Scenario

Consider the following scenario and the question at the end.

"Last summer I worked with a fantastic mentee. She was very intelligent and generated a fair amount of data directly relevant to my project. I think that she had a positive summer research experience, but there are a few questions that still linger in my mind.

This particular mentee was an African American woman from a large town. I always wondered how she felt on our rural campus. I also wondered how she felt about being the only African American woman in our group. In fact, she was the only African American woman at our entire school that summer. I also wondered how the white majority environment was impacting her experience.

I have wanted to ask her how she feels, but I have never asked. Should I ask? Is it too late to ask now that it has been a year and I haven’t asked?"

Losing Sight of Your Cultural Identity

Many immigrants, especially children, struggle with their cultural identity when they move to the United States. They feel the need to reinvent themselves and shy away from who they are. Our duty is to start with our children and teach them to be open-minded and respect cultural diversity so that immigrants do not lose sight of their cultural identity.

Navigating Social Identity in the Classroom

Inclusive teaching requires an understanding of how social identities matter to our students, and to ourselves as instructors. Whether it’s race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, disability, socioeconomic status, national origin, or something else, social identity is a part (but not all) of who we are as individuals. And social identities can shape students’ learning experiences positively or negatively. Read "Navigating Social Identity in the Classroom" to get a better understanding on how social identities matter to our students.

We Are Not All That Different

Burundi-born American Seconde Nimenya discovered through her migration to America, that the similarities of people around the world bridges the things which separate us.

Otherness, Identity, and Belonging in Higher Education

Delve into the complex tapestry of otherness, identity, and belonging in higher education. Unraveling the threads of recent campus unrest, it unveils the historical exclusions woven into elite institutions and challenges faced by diverse students. Read "Otherness, Identity, and Belonging in Higher Education" and "How to Bridge The Multiple Intersections of Culture on College Campuses."