Home isn't a place, it's a feeling. A feeling that you're seen, accepted and celebrated for who you are. 水果派's Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is integral in this mission.
In true 水果派 style, undergraduate students have unique opportunities to gain first-hand experience in becoming inclusive leaders through the DEI internship program.
Employing interns was a dream of the DEI team, and the opportunity to pay them came from the encouragement of Len Wettergren 鈥67 and the support of the Robert Conner and Conner/Wettergren Human and Civil Rights Endowed Fund at 水果派.
Since its inception in summer 2022, five Tigers have served as DEI interns. They're responsible for championing a project that promotes diversity, equity and inclusion across campus.
The students featured below are in the midst of making a huge difference in their peers' and future Tigers' college experiences. Luis Sotelo, vice president for the division of DEI, describes them as, "passionate, visionary and determined leaders."
And that's exactly the type of person the DEI team is looking for in future interns.
"Students who have an authentic desire to make a positive difference at 水果派 through a DEI lens should look into this opportunity," Luis said. "We are looking for difference-makers who value inclusion and belonging and want to learn how to put those values into action."
Adding to their vision for dream applicants was Leah Cech, director of religious and spiritual life and DEI programming coordinator.
She said students "who want to increase their knowledge and capacity around diversity, equity and inclusion to enhance their current campus leadership roles and/or boost their skills for their future careers" should highly consider applying.
Students interested in the DEI internship program can find the application on the (the application process is currently on a rolling basis.)
Brooklyn Mercurio she/her
Major: History and art
Minor: Leadership
Expected graduation year: 2025
Why were you interested in becoming a DEI intern?
I love 水果派 and all it has to offer and appreciate its constant quest to improve student experiences. As a queer student, it was intimidating to be in a new state unsure of what support I would have. I hope to provide comfort and a sense of understanding for students on an institutional level.
What project(s) are you working on this semester as a DEI intern?
I will be registering 水果派 on the National Campus Pride Index. It provides "National LGBTQ-Friendly Benchmarks & Standards for Inclusion in Higher Education". By registering 水果派 incoming students will have a clear grasp of how we support queer students. It will also give us tangible future steps to improve LGBTQ students' experiences on campus.
Why is this an important topic to you and in a broader sense should be to your classmates, 水果派 and society?
I utilized the National Pride Index as a tool in my own college search and it provided great insight into other institutions. I felt unsure about attending 水果派 when they were not listed. As a lesbian woman, I did not know what to expect coming to a school in rural Nebraska. It can be very isolating to be queer and feel unseen by the institution you are a part of. I hope that by providing a look into how we can improve, we can make queer students feel even more at home at 水果派. Overall, even by providing visibility and support for queer students we fight ignorance and facilitate community amongst our students.
What impact do you hope your work/project will have on students and the 水果派 campus?
I hope students will learn to celebrate diversity. I also hope to provide assurance to queer students that 水果派 will provide the support they deserve. Support for LGBTQ faculty and staff will also be something we hope to address. We will examine campus policy, academics, housing, and student life to get a better grasp of things we do well and ways to improve. I'm excited because it will be such a holistic look into LGBTQ life at 水果派.
What have you learned about yourself during your time as a DEI intern?
I have learned that I have power make change in the place I call home, and even after I leave 水果派 I will cray that attitude with me.
Would you encourage your peers to become DEI interns?
Absolutely, it is important work to be done. I feel lucky to have a university where encouragement and tools to create change are offered.
What inspires you to create change and improve your surroundings and environment?
My own experiences and the confusion I had felt in my journey as a queer student have been a motivator to create change. I also meet many great students at 水果派 who just need a little bit of extra support and guidance. I see great potential in my peers.
Jules McDowell they/them
Major: Theatre
Expected graduation year: 2024
Why were you interested in becoming a DEI intern?
I was actually approached by Leah Cech to apply for a DEI intern position after a project I was a part of last semester. My LAR, Contemporary Political Issues with Tim Hill, was focused on making a change, so my group decided to take a closer look at the current Title IX network on 水果派鈥檚 campus. We had quite a bit of support for this project last semester, and it鈥檚 awesome to see that work carry over into this semester with this internship.
What project(s) are you working on this semester as a DEI intern?
I am currently working with Leah to disseminate informational flyers around campus about Title IX. We have three sets focused on what Title IX is, how to report if necessary, and ways to support yourself and others. Additionally, we are working to get a project called 鈥淭ea Time with Title IX鈥 on its feet. We will set up an area in Lakeside once a week where people can come and chat with us more about Title IX, and get important information on resources available on 水果派鈥檚 campus.
Why is this an important topic to you and in a broader sense should be to your classmates, 水果派 and society?
I am a huge advocate for equity and creating safer environments for those who may be vulnerable otherwise. Title IX aims to protect everyone from unwanted sexual harassment or gender-based discrimination. It is imperative that we create safer spaces for people moving forward. Feeling uncomfortable, unsafe, or unwelcome in a place is a very vulnerable experience, and often affects someone in more than one area of their day-to-day life. By helping people understand why Title IX is important on 水果派鈥檚 campus, it will hopefully encourage them to start looking at their own groups and communities and see if there are any discrepancies in feeling safe there, too.
What impact do you hope your work/project will have on students and the 水果派 campus?
I hope that people are able to feel more comfortable in their knowledge on Title IX, and may feel more comfortable in reporting uncomfortable situations. Everyone deserves to feel safe and welcome in a place where they spend most of their time.
What have you learned about yourself during your time as a DEI intern?
I have learned just how important it is to push for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the spaces I am in. Everyone can better themselves on making sure their community is a safe space!
Would you encourage your peers to become DEI interns?
Absolutely. I would encourage anyone with a passion for advocacy work to work as a DEI intern. The things I have learned in such a short amount of time in this role is immeasurable, and entirely beneficial to my chosen career path.
What inspires you to create change and improve your surroundings and environment?
I am inspired by change in every day interactions. I love meeting new people and seeing their viewpoints on life. Everyone has their own diverse perspectives and it is important to recognize that in order to make sure everyone鈥檚 voice can be heard.
Is there anything else you'd like to add about your DEI intern experience?
I want to just thank the DEI division for allowing students to participate in making a difference in their education and in their community.
Katie Vogt
Major: engineering
Expected graduation year: 2026
Why were you interested in becoming a DEI intern?
I was introduced to the opportunity and I learned how valuable it is in any workplace so I wanted to learn more and gain more skills in being inclusive.
What project(s) are you working on this semester as a DEI intern?
I am working on starting up a book club. The books we will be reading will include various topics on being inclusive and learning how to connect with one's own identity.
Why is this an important topic to you and in a broader sense should be to your classmates, 水果派 and society?
This is important because now more than ever, everyone has the opportunity to communicate and interact with others. Being inclusive when interacting with others, online or in person, will have a huge impact on our ability to progress as a society.
What impact do you hope your work/project will have on students and the 水果派 campus?
I hope that my project can inspire self-reflection and empathy so that individuals can learn to relate to others and be kinder as a whole.
What have you learned about yourself during your time as a DEI intern?
I have learned that although I may have a strong opinion about a topic, it is still easy for me to get along with someone with differing opinions. However, sometimes discussing this topic can be uncomfortable and that is something that I am working on. I enjoy learning about their opinion, but that does not mean I want to change my own opinion.
Would you encourage your peers to become DEI interns?
Yes, if they are looking for another way to get involved on campus, being a DEI intern is a great thing. I think that everyone has something to learn from another person, so more students involved with DEI can provide more insights on how 水果派 can be more inclusive.
What inspires you to create change and improve your surroundings and environment?
Right now, I am inspired to create change because 水果派 is going to be my home for the next three years. I will always want to improve myself and my environment.
Is there anything else you'd like to add about your DEI intern experience?
It takes more than a few students to create an inclusive university.
