The Importance of Diversity and Inclusion: What That Looks Like at SUNY Potsdam (2023)

Research shows that exposure to cultural diversity and the promotion of inclusion in college (by diversifying staff, providing support groups for underrepresented students, and training educators to eliminate bias) helps build social skills, promotes creative thinking, expands student awareness and understanding of different perspectives, and provides a safe and welcoming space for members of historically marginalized communities. Knowing that someone represents them can encourage students to feel seen or represented on campus no matter their background. To explore what this means for our campus, I researched the history of the African American experience at SUNY Potsdam with a specific focus on how campus organizations, faculty/staff, and the campus environment have paved a way to create a safe and welcoming environment that recognizes diversity in many forms. My poster illustrates the results of my research, showing how a variety of students of color created spaces for themselves at Potsdam.