Winthrop faculty worked hard over the summer to give the Multicultural Resource center a makeover. Now called the Diversity and Engagement Center, it’s new purpose is to create a chance for greater involvement with students.
Kinyata Brown, assistant dean for diversity, engagement, and inclusive excellence, directs the program and has big plans for it.
“Over the summer, we moved into another location here in the campus center, in 222. It gives us more space. It gives us more opportunity to connect and engage. It gives us a place to do more diversity training and workshops,” Brown said.
Brown said that she hopes to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation. This goal was a partial motivation for the renaming of the center, according to Brown.
“At times when individuals hear ‘multicultural’ they automatically assume race and ethnicity. Race and ethnicity is a portion of diversity as well, but it’s also to be inclusive to sexuality, gender, religion, socioeconomics [and] political ideology. When you think about diversity and inclusion, it’s more than just race and ethnicity. That’s a part of it, but there are some other elements of what we bring to campus,” Brown said.
Brown said that she believes the center is now a more vibrant and colorful space. A large sign hangs in the room to show students, faculty and staff that anyone and everyone is welcome there. From prayer rugs to authentic African masks, Brown said that the Diversity and Student Engagement Center is a place for everyone.
“The concept is that I’ve always had an open door policy. One of the mottos is ‘live your truth’. When you’re in my space, you can be whoever you want to be. Whatever that is and comes packaged with, live your truth,” Brown said.
The center is located directly across the hall from Brown’s office. She said that this helps her stay connected to the students and get a feel for what’s happening in their lives.
“I really like to be connected and engaged with students. I think the students really help me keep my finger on the pulse with what’s going on, what conversations they want to have, what I can do to support them and help them in their development,” Brown said.
The Office of Diversity and Student Engagement focuses on the growth of individuals at Winthrop through cultural events and educational opportunities.
“We’re going to collaborate with the Campus Center League to do a Hispanic heritage celebration on Sept. 28 at 10 p.m. We’re excited about that. As you know, Hispanic Heritage Month kicks off September 15 through Oct. 15,” Brown said.
Brown said that it is critical that people understand there are safe places on campus where there is always an understanding and open conversation waiting behind the door.
“One of the other things that operates under the umbrella of diversity and student engagement is the program Safe Zones, which is an orientation program to help the faculty and staff and student community to learn more about the LGBT community and how to further support the LGBT community. We are going to be having a Safe Zone orientation coming up on Sept. 18,” Brown said.
The Office of Diversity and Student Engagement also offers leadership and involvement opportunities to students through the Multicultural Student Council and a new group called Diversity Peer Educators. Brown said that it important for students to stay involved on campus and that the Diversity Peer Educators is one way to do that.
“You have a really great opportunity to create your own experience so that when you leave Winthrop, you are truly satisfied with not only what you learned, but with how you grew as an individual,” Brown said.
