Center for Intercultural Engagement

Center for Intercultural Engagement

Center for
Intercultural
Engagement

Construction Underway

As a presidential priority, the University of Delaware will begin renovations to build a Center for Intercultural Engagement (CIE). The Center for Intercultural Engagement project will identify physical space where students can interact, explore and grow together around social justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. This project will look at ways to enhance student engagement, support cross-functional services and programs and increase cultural celebration of identities and experiences.

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CIE SERVICES

Location
 

The Center for Intercultural Engagement will be located on the second floor of Perkins Student Center (former space of the Center for Counseling & Student Development).

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The center will include:

  • All-gender closet and SGA’s Blue Hens in Blazers
  • All-gender restrooms and ablution station
  • Food pantry and supplies 
  • Interfaith Meditation and Prayer Room 
  • Student Diversity and Inclusion Offices
  • Student organization offices and meeting space 
  • Student Work and Lounge space

Planned CIE Spaces

Please continue to visit this page for new information on the Center for Intercultural Engagement project.

Renovation Updates

Construction progresses in the Center for Intercultural Engagement, on track to open late Spring 2023.

 

University of Delaware community members enjoy a sneak preview of the finished space by checking out the architectural model displayed in Perkins Student Center. 

Community Engagement

In order to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment for all, surveys and meetings with both students and staff are being conducted this spring to receive valuable feedback and ideas for the Center for Intercultural Engagement.
 

  • Campus-wide survey 
  • Meetings with student organizations were conducted April 4-5
  • Meetings with Students, Faculty and Staff were conducted on Tuesday, April 5
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Project Team

Staff Leaders

Project Lead

Stephanie Chang

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Assistant Vice President, Institutional Equity for Student Life

Sarita Sen

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Senior Project Manager, AIA, LEED, Ap, Well Ap, NCARB

Anthony Doody

Pronouns: He/Him/His
Executive Director, University Student Centers

Gil Johnson

He/Him/His
Senior Associate Director, University Student Centers

Student Leaders

Student Leaders will provide insights and feedback related to project design(s), and promote and share student perspectives. Student Leaders will serve as the primary student ambassadors of the project and actively communicate with their peers, student organizations and other involvement on campus.

Erik Ashley

Pronouns: He/Him/His
Political Science Major with a Minor in Legal Studies

Campus Affiliations: Lavender Programming Board, Student Government Association, Black Student Union, Community Standards & Conflict Resolution Appellate Board, and Department of Criminal Justice & Sociology

"I want this center to be a way to connect with those that share an identity or more and build connections that way. Relatability is key and that is what I want this project to advocate for. I know with my background I can bring a view that can achieve these goals."

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Praise Ighodaro

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Computer Engineering Major with a Minor in Management Information Systems

Campus Affiliations: Delaware African Student Association, Frontline Ministries, and Gospel Choir

"I know how important and life changing having a community or a space where you feel like you belong can be. I believe every student should not only have this, but have a place where they can discover and learn more about others and even their own identities, especially in a time as critical as college."

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Moses Martinez

Pronouns: He/Him/His
Political Science Major

Campus Affiliations: HOLA, Stavros Niarchos Foundation Ithaca Initiative Student Leader, and Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Fraternity, Inc.

"I am part of this project because I wanted to help be part of the necessary change needed at the University of Delaware. This Intercultural Center is very important to the communities I am a part of, and I am excited to be the voice for them."

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Sana Nangia

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
International Relations and Economics Major

Campus Affiliations: Social Justice Peer Educator, Political Science and International Relations Department Ambassador, Asian & Pacific Islander Student Association and Indian Student Association 

"I want to see a space on campus that is intentionally built for marginalized students to explore their identities and build community through intercultural interaction with others. I want to be in that space."

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Lawson Schultz

Pronouns: They/She
Sociology and Art Major with History, Politics and Social Justice Minors

Campus Affiliations: Phi Sigma Pi and Special Interest Greek Council 

"I view my participation in this project an opportunity to hold the university accountable for actionable change rather than performative gestures. It excites me to be part of a team of passionate students and to learn about how these types of projects function behind the scenes. I have been involved in work that relates to diversity and inclusion on campus, but this project is my first opportunity to work directly with the Student Diversity and Inclusion Office."

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Britney Vasquez

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Sociology and Africana Studies Majors and Spanish & Latin American and Iberian Studies Minors

Campus Affiliations: HOLA

"I am a part of this project because I feel that it is important for everyone's voices to be heard, especially in a project such as this. Due to the work I've done in my classes I have grown a deeper appreciation and understanding for diversity and equity and want to do my part in helping ensure that for future incoming classes to the University."

Ioannis Vasileios Chremos

Pronouns: He/Him/His
Mechanical Engineering, Ph.D. Candidate | UD Class of 2023

Campus Affiliations: Graduate Student Government

"To work closely with other students and the administration to ensure the Center for Intercultural Engagement creates a student experience inclusive of all the diverse voices of a 21st-century community!"

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Asli McCullers

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Public Health, Epidemiology Masters student | UD Class of 2023

Campus Affiliations: Department of Epidemiology, Leaders in Equity, Access and Diversity in Public Health (LEAD-PH), Black Graduate Student Association, Student Health Advisory Committee, and Public Health Graduate Student Association

"I'm excited to be a part of this project to assist in bringing the vision of a safe space that celebrates diversity, cultural engagement, collaboration and friendship to life on University of Delaware's campus!"

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Andrea Wilhelm

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Psychological and Brain Sciences, Ph.D. student | UD Class of 2026

Campus Affiliations: Social Justice Coffee Hour, People of Color Graduate Affinity Group

"I am passionate about giving a voice for those who are still finding theirs."

The group of student leaders during the community engagement sessions
Left to right: Sana Nangia, Praise Ighodaro, Asli McCullers, Erik Ashley, Andrea Wilhelm, Moses Martinez, Britney Vasquez, Lawson Schultz, Ioannis Vasileios Chremos

Ask questions, make comments and submit feedback

The path to

the Center for Intercultural Engagement

A nine-campus bus tour conducted by University Student Centers and its outcome to inspire the Center for Intercultural Engagement.  

A working group was tasked with bringing students, faculty and staff together to define the multicultural space and programming needs on campus. Following initial meetings and information gathering, the group brought a consultant team to campus October 15-17, 2017. Led by Lori Patton Davis of Indiana University-Purdue, the team held multiple forums with administrators, stakeholders, students and other groups to determine the key needs, opportunities, challenges and concerns related to a UD multicultural space.

In May 2018, the working group issued its final report, taking into consideration the external consultants’ assessment, an audit of UD’s student-centered multicultural services and input from more than 200 survey respondents.

Advancing Racial Equity and Inclusion

Students talking at the Moving Forward: Advancing Racial Equity and Inclusion event
José Luis-Riera reads a passage from "How to be an Antracist," by Ibram X. Kendi
A male student speaks at the Moving Forward: Advancing Racial Equity and Inclusion event

The Advancing Racial Equity and Inclusion (AREI) Plan will direct diversity, equity and inclusion efforts across the Division of Student Life for the next two to five years.

View the Advancing Racial Equity and Inclusion Plan

While the Center for Intercultural Engagement is under construction, this is what's happening at UD:

The Center for Intercultural Engagement is part of the Division of Student Life, which contributes and facilitates critical learning and development within healthy, inclusive and supportive communities, so that all students may thrive at UD and beyond.

Contact us:

 

STUDENT DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
studentdiversity@udel.edu
325 Academy Street, Suite 147 
Newark, DE 19716