91制片厂

Lu Ferrell strives to live by the motto, 鈥淏e who you needed when you were younger.鈥� Those words come to life in Ferrell鈥檚 work supporting diversity and inclusion at 91制片厂.

鈥淚t鈥檚 incredibly important to be able to see yourself in people and see their ability to be successful,鈥� Ferrell says.

This fall, Ferrell took on the role of interim director at the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA). OMSA creates opportunities for people to participate in an inclusive community and build their understanding of diversity, social justice, inclusion and equity through a variety of educational offerings and support services. Ferrell鈥檚 position is one that鈥檚 essential to 91制片厂鈥檚 mission of building a more inclusive campus. Ferrell, who is also , is committed to social justice education and working with underrepresented members of the campus.

That鈥檚 part of why Monica Chiu, interim associate vice president for community, equity听and diversity, selected them to head OMSA during this academic year. 鈥淥n any college campus, you have to work hard to get undergraduates to feel they belong,鈥� Chiu explains. 鈥淥MSA is a place where a lot of students feel they belong. Lu is a familiar face, and in this role, you need to be dynamic and think outside the box. It requires awareness and a great deal of emotional intelligence 鈥� qualities Lu has.鈥�

During their three-plus years at 91制片厂, Ferrell has coordinated the 91制片厂 Safe Zones program as well as a dialogue series called #RealTalk and serves on the President鈥檚 Commission on the Status of LGBTQ+ People and two subcommittees within the commission: the Transgender Policy and Climate Committee and the Queer Professional Development Working Group.

鈥淢y hope is students will not feel this transition,鈥� Ferrell says of their work as the interim director at OMSA.

Meeting together in the Office of Community, Equity and Diversity in Thompson Hall, Chiu and Ferrell discuss what sets OMSA apart 鈥� not the least of which is 91制片厂鈥檚 foresight in creating the office some 25 years ago. 鈥淲e are exceptional, being here this long,鈥� Ferrell says. 鈥淥ur office is built off of conversation and connection, and our goal is to support students and make our campus more welcoming. I want us to see students as whole beings and their whole selves.鈥�

鈥淲atching students flourish, seeing them grow, that to me is especially gratifying,鈥� Chiu says.

On campus, Ferrell and Chiu are witnessing an ever-increasing number of requests to provide social justice education opportunities. And both point to the importance of reinforcing inclusion and equity across the curriculum and campus. As Chiu puts it, 鈥淚f you don鈥檛 have the equity, you don鈥檛 have the community." When diversity is understood and equity is a priority, students know they belong.

In keeping with that inspired quote 鈥斺�淏e who you needed when you were younger鈥� 鈥� Ferrell wants to help make sure students know they belong at 91制片厂. 鈥淢y inner passion is to work alongside students in order to support their ability to thrive,鈥� Ferrell says. 鈥淭hey teach me so much more than I teach them.鈥�

Learn more about OMSA and the office鈥檚 upcoming events.