DEI CHAIRMAN HIGHLIGHT S T R AT E G I C G O A L A R E A
EXEMPLIFY
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Chairman
WRITTEN BY: LEXI MOORE, EPSILON PHI, PROGRAM COORDINATOR
In the fall of 2020, Alpha Sigma Alpha introduced a new officer position to our collegiate chapters. The diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI) chairman works to educate members on the importance of supporting the development of a diverse and inclusive organization, campus and community. Through their work, the DEI chairman helps provide their chapter with programming and opportunities that increase members’ knowledge and awareness of differences in backgrounds, experiences and worldviews. Meet some of the collegiate women who continue to propel their chapters and our Sorority forward through their work in DEI.
Riana Mays, Tau Tau, Senior at
Addison Price, Zeta Gamma,
Angela Lerma, Iota Kappa,
Fort Hays State
Junior at Gannon
Senior at
University
University
Abraham Baldwin
What motivated
What motivated
you to run for
you to run for
the DEI chairman
Agricultural College
the DEI chairman
Tell me about a
position? “I grew up in a very small town in
position? “When the DEI chairman
program that the chapter was able to
Kansas where I was the only minority. Many
became a position within my chapter,
participate in during the last year. “Our
of my sisters also grew up in rural areas
I had only been in for a semester. My
chapter was able to participate with
where there were little to no minorities. I
president encouraged me to run, knowing
Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources
wanted to help educate my sisters and I
how well it aligned with my interests. I
and Related Sciences and IMPACT
felt I could provide this education based on
wanted to make DEI a bigger part of the
(organization in Interclub Council) in
my lived experiences as a bisexual, black
chapter, giving it a focus on providing
hosting an International Awareness event
woman."
education and resources to
on International Day. On April 14th, we
my sisters."
held an event on campus in our cafeteria
What has been the most rewarding aspect of this role so far? “The most rewarding
Tell me about a program that the chapter
part of this role for me personally has been
was able to participate in during the last
helping educate my sisters on a part of life
year. “I was able to attend the implicit
that most of them have never experienced
bias virtual keynote by Dr. Nwoke this
before. Additionally, it has been rewarding
year. The entire chapter could not be
not only to help educate my sisters, but
present, however, I took this information
also learn from the research myself. I’ve
and created an uncomplicated and
been able to teach my sisters about history
straightforward presentation to talk about
of different minority groups and I have seen
with the chapter. We were able to take
a lot of members begin to openly stand as
what we had learned then, go through
an ally for the LGBTQ+ community and for
recruitment with a more sensitive and
Black Lives Matter.”
aware outlook. I think it helped not only my sisters, but myself as well, learn about how we need to consciously and actively reduce stereotypes.”
12 Phoenix of Alpha Sigma Alpha
where we had many different items from all over the world for students to see before entering the Dining Hall. The entrance was set up to be more of a museum and we had our campus cooking staff prepare food from different countries. Working together to put up the different flags, taking care of the art and artifacts not only was it able to bring the three different organizations together but also educate our sisters on the variety of different cultures and countries. I honestly didn’t know how many international students we had attending our school until we held this event. I hope we can continue to hold this event every year in the future.”
