The center is more than just an office; the IRC became a home where I built meaningful friendships and sparked a deep interest in cultural competency.
The Intercultural Resource Center significantly impacted my undergraduate and graduate experience at Rutgers-Newark. The center is more than just an office; the IRC became a home where I built meaningful friendships and sparked a deep interest in cultural competency. Through the IRC, I learned the importance of acknowledging marginalized voices in higher education. Regardless of one's background, the IRC welcomes all and emphasizes the need for safe spaces through their Safe Zone training and allyship.
The IRC was also pivotal in my growth and discovery about my queer, disabled, black, and femme identities; the unwavering support, which not only saw the best in me but also other students; this support was the final push I needed to become an outspoken advocate for others. As a former co-president of RU PRIDE and former secretary for the Rutgers Immigrant Student Empowerment (RISE) organization, my leadership at the center emphasizes how important it is to give back to my community. Thinking back to my undergraduate years, one piece of advice I would give to my freshman self is that, despite the challenging experiences I will have, I must stand firm on my beliefs about the social, political, and economic climate that affects all communities. Not to waver in the face of injustice.
Campus Involvement: Current IRC Graduate Coordinator, former RU PRIDE co-president, former RISE secretary, attended Agents of Change retreat in 2023
School/Grad Year: Rutgers Business School 2026, Master of Science in Business of Fashion Concentration: BOF; Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences 2024, Major: History, Minor: Social Justice (HLLC), Business of Fashion
Fun Fact: From elementary to middle school, I taught myself my African native language, Ewe.