Letter from the Inaugural Diversity and Community Fellow
To be a D&C Fellow is to exist in the BSE’s multiplicity. This role advantageously engages with and learns from the many constituents—from students, administration, faculty, staff, and community members—whose innovative thoughts, unique backgrounds, and community-building efforts comprise the BSE. Although I am the inaugural fellow, my responsibilities have built upon the foundation of BSE members who advocated for a formalized role that incorporates students’ voices into the BSE’s decision-making process. What I value most in this role is that Dean Young fostered a space that encouraged asking difficult questions and being proactive about our shared vision.
When I first met with Dean Young, she fervently explained how she envisioned the D&C Fellowship as an opportunity to have a student-centered thought partner to discuss the BSE’s challenges and to establish communication channels for students to share their thoughts on toward enhancing the student experience. From my every question to my every pushback, Dean Young has welcomed our conversations as the productive dialogues necessary to unveil the hidden curricula and to disrupt the exclusionary obstacles endemic to higher education. Dean Young, in the spirit of transparency, laid everything to bare. From the onset, I immediately joined conversations about BSE’s future strategic planning, collaborated with the Equity Committee to review student data, met with the knowledgeable Student Services personnel to research resources and additional funding opportunities for students, and collaborated with student leaders who brought their expertise to help me better grasp how to address BSE challenges.
The most rewarding aspect about being a D&C Fellow has been engaging in the transformational conversations and rich, intellectual exchanges with so many people who deeply care about our community and choose to collectively dream about the BSE’s future. This work entailed meeting with the many students who reached out to brainstorm ideas on how to care for our fellow students during uncertain times. There were others who provided extensive feedback on how to enhance the student experience. I spoke with students from every cluster, staff with various responsibilities, and faculty with different perspectives who expressed their thoughts and ideas in efforts to make the BSE everything we know our community can be.
Our efforts are nascent, for the work has just begun. The BSE and the nation are entering a new era that will require new voices and new thought-leaders to bring together our community. Solidarity is everything; and in our unity, we can disagree generatively. Together, we can exist in conflict so that innovative ideas emerge. Conflict is often seen as inherently negative, but I have witnessed how both structural and interpersonal tensions become catalysts for collective growth. By identifying our areas of improvement, we have better conceived resolutions. Dean Young, in conjunction with the Diversity & Community Fellows Program, has specifically created this fellowship position so that there is a dedicated space to address future challenges and build upon our communal strengths. I welcome the next D&C Fellow to bring their ideas as the BSE embarks on the next chapter. Most of all, I encourage everyone to always vocalize their perspectives and to continue advocating for the avenues to improve the BSE.
We are lucky to have such a supportive department, so let’s get to it!
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Jonathan Pérez, Diversity & Community Fellow 2024-2025
