Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Register Now for Our Upcoming Hard to Hate Up Close: Open Mic Night
A lack of information, understanding, and empathy breeds intolerance and hatred. As author and lecturer Brené Brown said in her bestselling book, Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone, it’s hard to hate people when you see them up close and know their story. Likewise, former First Lady…
Being Authentically Me in the Workplace
I wanted to start this post by saying something like, “I’ve always been confident in who I am and very opinionated.” But in reality, that’s not true. It wasn’t until my senior year of college that I really started to understand who I was and be able to express it. Coming out did that for…
Hispanic Heritage Month is a Great Time to Expand Our Cultural Understanding
As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, I want to share an idea: challenge yourself to discover at least three new things about this rich, beautiful, complex culture. Whether you’re already familiar with these topics or learning about them for the first time, you are sure to broaden your perspective and find inspiration beyond what you…
World Campus Students Can Join Identity-Based Affinity Groups
Penn State World Campus students now have an opportunity to connect with peers who share common identity-related experiences, backgrounds, and concerns.
Recognizing Juneteenth as a Federal Holiday
On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed a bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday. Juneteenth refers to June 19, 1865, the date that Major General Gordon Granger, who fought for the Union, informed slaves in Galveston, Texas, that they had been freed. This is despite many history books leading us to believe all slaves…
A Sisterhood Bond That Embraced Cultural Differences
As I reflect on Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, I’d like to share an experience that enriched not only my college experience, but my life in general. My first year at the Penn State University Park campus was a bit nerve-wracking in many ways, one of which was adjusting from life as an only child…
Meet Denita, Associate Director of Equity, Inclusion, and Advocacy
Denita Wright Watson recently joined the Penn State World Campus Student Affairs team. Hear from this lifelong Penn Stater about her previous experiences, her dedication to her work, and more. What was your background before you took on this role? Prior to taking on my new role, I had 25 years of experience in education…