First DEI Leadership Awards Announced
Four COM students received the first COM Leadership Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Awards this week for demonstrating strong leadership in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in their “major fields of study, professional activities and internships, in the classroom, or in their communities at large.”
COM’s DEI Committee, which made the selections, intends to present the awards each year. This year’s recipients each offered advice to new incoming COM students:
Aisha Sheikh, B.S. Film & Television: “Being a Muslim-American woman, I grew up loving films but rarely saw myself in them. As a filmmaker, I made it my personal mission to showcase stories that included underrepresented aspects of my identity.”
Archelle Thelemaque, B.S. Communication, emphasis in Public Relations: “Take a moment when you start at BU to figure out who you are (really) before immersing yourself in community with other people. This way, you discover where you belong, not just where you fit in.”
Tori Murry, B.S. Journalism: “For me, diversity and inclusion begin with offering a safe space to hear others’ stories, and continues by having conversations about their (and, sometimes, your) experiences.”
Olayinka Saray, M.S. Public Relations : “You Belong at BU, so make BU for you! Start by joining the COM DEI Facebook group. There are lots of opportunities, events and chances to network with COM students, Alum, and Faculty.”
Michelle Sullivan, associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion, praised the award recipients.
“COM’s increased focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion has not only strengthened us academically but for many students, staff, and faculty it has also enriched our personal experience as members of the community,” Sullivan said. “No one deserves more credit than our student leaders Olayinka, Archelle, Aisha, and Tori for helping foster this progress. Their actions speak loudly and have left a lasting impact on the college, across the University and in their professional lives. We are grateful for their contributions and excited to work with other student leaders in the future to continue to move the needle forward on COM’s DEI initiatives.”
