photo by Tori Metzger
FAVORITES
Food: Sushi
Book: Malcolm Gladwell, The Tipping Point
Sport: Soccer (Columbus Crew) & Rugby (New Zealand)
Hobby: Golf & Traveling
City: Tokyo & Amsterdam
Season: Fall
Animal: Dog
Q: What was your previous job and what were your duties?
A: “I was the Director for Intercultural Services at the University of Findlay, and I had a lot of different responsibilities. I taught Cross-Cultural Communications and the First-Year Experience. I was also responsible for the Multicultural Center and was the adviser for many organizations, so in many ways it was similar to my job here.
I was in charge of creating a moral, well-rounded educational experience by helping our students increase their cultural competence. I did that largely through program and assessment, but also through efforts in the classroom, and we had a lot of fun doing it. I like to have fun, and I think learning is fun and if you shape it in a way
where students are engaged or at least interested, you can sustain that learning.”
Q: What projects have you been working on so far this year?
A: “This has been fun. I wanted to come and have an immediate impact, and one of the things that I’ve been working with is a group called The Black Jew Dialogues. It’s a fast-paced, improv multi-media theatre show where they talk a lot about the experiences of Jewish and African Americans.
It talks a lot about helping people understand diversity from their perspective, and they are great at facilitating dialogue pertaining to issues of diversity. They act out scenes in their lives that they have experienced and then include the audience to participate and use their experiences to build the play. The next day we come back with just the students and start to unpack what was shared. It’s very powerful.
We’re also working with administration on a diversity forum where everybody has the opportunity to talk about diversity on Capital’s campus and what that means to us, what do we want it to mean, what are our goals, what are our objectives, and where do we need to be moving. I think people are really excited about that opportunity to talk.
The third big project I’ve been working on for this semester alone is providing opportunities for faculty and staff to go to workshops and increase their skills and tools to deal with classroom diversity issues. How to de-escalate, classroom management strategies, how not to offend people. I think our faculty is doing a great job at that, but there’s also value in providing opportunities for them to stay aware of what’s going on with higher education and our student demographics. There’s a need, and we’re looking forward to meeting the needs of our community.”
Q: What are your goals for the immediate future and for years to come?
A: “My goal is to see inclusive excellence epitomized at Capital where diversity is at the core. I feel like Capital is in a wonderful position where we can weave diversity through everything we’re doing, including our mission statement, curriculum, faculty and staff, and our students, to take a stance on how we feel diversity is important to our community.
Long term I would love to have a strategic diversity initiative that addresses diversity from many different aspects. I would also like to have more opportunities for students to go to student leadership conferences that center on leadership and diversity, or maybe your specific career field, and view it through a lens of diversity.”
Q: What is your favorite part about your job?
A: “Hands down: students. The students here, particularly the student leaders, are my favorite. I get a chance to talk with them. They’re teaching me new things every day. My favorite quote is, ‘He who teaches learns twice,’ so in my trying to guide and lead them, I’m also learning from them. It’s been a blast to learn more about the CapFam, Bexley, and the community.”
Q: What makes Capital different from previous institutions at which you worked?
A: “I would say there’s a lot. The small, quiet community. There seems to be a lot of support; it’s phenomenal. I think this campus welcomes the community. You see people walking their dogs, kids playing in the fountains, and it’s expected. In other places, if you look like you don’t belong, you’re not welcome there. And finally, the students here are phenomenal. I really enjoy the students. I also like the fact that we’re poised to do really neat things with diversity & inclusion. Our administration and our community are definitely ready for some D&I initiatives. It’s a good time to be at Capital.”
