{"id":16039,"date":"2019-10-17T13:27:11","date_gmt":"2019-10-17T13:27:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.uwb.edu\/?p=16039"},"modified":"2025-02-19T11:43:41","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T19:43:41","slug":"student-diversity-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uwb.edu\/news\/2019\/10\/17\/student-diversity-center","title":{"rendered":"Inviting additions to the Student Diversity Center"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Three
Three of the peer navigators in the Student Diversity Center, from left, Marco Lizarraga, Estaphanie Guzman and Maria Raza. Marc Studer photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

By Sean Park
On May 1, 2017, the much-anticipated Student Diversity Center<\/a> (DC) opened its doors at the University of Washington Bothell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Long a priority in the UW Bothell Diversity Action Plan, the center became a reality after students voiced concerns about not having a cross-cultural space on campus where they could find others like themselves and build community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUW Bothell has always had a large diverse group of students,\u201d said Miguel Macias, the center\u2019s first and current director. \u201cWhether they\u2019re students of color, first generation, eligible for Pell grants or from different regions of the world, they all needed a familiar space to create a community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen it came down to it, students just wanted a place to breathe, to connect and to simply just be,\u201d he said. \u201cThey wanted an additional resource hub, and that\u2019s exactly what they created for themselves.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

An open space <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Newly
Newly furnished room at Student Diversity Center. Marc Studer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Student Diversity Center has become a second home to many students. The staff and students who together run the center prioritize building an inclusive and empowering environment in the center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyone can use the available rooms to collaborate on school or club projects. They can rent out office or technology equipment. They also can find information about events and programs around campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lastly, and most importantly, the center provides an open space for students to build relationships. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a place I know I can find somebody to talk to or ask questions if I\u2019m looking for help,\u201d said Nour Muhalhal, a senior in Community Psychology and a DC staff member. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I started at UW Bothell, I wasn\u2019t taking school seriously and wasn\u2019t sure if I was going to graduate,\u201d she said. \u201cFortunately, after I got hired by the diversity center, I started to realize my potential and that I wasn\u2019t taking advantage of my opportunities here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis job pushed me in so many ways, which has felt really good,\u201d Muhalhal said. \u201cIt has taught me how to be a leader in my community and understand how to connect with people. It has taught me on-the-job skills, including outreach and marketing that have helped me to discover my passion in graphic design.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After more than two years as a student assistant, Muhalhal will start a new role as the marketing intern for the DC this fall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To meet growing demand, the diversity center has upgraded its facilities and is adding staff members. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

More student engagement <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
New art at the Student Diversity Center. Marc Studer photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

More than 250 students completed a survey last year asking what kinds of improvements could be made, including artwork they wish to see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSpace is political,\u201d Macias said. \u201cWe want to make sure that when a student walks in the diversity center, they can immediately say \u2018That is for me, I feel safe here, this place acknowledges my history, my identity, my struggle and my joy.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe believe that visual art along the hallways will help represent different cultures that students feel reflected in,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new artwork plus additional furniture were funded by the Student Activities Fee. Laptops and TVs were funded by the Student Technology Fee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

UW Bothell has also funded several new positions for the center to facilitate more community events and help bring students together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ian Zamora is the new program manager hired this summer. He brings experience working with cross-cultural centers, including his previous role as the program coordinator for University of California, Davis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur goal this year,\u201d said Zamora, \u201cis to continue the legacy of love and care that DC has shown over the past few years and create a lasting infrastructure and vision that will guide this department to thrive in the future.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The center has also hired three intercultural coordinators, Macias reported. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve noticed that a lot of international students don\u2019t feel as connected to the diversity center, so we want to make sure we close this gap,\u201d he said. \u201cThrough advocacy work, the intercultural coordinators are going to be one of the primary bridges to ensure that international students feel comfortable using our space.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, the center\u2019s student assistant jobs have been enhanced, and the students are now peer navigators. They will assist with programming and serve as peer-to-peer mentors. Many first-year students, for example, come into the center to ask about what majors they should choose. In a one-to-one setting, the peer navigators can share their own journeys and address the new students\u2019 questions and concerns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNobody knows the students\u2019 reality better than another student who is experiencing the same struggles and joys,\u201d said Macias. \u201cWe need to use these connections to help build a stronger community and give our assistants an opportunity to feel more empowered to make social transformations.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The vision ahead <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The mission of the Student Diversity Center, said Macias, is to be open and accessible to all students, no matter their background. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis space is for everyone who wants to contribute and connect with UW Bothell in a different way,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starting this year, Macias and his team of staff and students will focus more on expanding the ways they meet student needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are here to be of service to our students \u2014 to support, guide, mentor and provide opportunity for them,\u201d said Macias. \u201cOur responsibility is to bring to life the vision that our students have for this space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn any decision we make, we will do it based on our mission statement that clearly articulates \u2018by students and for students.\u2019\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

New art, furniture and equipment make the Student Diversity Center in Founders Hall an even more inviting cross-cultural space for students to hold meetings, learn about resources or make friends with others like themselves.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_is_archived":false,"_archived_contact_email":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[228,202,197,204],"tags":[269],"school":[],"class_list":["post-16039","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-administration","category-campus-news","category-news-releases","category-students","tag-diversity"],"acf":{"related_links":{"toggle_visibility":false,"link_1":"","link_2":"","link_3":"","link_4":"","link_5":""},"highlight_box":{"toggle_visibility":false,"title":"","content":"","button":"","button_style":"angled-purple-button","button_screen_reader_text":""},"contact_type_1":{"toggle_visibility":true,"contact_title":"","email":"","phone":"","box":"","address_line_1":"","address_line_2":"","location":""},"contact_type_2":{"toggle_visibility":false,"contact_title":"","email":"","phone":"","box":"","address_line_1":"","address_line_2":"","location":""},"social_media":{"toggle_visibility":false,"facebook_url":"","instagram_url":"","linkedin_url":"","twitter_url":"","youtube_url":""},"blog_archive_sidebar_visibility":false},"yoast_head":"\nInviting additions to the Student Diversity Center - 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