By Faith Edwards, Staff Writer
Recently, the Office of Inclusive Excellence underwent some major changes. Now, the Offices of Spiritual Life, International Students and Scholars, and Community Engagement all fall under this office, answering to Dean Yvonne Bogle. Bogle expressed excitement about the changes that have taken place, and she looks forward to collaborating with these offices. In the past, these offices have done a lot together, and students have been able to learn from each other in the process.
When I asked her how she came into her position as the Assistant Dean of Inclusive Excellence, She stated, “I think it’s divine intervention. I think it had to be.” Bogle started out with her degree in business and worked with a manufacturing company that eventually closed down.
While looking for a new job, she was taking classes at Western New England University and utilized the Career Center where she was recommended for the open position in what is now known as the Office of Inclusive Excellence. Bogle initially did not want to apply, but she landed the job and decided to stay.
As part of her position, Bogle advises the club United and Mutually Equal (U&ME). It is a multicultural club that offers a safe space for students of various different cultures and backgrounds to be themselves and learn from one another.
U&ME often celebrates different cultures with festivals and an abundance of food, but they also focus on having important conversations. Just recently they hosted a conversation-based program where they focused on mental health and the experiences that people of color, specifically Black people, might face with their hair.
One of the things Kolu Sharpe, the Assistant Director of Inclusive Excellence, mentioned they are looking forward to in U&ME is hosting their traditional events in the way they were originally designed to be. One of their larger, traditional programs that they are excited to host will be World Fest, which is coming up in November.
Since COVID-19, there have been many restrictions on what clubs are able to offer at programs as far as food, the amount of people, activities, etc. With those restrictions loosening, members are eager to carry out events as they once did. Sharpe is particularly looking forward to what new members are going to bring to the table, saying, “They are very eager to engage…we saw that yesterday with a very large turnout for the first U&ME meeting.”
Sharpe began working in the Office of Inclusive Excellence in March of 2020. Within two weeks of starting her new position, the university closed and everyone began working remotely. As a result, she says, “To date, I don’t know that I’ve actually ever done the job as it was created to be done.” Even so, she has learned to be flexible and think outside of the box to accommodate students and plan events in such unprecedented times.
It was during U&Me’s events that their current club president, BreAnna Lowry, was able to gain experience during her freshman year to prepare her for this role. She came to U&ME through their related program, Connections Mentoring, as a mentee.
She credits the mentors there with supporting her and creating a familial atmosphere. “Having that experience freshman year where I had all the support of the mentors around me really got me into participating in U&ME… I want to honor them by living up to that expectation where it’s kind of like a family,” says Lowery. In her first year, Lowry was looking to find a community on campus where she could meet a diverse group of people in a safe space. U&ME was the perfect place for that.
Because of her role in U&ME, Lowry states that she has become more outgoing and has attained useful skills in managing events and people. She has also watched other members of the club grow during their time there, saying, “A lot of the kids in U&ME, like I was myself, go from shy to more outgoing and more willing to step out of their comfort zone.”
There are passionate individuals in the Office of Inclusive Excellence and on the Executive Board of U&ME that work really hard to provide students with this safe space. Sharpe and Bogle both expressed how much they enjoy working with students. Bogle reflected on this saying, “I’m passionate about seeing young people maximize their potential and being all that they can be and sometimes black and brown folks don’t get to do that.” They look forward to the relationships they build with students and invite students of all backgrounds to join them in their upcoming festivities and learning experiences.
