Alumni Panel Furthers Culture of Inclusion at Stevens

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Alumni Panel Furthers Culture of Inclusion at Stevens

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(From left to right) Stephanie LeBlanc-Godfrey '06; Dakota Van Deursen, '19 M.S. '20; Osazee (Ozzie) Nosa '23; DuJaun Kirk '20; Darlene Martinez '23 M.S. '24; Daniela Cardona '17

Jeff Vock

Our identities shape how we experience and interact with the world. Whether visible or not, aspects of who we are - our race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, nationality and socio-economic background - influence our daily lives. Recognizing this fundamental truth, Stevens Institute of Technology has made creating a culture of inclusivity a key priority in its strategic plan, Stevens 2032: Inspired by Humanity, Powered by Technology.

"Stevens has two strategic goals: 'Diversity, Equity and Inclusion' and 'University Culture,' which speak to fostering a culture of inclusion, compelling students, faculty and staff to play an influential role," commented Executive Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Susan Metz. "When alumni from underrepresented backgrounds share their undergraduate experiences - both their challenges and the support systems that helped them succeed - creates meaningful impact and their stories inspire our community to take action and drive positive change."

To put these principles into action, Stevens recently hosted In*Sight: Talks That Drive Change, featuring a panel of five recent alumni who shared their personal stories about belonging at Stevens and discussed the people, programs and experiences that shaped their success both during and after college. The panel included:

• Daniela Cardona '17, vice president for global investment banking at RBC Capital Markets;

• DuJaun Kirk '20, graphic designer (Versace, Jimmy Choo & Michael Kors);

• Darlene Martinez '23 M.S. '24, rotational analyst at Morgan Stanley;

• Osazee (Ozzie) Nosa '23, systems engineer at L3Harris and

• Dakota Van Deursen, '19 M.S. '20, assistant director of core engineering and science education in the Charles V. Schaefer, Jr. School of Engineering at Science at Stevens.

Co-sponsored by the Office of the President/Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Division of Development and Alumni Engagement, Office of the Provost, Division of Student Affairs, Division of Enrollment Management and the Division of Human Resources, the event was moderated by Stephanie LeBlanc-Godfrey '06, who serves as the Global Head of Inclusion Programs for Women of Color at Google, and drew a crowd of more than 125 students, faculty and staff.

"I am not [a] first-generation American, because I was born in Columbia, so coming to Stevens itself was a big hurdle," Cardona reflected in her opening statement. "When I was attending Stevens, I was also a permanent resident, so I was struggling with my immigration status and that was something that's invisible and not a lot of people saw."

While feeling the strain of her immigration status, Cardona juggled a full course load as a quantitative finance major, while also working three jobs and trying to be involved on campus. She noted how much she relied on the entire Stevens community to guide her through those undergraduate years.

Jeff VockCardona encouraged faculty in attendance to pay special attention to students in their classes that might be "fine in the corner," but aren't actually fine and need to be seen and recognized. She also noted that she also felt a responsibility to pay it forward by offering any advice or guidance she can to others, in an effort to "see more people like me succeed."

Each alumni panelist shared a member of the Stevens community who played a pivotal role in their success, helping break down the walls that may prevent them from feeling seen. The alumni panelists agreed: Creating an inclusive culture requires all of us.

"The way [Teaching Professor and Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering] Kevin Lu built community in his classes made me feel safe," Nosa offered. "It made me feel engaged. I wanted to learn more."

The panelists noted that sharing their individual experiences is only part of the solution. The path forward challenges us all to make the effort to value students for who they truly are.

"Taking that first step in sharing who you are can be difficult," Van Deursen said. "It's about being really intentional and meaningful behind why you're wanting to build that community."

"I think as a professor, or faculty or staff member, what you can do is show up," Martinez added. "I want my professors to know I'm [a] first-generation [college student] and even low-income, because it might mean [that] I'm applying to scholarships or working after class and I can't attend the study session because working is a necessity. Being seen is very important, and as a professor, showing that you care is valuable for your students."

Finally, Kirk, a campus leader who other panelists noted inspired them, summed up the general sentiment of the panel: The first step in the process has to be "… the want to actually enact change."

LeBlanc-Godfrey closed the event by sharing: "We all have a responsibility to be that soft landing for our students and our peers, as colleagues, as professors and staff, to say I'm that safe space."

Division of Development and Alumni Engagement Office of Student Culture and Belonging