is more than one tiny thing,” Hambrick said.
Hambrick joined PLU this year as the associate director of multicultural affairs, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Diversity Center and working to develop more diversity training opportunities. She was attracted to the position because she recognized diversity is an important topic across the university.
“It’s not solely my responsibility to address diversity and multiculturalism,” she said. “In all spaces, the topic is important as a whole.”
Eva Johnson, director of Student Involvement and Leadership and the Diversity Center, agrees with Hambrick. The university doesn’t try to compartmentalize diversity issues, and it’s easy to find advocates and allies across campus, she said.
“The way PLU goes about advocating for multiculturalism and diversity, it’s everyone’s work, regardless of your background,” Johnson said.
For more than 30 years, promoting diversity has been a foundation of the university, Johnson said. Through the 1970s and 1980s, the university had a strong Black Student Union and a large contingent of international students, and since the 1990s, the student government has appointed a director of diversity.
Six years ago, the Diversity Center opened to serve as a visible representation of PLU’s commitment, Johnson explained. Additionally, the last two master planning documents have explicitly stated the university’s continued commitment to diversity in retaining students, faculty and staff from minority populations and building an inclusive community.
Recent staff additions include Hambrick and Melanie Cunningham, the new coordinator of multicultural recruitment in the Office of Admission.
One way the university attracts and retains students is through scholarships designated for students from ethnic backgrounds. These include the Reike Leadership Award, established in 1988, and the new Erling O. Mork Scholarship for Excellence in Leadership and Diversity.
The Mork scholarship was created to honor Erling Mork, Tacoma’s city manager from 1975 to 1989. Mork is often credited with laying the groundwork for the revitalization of downtown Tacoma. Mork taught at PLU for a short time. Mork passed away on Jan. 9, but an event on Jan. 24 was held to honor his service and raise money for the scholarship in his name. The event raised roughly $26,000 for the scholarship fund; the total is nearly $47,000, thanks in part to a $20,000 initial gift from Regence Blue Cross.
“He taught here and has been involved and interested in diversity and getting students to attend college who couldn’t,” said Dave Gunovich, development director of major gifts who helped organize and plan the event. “The scholarship was a way to honor him.”
The scholarship will be given to students who “bring diverse perspectives to PLU”; exhibit proven leadership and involvement; demonstrate financial need; and, whenever possible, are first-generation college students.
Another indicator of PLU’s commitment to diversity is its annual role as host of the South Puget Sound Higher Education Diversity Partnership Institute. The event brings together colleges and universities from around the region to discuss issues of diversity.
“(Hosting the event) allows us to play a leadership role in the local community of higher education as advocates for diversity,” Johnson explained.
Johnson has been a driving force behind the institute, and PLU is an ideal host site because of its facilities and central location between Olympia and Seattle. This year’s event, slated for Friday, Feb. 9, focuses on how to talk about issues that are traditionally taboo, Johnson said.
The event features three speakers: David Borofsky of Bates Technical College, Thelma Jackson of Foresight Consultants and Patrick Chapman of South Puget Sound Community College. The schedule includes time for participants to discuss issues with the speakers. View the complete schedule online by clicking here.
Registration is officially closed, but space will be made for members of the PLU community. If you are interested in attending one or all of the sessions, contact Hambrick at ext. 8180 or hambriaz@plu.edu.
“I came to the realization that culture is more than one tiny thing,” Hambrick said.
Hambrick joined PLU this year as the associate director of multicultural affairs, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Diversity Center and working to develop more diversity training opportunities. She was attracted to the position because she recognized diversity is an important topic across the university.
“It’s not solely my responsibility to address diversity and multiculturalism,” she said. “In all spaces, the topic is important as a whole.”
Eva Johnson, director of Student Involvement and Leadership and the Diversity Center, agrees with Hambrick. The university doesn’t try to compartmentalize diversity issues, and it’s easy to find advocates and allies across campus, she said.
“The way PLU goes about advocating for multiculturalism and diversity, it’s everyone’s work, regardless of your background,” Johnson said.
For more than 30 years, promoting diversity has been a foundation of the university, Johnson said. Through the 1970s and 1980s, the university had a strong Black Student Union and a large contingent of international students, and since the 1990s, the student government has appointed a director of diversity.
Six years ago, the Diversity Center opened to serve as a visible representation of PLU’s commitment, Johnson explained. Additionally, the last two master planning documents have explicitly stated the university’s continued commitment to diversity in retaining students, faculty and staff from minority populations and building an inclusive community.
Recent staff additions include Hambrick and Melanie Cunningham, the new coordinator of multicultural recruitment in the Office of Admission.
One way the university attracts and retains students is through scholarships designated for students from ethnic backgrounds. These include the Reike Leadership Award, established in 1988, and the new Erling O. Mork Scholarship for Excellence in Leadership and Diversity.
The Mork scholarship was created to honor Erling Mork, Tacoma’s city manager from 1975 to 1989. Mork is often credited with laying the groundwork for the revitalization of downtown Tacoma. Mork taught at PLU for a short time. Mork passed away on Jan. 9, but an event on Jan. 24 was held to honor his service and raise money for the scholarship in his name. The event raised roughly $26,000 for the scholarship fund; the total is nearly $47,000, thanks in part to a $20,000 initial gift from Regence Blue Cross.
“He taught here and has been involved and interested in diversity and getting students to attend college who couldn’t,” said Dave Gunovich, development director of major gifts who helped organize and plan the event. “The scholarship was a way to honor him.”
The scholarship will be given to students who “bring diverse perspectives to PLU”; exhibit proven leadership and involvement; demonstrate financial need; and, whenever possible, are first-generation college students.
Another indicator of PLU’s commitment to diversity is its annual role as host of the South Puget Sound Higher Education Diversity Partnership Institute. The event brings together colleges and universities from around the region to discuss issues of diversity.
“(Hosting the event) allows us to play a leadership role in the local community of higher education as advocates for diversity,” Johnson explained.
Johnson has been a driving force behind the institute, and PLU is an ideal host site because of its facilities and central location between Olympia and Seattle. This year’s event, slated for Friday, Feb. 9, focuses on how to talk about issues that are traditionally taboo, Johnson said.
The event features three speakers: David Borofsky of Bates Technical College, Thelma Jackson of Foresight Consultants and Patrick Chapman of South Puget Sound Community College. The schedule includes time for participants to discuss issues with the speakers. View the complete schedule online by clicking here.
Registration is officially closed, but space will be made for members of the PLU community. If you are interested in attending one or all of the sessions, contact Hambrick at ext. 8180 or hambriaz@plu.edu.