I really wanted to make a difference on my campus during these times. So, I sat and thought long and hard about what I would have wanted starting my journey as a minority graduate student at a predominately white institute (PWI). I realized I wanted to feel accepted and not by my non-POC peers I but by my community. I realized I wanted some guidance and encouragement.I needed help navigating the hills of graduate school. I wanted peers to court on for support as well as faculty. I wanted to be accepted and celebrated for my differences.
And to be honest, while pursuing my first graduate degree, I didn't always get that. That's why I started the Diversity Graduate Student Ambassadors @LSU. To give you some insight:
"Diversity Graduate Students Ambassadors, or DGSA, will work to highlight the many graduate and research opportunities that the LSU system has to offer. Our aim is to recruit and develop minority students and to really show them that they aren’t just part of a number at LSU. This means we do not stop at their enrollment. We will hold meeti
ngs and events that are geared at preparing them for research, writing, professional development, scholarships, presentations, networking, etc. Participation in academic and service events will also be a big part of the organization and a requirement for continued membership. We will partner with and represent different colleges throughout the university so that all majors are represented."
The organization was approved and I'm so excited to start the work necessary to see this tum into something great for many years to come on campus! So, if you or anyone you know is a graduate student (of any race/ethnicity) and would like to join or learn more, please contact me at vbraud2@lsu.edu. We are also open to accepting and mentoring undergraduate students!
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