Learn more about the MELT Peer Mentoring Program here.
Vision:
The Center nurtures a sense of belonging for students from diverse backgrounds and encourages them to participate actively in their curricular and co-curricular learning, including campus and community organizations, leadership opportunities, and intercultural experiences. In collaboration with other University departments, the Center coordinates programs and services that foster an inclusive campus environment, promote a welcoming and just University community, and encourage and value the contributions and perspectives of all students.
Goals:
- To provide campus-wide programs that further all students’ development of cultural competence and respect for diversity and social justice.
- To develop, implement, and evaluate programs and services that support historically underrepresented students in their personal development and transition throughout their ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ experiences.
- To provide leadership opportunities for underrepresented students that focus on engagement in campus and community organizations.
- To identify, examine, and recommend organizational changes that remove barriers to inclusion and promote student success.
Ayse Selen Zarrelli, MBA, Director
Ayse Selen Zarrelli, MBA, has been with CSDI since 2018. She is a first-generation immigrant from Türkiye. Previously, she worked in staffing and hospitality, holding roles as a Staffing Specialist and Manager. Selen earned her MBA from JCU's Boler College of Business, a BBA in International Relations from Ege University (Turkey), and studied Political Science at Universiteit van Gent (Belgium). She serves as a board member at MotivAsians, volunteers with ISupportTheGirls, and mentors immigrants and refugee youth.
Fun Fact: She enjoys the outdoors with a photo camera, a quick weekend trip with her family, and learning a new language.
Contact Selen at azarrelli@jcu.edu or 216-397-1505.Ìý
Set up a time to meet with Selen atÌý
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Angela Aviquivil '19, Assistant Director
Angela Aviquivil (she/her/hers) earned her B.S. in Psychology from ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ in 2019. She is continuing her education at JCU in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program. During her undergrad, she served as a resident assistant, an orientation leader, and an intern for the Immersion Program. She is excited to continue her education at the school that made her who she is today. She is from Parma, Ohio, and in her free time, she loves listening to podcasts, reading, watching documentaries, and exploring!
Fun Fact: she was right-handed until first grade.
Contact AngelaÌýat aaviquivil19@jcu.edu or 216-397-3051.
Set up a time to meet with Angela atÌý
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Anna Brock, Program Coordinator
Anna Brock (she/her/hers) joined the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion in March of 2024. Anna's role within CSDI is to create programs that celebrate culture and foster identity-based belonging. Some of the signature events under her role include National Coming Out Day, Civic Engagement, Trans Day of Remembrance, CSDI's End of Year Recognition Programs, and any other collaborations with cultural student organizations.
Fun fact: she has two adorable pitbulls and she will talk to anyone about their pets!
Contact Anna at abrock@jcu.edu or 216-397-1583.
Set up a time to meet with Anna atÌý
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GRADUATE ASSISTANTS
First Gen Program GA
Mallaak Wahdan,Ìýmwahdan24@jcu.edu
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MELT Peer Mentoring Program
Khanh Huynh,Ìýbhuynh27@jcu.edu
Upperclass Students Internship Program This program focuses on students getting hands-on experience in full-time internships during the semester. The positions are paid; please review the available positions on our Instagram and handshake page. If you would like inquire on further positions please contact csdi@jcu.edu
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The Wayfinders Program
This is a micro-internship program that supports our students' getting hands-on experiences in fields they are in or interested in. It aims to improve students' professional readiness to seek internships, employment, and graduate education. We work with for-profit and non-profit organizations to provide these experiences.Ìý Wayfinders Program CSDI's page can be accessed here:Ìý.
To view the available micro-internships, create an account on Parker Dewey here:Ìý
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We understand that there can be challenges unique to first-generation students as the school year progresses. CSDI office offers programs to recognize, celebrate, and support first-generation students.
click HERE for more information
CSDI provides campus-wide educational events and opportunities that further all students’ development of cultural competence and respect for diversity and social justice. Specifically, we develop, implement, and evaluate programs and services that support historically underrepresented students in their personal development and transition throughout their ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ experiences.
To learn more about the programs that CSDI has to offer, please click here!
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CSDI advises 17 cultural student organizations including:
- Black Students in Action (BSA)
- Coptic Club
- East Asian Student Association (EASA)
- Le Cercle Francais
- Hillel Club
- Italian Club
- Latin American Student Association (LASA)
- LGBTQIA+ Allies
- Middle Eastern Student Association (MESA)
- Muslim Student Association (MSA)
- Sikh Student Association (SSA)
- South Asian Student Association (SASA)
- Streak Accessibility Club
- Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP)
- Alpha Alpha Alpha (Tri Alpha)
- Women and Allies Coalition
- 1st Gen Club
To learn more about each organization, please click here!
CSDI identifies and recommends opportunities that remove barriers to inclusion and promote student success.Ìý
A few of the services and resources provided by CSDI include:
- Paying for College
- Food Assistance
- Mindfulness Exercises for Wellness
- Learning Commons
- Writing CenterÌý
- Legal Resources
To learn more about each of these services, please click here!
The CSDI office is located in Suite 202 in the D.J. Lombardo Student Center, above the University Bookstore.
CSDI has three additional spaces.
CSDI Lounge in Room 48 in the D.J. Lombardo Student Center, across from the Jardine Room.
CSDI Lounge is available to reserve on Coursedog for student events and meetings.ÌýÌý
Black Cultural CenterÌýin Room 40 in the D.J. Lombardo Student Center, down the hallway of Campus Ministry.ÌýÌý
Black Cultural Center is a resource for our students of African descent, Black-identified students, and their allies. Black Students in Action (BSA) Cultural Student Organization hosts meetings, events, community gatherings,Ìý, as well as cultural programming in the space for the whole JCU community. Students use the space as a study hall and a lounge between events. To access the space, join the Black Students in Action (BSA) roster during the involvement fair!Ìý
Interfaith Prayer and Meditation SpaceÌýin Room 36 in the D.J. Lombardo Student Center, down the hallway of Campus Ministry.Ìý The room serves and supports all students and the holistic wellness of the university community. This space allows individuals of all religious faiths and non-religious beliefs to experience a place for peace, prayer, meditation, and quiet reflection throughout the day.