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.
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).
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
CIE Community Lounge Entry
Community Lounge
CIE Meeting/Training Room
CIE Interfaith Meditation Space
CIE Ablution Space
CIE Student Program Space
Please continue to visit this page for new information on the Center for Intercultural Engagement project.
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
Project Team
Staff Leaders
Stephanie Chang
Sarita Sen
Anthony Doody
Gil Johnson
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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!"
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!"
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."
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.
Join Us in Making a Difference
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