The Diversity Educator Interns are a mix of six, talented undergraduate and graduate students who work to fulfill the Mosaic Center's mission and vision by promoting cross cultural programs, education and collaboration. Want to know more? Contact mosaic@umbc.edu.

Name: Andrea Duval

Major: Modern Languages and Linguistics major studying French and Intercultural Communication

Hometown: Native New Yorker

Q: Favorite animals? Random facts? 

A: I love dogs (especially big cuddly ones), hamsters, and my baby betta fish! Random facts...  There's no pizza quite like a Brooklyn pizza. 

Q: How did you learn about the Diversity Education Internship (DEI)? Did you know right away that you wanted to do it?

A: I heard about it in an email I received from the MLL department here.  I thought "This sounds perfect!" and decided to apply.  I knew that this was right up my alley, and I'm glad I went for it. 

Q: Have you volunteered in any other diversity positions before you started? How did you learn skills you needed to know for this internship? 

A: My freshman year I volunteered in the English Language Institute as  conversation partner, helping international students develop their conversational English. It was a great experience and put me in a position where I had to develop the necessary skills to communicate across cultures.  And those skills are invaluable as a DEI. 

Q: How many hours each week do you work in the OSL Mosaic Center? What do you do during that time? 

A: I work an hour a day in the Mosaic as a part of the Marketing Team, keeping our information updated on myUMBC to inform the student population of our upcoming events, and to put the word out about what the Mosaic is and what we do. 

Q: What is the most difficult thing you have encountered so far into the internship? What is the most interesting thing you have encountered?

A: Learning to let go of your fears and volunteering to do something I might not usually be comfortable doing, like sharing a personal story and stepping out of my comfort zone.  It's important in this internship to be able to put yourself out there, or else it would be hard to help anyone else. 

Q: What would you say to other students inquiring about becoming the next generation of DEIs?

A: Do it! Apply, inquire, ask questions, and most importantly be willing to be active in the center.  Come in and talk to an intern, find out what goes on in the Mosaic, and think of ways to help make it even better! 

Q: What are your plans/goals for after UMBC? 

A: I feel that graduate school is a definite for me.  Whether it happens right after graduation or a few years down the road depends.  But I plan to further my education, and I can't wait to find out what opportunities await me. 

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 – Application deadline for current URA Scholars

Tuesday, February 14, 2012 – Application deadline for MARC students

Tuesday, February 28, 2012 – Deadline for completed online application for all students

(inclusive of faculty mentor's recommendation).

Application: http://www.umbc.edu/undergrad_ed/research/URCAD/registration/

• Are you a female veteran?
• Are you currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces?

If so, please come and join us meet and network with other UMBC community members who, also, are. This support group is exclusively for women. Complimentary tea and coffee available for all guests.

First Meeting:

When: Monday, February 13th

Time: 4:00-5:00pm

Where: The Women's Center (Commons, 004)

For more info, please e-mail Jess at: jessm@umbc.edu

 All discussions will be held in the Office of Student Life’s Mosaic Center for Culture & Diversity, Commons Rm. 2B23 on Wednesdays during free hour (12-1pm).

Wednesday, February 15^th, 12-1pm

No Such Thing as “Post Racial”: Dealing with racism in a “post racial” society (In honor of Black History Month)

Wednesday, February 29^th, 12-1pm

The 2012 Elections: What’s at stake for minorities and women if the GOP is elected?

Wednesday, March 14^th, 12-1pm

The Other F Word: What feminism looks like in 2011 and how the role of women continues to evolve (In recognition of Women’s History Month)

Wednesday, March 28^th, 12-1pm  

Exploring Mixed Identities:  Examining identities and experiences from a mixed race/mixed ethnicity perspective.

Wednesday, April 11^th, 12-1pm

Navigating the Varying Cultural Aspects of Sexual Assault

(In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month)

Wednesday, April 25^th, 12-1pm

Where Do We Go From Here? Reviewing the legislative session and marriage equality in Maryland

(In early recognition of National Gay and Lesbian Pride Month in June)

Wednesday, May 2^nd, 12-1pm

Being Asian American: Exploring and Dispelling the Model Minority Myth

(In recognition of Asian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month)

Invitation to participate: Students or faculty interested and able to serve as a co-facilitator for any of these dialogues are encouraged to contact the OSL Mosaic center at 471-455-2686 or mosaic@umbc.edu.

Please note: Groups of 10 or more must RSVP via email (mosaic@umbc.edu) at least 2 work days in advance of each dialogue.

We are proud to announce that UMBC will be hosting introductory workshops on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, as well as LGBTQ Safe Zone Ally Development Training, throughout the Spring 2012 semester. Our aim is to help students, faculty and staff promote a more welcoming atmosphere for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning members of the UMBC community.

The first session is a Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Introductory Workshop. It will cover basic ideas and terminology related to LGBTQ issues and is intended for those with a very general understanding of what it means to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning. This session is for beginners.  The first Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity workshop will be taking place on Thursday,February 23rd, 2012 from 2:30pm - 4pm.

The second session is Safe Zone Ally Development Training.  It will prepare participants to join UMBC’s formal network of Safe Zone advocates, if they wish. Advocates are community members who agree to be publicly identified as being dedicated to making UMBC safer for students, faculty and staff of all sexual orientations and gender identities. One does not need to be a member of the LGBTQ community to become an advocate; all it takes is a genuine wish to be involved in helping students, faculty and staff feel safe and encouraged to be themselves as much as possible.

Since Safe Zone Ally Development Training does presume some level of knowledge and familiarity with LGBTQ ideas and terminology, Session II participants are expected to have a basic understanding of sexual orientation and gender identity through previous training (for example, the Session I Introductory Workshop), personal background or past experiences. 

A flyer with full descriptions for each workshop has been attached to this news story.  All community-wide workshops will take place in the OSL Mosaic Center, Commons 2B23 (unless otherwise noted).  RSVPs via email (mosaic@umbc.edu) are strongly encouraged.

V-DAY is coming and we need volunteers who'd be interested in reading excerpts of "The Vagina Monologues"!

Please join us in a special Valentine's Day coffeehouse where we'll be doing a community reading of Vagina Monolgues excerpts. Feel free to stop by and join us in some fellowship, conscious raising, and conversation!

V-Day Coffee House: Community Reading of Vagina Monologes

When: Wed, February 15, 12pm – 1pm
Where: Women's Center Lounge (Commons 004)

For more information, contact Jess at jessm@umbc.edu