O-Week Spotlight: Diversity Facilitators
Written by the 2013 Head Diversity Facilitators, Andrea Pinto (Will Rice ’14) and Leah Cabrera-Marquez (Jones ’15).
What is a Diversity Facilitator?
The main role of a Diversity Facilitator (aka DF) during O-Week is to lead workshops discussing the importance and impact of diversity at Rice University. As we use the term diversity, we include topics related to
religion, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, sexuality, disabilities, etc. DFs serve as a resource to new students as they acclimate to Rice’s community. Developing healthy relationships with fellow Owls is vital to maintaining the peaceful and loving community at Rice. Diversity Facilitators also run programming to train Advisors to participate in diversity-related conversations during O-Week.
Who are the Diversity Facilitators?
During O-Week there will be 2-3 Diversity Facilitators living at your college. These facilitators might not be from your college, but will support you throughout O-Week and the year. While DFs have varied backgrounds, they are unified by their passion to talk about and actively address issues related to the sensitive topics of diversity.
What should you know about the Diversity Facilitators?
Diversity Facilitators are trained to help new students dialogue about any problems they may face at Rice. They are available at any time during O-Week as well as anytime throughout the year.
DFs are trained to help solve issues in these areas, and if a DF can’t directly solve the issue (s)he can direct you to a relevant resource. Students should never hesitate in approaching a DF with any questions, comments or concerns of any discomforting situations they’ve encountered.
