Office of Multicultural Affairs Grows to Meet the Needs of Students

“Our work revolves around celebrating and embracing all students’ stories, backgrounds and experiences,” said Pearl Beverly, director of Multicultural Affairs. “We provide opportunities for students to enrich what they know about their own story and listen well to the stories of others. We encourage students, staff and faculty to participate in our great work because we believe so strongly in it. We look for ways to build the whole student and prepare them for leadership once they step out into the real world.”

But with the diversity of the Baylor student population increasing, there is another word that can describe the department: growth. Their programming is broadening, their staff is increasing and even their office space has expanded, “and students are expecting more and more,” Beverly said.

In 2016, one of the department’s largest annual events, Mosaic Mixer—historically a one-evening affair—turned into a weeklong celebration highlighting the different multicultural student organizations on campus.

Additionally, for the first time, the department rolled out Asian Heritage Month in response to an increase in student interest. Asian Heritage Month included 10 organized events between Oct. 17 and Nov. 18, hosted by a number of multicultural student groups.

“We learn so much from the students as we discuss ways they would like to express their culture using graphics, posters and social media,” Beverly said. “They constantly teach us nuances we could never learn by reading about a culture.”

With the departmental growth and programming expansion, a need for a unified office space was obviously important. Previously separated on the first, second and third floors of the Bill Daniel Student Center, the Multicultural Affairs team has recently moved into the newly renovated office space on the first floor.

“We work closely with Student Activities to execute a number of our programs, and with their location on the first floor, that collaborative relationship will be strengthened,” Beverly said. “The visibility we will have on a daily basis in one of the busiest buildings will be priceless as we continue to build awareness on campus about our work.”