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Snapshots

Summer 2024 Issue

A view of canoes on Lake Fred with an expanse of green trees — Snapshots

Here are photo highlights from recent University activities. Follow ��Ƶ on social media to see more photos from recent events and check out our .

Erin Gruwell in red dress and denim jacket smiles with a student with blue hat and black shirt — Erin Gruwell, the founder of the Freedom Writers Foundation, visited ��Ƶ on April 24 to about the School of Education, meet with students in the Education program and tour the Sara and Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center.

Gruwell spoke about her experiences teaching high-risk students in southern California and the importance of breaking down barriers and finding understanding when teaching. Gruwell was particularly interested in the initiatives that the School of Education has hosted to foster more diversity in teaching and education, including 2023’s . Gruwell looks forward to supporting the next generation of teachers and educators in “writing what needs to be written,” as she and her students did in the 1990s.

One male and two female students pose with a smile in the Multicultural Center with balloons and other party decorations — ��Ƶ’s Multicultural Center with decorations, a photo booth, cake and toasts to the future. Student employees spoke about their experiences in the Center and how the space has provided a home to students to safely express themselves and meet new people.

“Working here opened up some other opportunities for me, like being featured on the ��Ƶ website, connecting with prospective students and their families to help them learn how great ��Ƶ is and leading the Friday Fun Nights here at the center. I firmly believe that the Multicultural Center is the heart of ��Ƶ,” said Shavie “Va” Lee, a sophomore in the Psychology program.

The birthday bash included performances by The Crew, the Pilipino-American Students Association of ��Ƶ (PASAS), the Indian Student Association, and student Imani Turner.

A group of students and staff hold the Pan African flag with red, black and green stripes outside the Arts and Sciences Building — Did you know that the Pan-African flag was the first flag of cultural heritage to be permanently displayed in the Arts & Sciences Circle at ��Ƶ?

According to Haashim Smith-Johnson, an Admissions recruiter and former president of the Unified Black Student Society, the idea of having the flag raised for more than the month of February came out of the organization’s desire to make a statement on campus in 2017. He encouraged students to honor the organization’s legacy through decisive action when thinking of ways to make ��Ƶ an inclusive campus for everyone.

“This one thought turned into action, which turned into Black ��Ƶ history,” Smith-Johnson, who is currently staff advisor for UBSS, said. “Student leaders of UBSS and all of the other adjacent student organizations: no idea is outlandish. Please continue to represent the culture and advocate for yourself. Your future self, as well as future generations of marginalized ��Ƶ students, will absolutely thank you.”

The Pan-African flag in front of the Arts & Sciences Building to kick off Black History Month on Thursday, Feb. 1.

Two female students share a laugh while holding resumes and exploring employer tables at the career fair — Employers came, ready and eager to meet ��Ƶ students and find new members of their teams, while students dressed to impress, resumes in hand, at the annual on March 5. The fair surpassed its goal of serving over 600 students and hosting over 100 employers in the Sports Center.

“A lot of them are offering full-time positions, manager positions, supervisor positions – all things that I'm interested in getting to learn more about,” said Melanie Olivia, of Colonia. “I got a lot of contact information, and I'm looking forward to hearing from these companies or reaching out to them and checking out their websites to see what positions they have available.”

Demetrios Roubos and Jessica Cruz-Irwin hold small signs with "50 Years" inside the Sports Center — The inaugural OSPREY Awards, held on May 2, honored faculty and staff for their positive impact on ��Ƶ's campus. The was held before the annual Employee Recognition Day in the Sports Center. Honors included the Top OSPREY Award, Change Agent Award, Community Engagement Award, Unsung Hero Award, Innovation Award, Pride of ��Ƶ Award, and 'Consider it Done' Administrative Professional Award.

Here, Demetrios Roubos and Jessica Cruz-Irwin hold signs celebrating Patty Weeks for reaching her 50-year milestone of service to the University.

Two students point out information on their poster presentation hanging on a black curtain inside the Campus Center Event Room — The research of 131 ��Ƶ students from 10 different graduate school programs was celebrated on April 22 at the annual spring Graduate Research Symposium in the Campus Center Event Room.

The symposium featured 47 presentations from various degree programs ranging from more science-based such as Doctor of Physical Therapy to the arts and humanities such as the master’s programs in American Studies and Holocaust and Genocide Studies.

“Designing and conducting research can be a challenging and rewarding part of this academic journey and tonight signifies the culmination of each person’s thesis or other capstone experience,” said Robert Gregg, the dean of the William T. Daly School of General Studies and Graduate Education. “We celebrate the diversity and innovativeness of the research presented this evening and promote interdisciplinary research conversations among the campus community.”

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