April 2024 ODEI Newsletter
CELEBRATING DIVERSITY - April 2024
The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion's campus newsletter is created to promote engagement, collaboration, and communication within Frostburg State’s community. This newsletter will inform the campus community of upcoming events and Frostburg State’s history. This newsletter will also include highlights of a student, alumni, staff, and a faculty member.
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A MESSAGE FROM THE OFFICE OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION
Robin Wynder
Assistant Vice President
of Student Affairs
Greetings from the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion! Welcome as we jump into the month of April in the spring semester of 2024. This office invites you to get serious with us by taking advantage of some of the opportunities we will provide for increased learning and growth around diversity and inclusion. What does this mean? There will be opportunities to learn more about yourself and how your awareness, understanding, and life experiences help shape how you show up in the world and impact others. There will be opportunities to learn more about others and how we can all learn to make room for each other. I encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities. Our goal is that you, as a student, will be confident that you belong here, you are welcome, you matter, and we are invested in your success. That requires some effort on your part as well. Do not shelter in your silos. Join us as we embrace life together.
Throughout the semester, we will continue acknowledging the upcoming diversity-themed months, including religious and other holidays, with options to engage through cultural conversations, lectures, fun activities, and road trips. Read our emails before deleting them… you never know what you find of interest. We will send a newsletter like this each month containing interesting facts, upcoming activities, and highlights on current students, alumni, faculty, staff, and administrators. Meeting folks you may not have encountered yet or learning more about those you already know is fun. As always, our doors are open to you. We do not have all the answers and are not the perfect fit for everyone, but we promise to stick with you until you find the answers and support you need.
WHAT IS DIVERSITY?
Diversity refers to people’s individual differences, especially in regards to identity. Some varying identity groups are: religious/spiritual affiliation, nation of origin, sex, gender, race, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, and disability status.
WHY IS DIVERSITY IMPORTANT?
Promoting diversity allows for us to gain different perspectives. This helps us grow and flourish past ways of thinking we’ve grown familiar with. Diversity allows us to challenge ourselves and challenge the obstacles around us. It allows us to find ideas and beliefs that we may have previously never thought of or been exposed to.
ARE WE A DIVERSE CAMPUS?
As of Fall 2021, 39% of our student population presents racial and ethnic diversity. 50 states and 51 countries are represented at Frostburg State. About half of the student population are women. We have a variety of identity groups on campus that have diverse members and promote diversity.
IDENTITY GROUPS ON CAMPUS
- African Student Association
- Black Student Alliance
- Hillel Student Association
- Latin American Student Organization
- Muslim Student Association
- National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC)
- NCNW (National Council of Negro Women)
- W.O.M.E.N.
- Triumph 100%
- Catholic Campus Ministry
- Chi Alpha Campus Ministry
- CRU
- Fellowship of Christian Athletes
- United Campus Ministry
For more information on organizations contact:
Student Engagement - Jamie Winters (301-687-7398) OR The Office of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion.
DAYS OF DIVERSITY IN APRIL
April 1 – Easter Monday (Christian)
April 2 – World Autism Acceptance Day
April 6 – Laylat-al-Qadr (Islamic)
April 7 – Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Rwandan Genocide (UN)
April 9 – Chaitra Navratri (Hindu)
April 9 – Gudi Padwa (Hindu)
April 9 – Ugadi (Hindu)
April 10 – International Day of Pink (US)
April 12 – Day of Silence (US)
April 13 – Vaisakh (Hindu, Sikh)
April 14 – Tamil New Year (Hindu)
April 17 – Rama Navami (Hindu)
April 22-28 – Passover (Jewish)
Apr 22 – Apr 28, 2024 – Lesbian Visibility Week
STUDENT HIGHLIGHT - CALEB HELLER
My name is Caleb Heller, and I am a senior Cybersecurity major. After college, I plan to join the Navy as a commissioned officer. Once I get to where I want to be, I will help others become better leaders and people. I am the President of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Public Relations for the African Student Association, Senator Student Government Association, President of the pool club, and a member National Council of Negro Women.
My favorite thing on campus is being involved in everything, allowing me to meet and talk to new people or see my friends in Lane or at events. A primary group that has shaped my identity as a leader is being a man.
The strength of being a man is a part of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, which has strengthened my leadership because of the brotherhood I experienced. It helped me change my perspective on leadership, and now I want to help people by being a mentor when it comes to being a good leader. My role model/hero is God, all mighty. I believe in everything God stands for regarding his values/morals, and I want to achieve them for myself as they will help me become a better version of myself.
The strength of being a man is a part of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, which has strengthened my leadership because of the brotherhood I experienced. It helped me change my perspective on leadership, and now I want to help people by being a mentor when it comes to being a good leader. My role model/hero is God, all mighty. I believe in everything God stands for regarding his values/morals, and I want to achieve them for myself as they will help me become a better version of myself.
ALUMNI HIGHLIGHT - KENISHA TAYLOR
My name is Kenisha Taylor. I graduated from FSU in 2011 with a major in English and Spanish. While at Frostburg, I was involved in BSA, LASO, and the English Honor Society. Since graduating, I have been adulting! I worked in nonprofits from 2011 to 2017 before joining the company I am currently employed with, 2U. I earned my Masters Degree in Administration from Trinity Washington University in 2017. I also started my own businesses. I facilitate the operations of my nonprofit, Life's Fullness. I co-chair Taylor Personalizations, a customized items business, and a Christian clothing line called Raw Reverence with my husband, Sam Taylor.
A primary group to which I belong and have shaped my identity as a leader is "Black Women with a Disability." My primary group's strength is authentic leadership and motivation to get things done. A challenge I have to face as a "Black Woman with a Disability" is being aware of code-switching in a professional setting. I have looked up to many people throughout my journey. For instance, Dr. Armeinto, Dr. Lutz, and Mrs.Wynder are a few of my mentors who have supported me at Frostburg. I keep a team of close friends and mentors I can go to for professional questions and a better understanding of the corporate world.
STAFF HIGHLIGHT - LAZARETH SYE
My name is Lazareth Sye. I'm one of the two Resident Directors supervising my hall and others. I am also a conduct hearing officer, specifically for the residence halls, and I have reviewed policies to help implement changes in residence life. I am an advisor to the Resident Hall Association (RHA). I want to finish setting up the residential leadership program, which is an accomplishment I want to achieve in my position. As a Resident Director, it is my job to build a sense of belongingness. I maintain an inclusive environment in several ways, such as pushing my staff to be more inclusive, building inclusive communities on the floor, and reaching out to students struggling with their identities or feeling persecuted.
A primary group I belong to that has shaped my identity as a leader is my Indigenous roots. A strength of being part of this identity is the sense of community and how everyone supports each other without the expectation of having to return the favor, which helps me as a leader to act out the kindness of just wanting to help and not expecting anything back. A challenge I have to face in my leadership with an Indigenous background is people not recognizing me as belonging to such a race and just assuming I am just Black and I am more than just that. I don't believe in having idols, but I believe in seeing a group of individuals as heroes.
FACULTY HIGHLIGHT - JENNA EPSTEIN
My name is Dr. Jenna Epstein. I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Professions, Coordinator of the School Counseling program, post-master server, and Advanced School Counseling practice post-master. My goal is for all my students to be ready to take on the world by teaching them to be more aware of their diverse backgrounds, which can impact their work. I maintain an inclusive environment by focusing on mental health and preparing students to become mental health professionals in the school setting. I am the co-advisor of Hilliel, a Jewish student group that hasn't been active in the last five years. However, this school year, we made it our mission to see this organization up and running.
Jewish progressives from Baltimore City are a primary group that has shaped my identity as a leader. I grew up watching in terms of leadership people who had strong values and helped others. A strength my identity group brings to my leadership is the ability to feel hurt, and no sense of belonging allows me to relate to others. Also, having those experiences helped me come up with the idea that people should always feel welcome everywhere. A challenge that comes with my identity as a Jewish Woman, which impacts my leadership, is the frustration of being a part of a minority group on campus and how schedule conflicts happen with other programs. If I have a role model, it is my students I look up to as they all come from different backgrounds and yet don't let any challenges in their lives impact their continuing to pursue education.
APRIL 2024 ODEI EVENTS
*Bobcats Against Bias Week:
Monday, April 1, 2024: “Take a Pledge Day” & Black History Mobile Museum
ARMAH, 10 AM-3 PM
Tuesday, April 2, 2024: “Forgiveness Day” & Cultural Converation “I Hate When”
Adams/Wyche Multicultural Center, 5-7 PM
Wednesday, April 3, 2024: “Words Matter Day.”
Thursday, April 4, 2024: The MLK You Never Knew
CCIT 397, 6:30 PM
*April 20, 2024: Visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC