On April 2, Student Success held their first session for the position of Director of the Woodrick Center for Inclusion & Multicultural Affairs, with University of Michigan graduate Christina Mozumdar meeting with faculty, staff and students to answer questions about why she should be chosen for this position.
Mozumdar currently serves as a Community Leadership Fellow Graduate Assistant for U of M’s Ginsberg Center for Community Service and Learning. She also had experience as a Diversity Initiative Coordinator for the Michigan Community Scholars Program through the University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts Michigan Community Scholars Program.
During her Q&A session with faculty and staff, Mozumdar was asked what the title of the Director of the Woodrick Center for Inclusion & Multicultural Affairs means to her and what direction is it heading at GRCC. She explained that she doesn’t see the word director as someone who demands things but rather as someone who can help an organization make a change.
“…Typically when you ask a person what a director means, (It means) ‘I’m in charge. I’m in charge of this space.,’” Mozumdar said. “But really when I see that word, it means to help allow an organization in the greater organization, which is Grand Rapids Community College, to impact or make the change that it wants to.”
When asked what would be the biggest challenge for her in the first year, she explained that while being in an unfamiliar city could be a struggle she has already been through that situation.
“As mentioned, I’ve spent my entire life, 25 years, in New York City. Not just my education or my personal life, but also my educational professional life experience,” Mozumdar explained. “I moved to the University of Michigan after that and Ann Arbor is completely different than New York City and I knew I was a fish out of water. It took me a time metaphorically to paddle the same way as others did but I had to take a lot of patience with myself and admit to my faults.”
She later said she was able to use this experience to connect with others through a place of curiosity.
“…‘I don’t know this space.’ ‘I don’t know what’s happening.’ ‘Can you tell me what’s happening.’ Like actually taking that moment of curiosity and wanting to listen to people and hear their stories and what they have to say…and really embracing the knowledge and perspectives that they are bringing into that idea.”
Mozumdar later explained that while there isn’t a “magic formula” for college, students should acknowledge their strengths as well as understand when they should seek out the college’s resources.
“The road to whatever achievement they want to accomplish…there is always a slippery slope. It’s not going to always be as clear-cut as you want it to be. There isn’t a magic formula that will get you there. And I think the one advice I would say is to be in a way understanding your inner strength but also understanding what kind of support you’re needing and how you are identifying that support system.”
DEI programs across the country have progressively shrunk under far-right politicians pushing to undercut affirmative action in hiring, admission and other workplace and educational environments. GRCC has undergone changes within their ODEI department, splitting into two roles, one of which is: the Director of Woodrick Center for Inclusion & Multicultural Affairs which will be targeted toward helping students directly.
The position of Vice President for People, Culture, & Equity will report directly to the president of the college and ensure that diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are instilled within each department of the college’s faculty and staff.
GRCC’s Associate Dean of Student Success Raynard Ross explained that this role is currently open and hopes it will be filled before the 2024 Fall semester.
Collegiate Reporter Jamie Miller contributed to this story.
