DUS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
We welcome everyone to our community.
David Smith
Associate Dean for Advising and Executive Director
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What are you doing to become more culturally competent?
Listening.
I read a lot. I listen a lot. I engage in conversation. Where and when I can, I do [take action]. When something doesn't sit right with me or I encounter a perspective I don't understand, I start by doing my own research. When doing research, your sources matter. I look for scholarly research and articles, and hear from multiple perspectives. I try to be mindful of how my own background and biases might influence the sources of information that I choose. I ask for help. Then I find spaces to engage in dialogue around the topic. I welcome the discomfort that may accompany dialogue around race, class, culture, and privilege because it's only in the discomfort that one's cultural competence can truly mature.
Personally, I've been actively building my facilitation skills, so I can be more effective in the midst of engaged (aka difficult!) discussions and passionate (aka entrenched!) perspectives. I'm a huge fan of TED talks and podcasts because they easily and accessibly give me access to others who are willing to share their unique life experiences. I take advantage of as many great Penn State speakers and events that I can squeeze in.
I actively seek out opportunities to learn from people with identities and experiences different from my own. This could mean joining a club or organization, trying a new food, reading an article or book, going to a social event, enrolling in a course, engaging with media, attending a lecture or panel discussion, or following someone on social media. The options are endless!
In my learning, I center the lived experiences of people in the communities that I’m trying to learn more about. I am grateful to have learned so much from people in the AAPI, Black, Christian, disabled, Hispanic/Latinx, immigrant, Indigenous, Jewish, LGTBTQIA+, Muslim, and veteran communities, along with so many others.
No one owes me their story, so when someone chooses to share theirs with me, they are giving me a gift. It’s my responsibility to accept the gift graciously, to work past any discomfort of stepping outside of my own culture, and to understand where they’re coming from. I don’t have to believe or agree with everything people share, but I do have to sit with it and let what I’ve learned inform my actions.
Student Spotlights
I am half Puerto Rican and half Dominican and I try to make my “latinidad” a big part of my identity…Let your supporters and loved ones know that you’re struggling. They are there to guide you when you’re in the dark and the sooner you act, the sooner you’ll see improvement.
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As a college student transitioning into adulthood, I believe it is imperative to involve yourself within your community to ensure that you are an asset by being able to work well with people of all levels and by being a leader with a diverse background. From my involvement in the Penn State community, I have a seat at the table and I use my voice to provide ideas to enhance the college experience, holistically, for students of color and to provide sustainable solutions for issues that students of color may face.
Read morePartnerships
Connect to the multicultural coordinators in each college.
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Multicultural & Special Interest Organizations
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First-Generation College Students
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Student Stories
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Community & Belonging
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Connect With Us
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Penn State’s Land Acknowledgement
Find out who lived on the land Penn State resides.
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An inclusive, diverse community is one where all experiences and perspectives are valued. Here in DUS, we want everyone to feel that they can share their stories openly and be accepted for who they are and how they see the world. It is through the inclusion of the broadest range of perspectives that we will find solutions to the many problems that confront our world. I encourage you to be yourself, to share your story with your adviser and others, and to join us in building a strong, inclusive community at Penn State.