Kirsten Edwards, undergraduate adviser for the E.J. Ourso College of Business, remembers being the only minority student in a class. “I… know what it’s like to have people you can bounce ideas and frustrations off of,” Edwards said. “I had to develop this support network on my own, and it took a while.” Edwards now serves as the faculty adviser for the Diplomats for Diversity, a group that serves the College of Business and the Minority Business Program to create a community and support system for minority students to succeed. “I want to give this class of minority students that opportunity from the moment they step foot on campus,” Edwards said. “I want to make the path smoother.” The Minority Business Program provides learning skills workshops, professional development seminars, social activities and community service opportunities. Edwards said she relies on the diplomats to improve the program and provide more feedback. Edwards said the diplomats help bridge the gap for other minority students and their future. She said the students are examples of successful minority students in the business college. The diplomats also serve as mentors in the Bridge to Success program, which helps freshmen and sophomores who have not been accepted to the college. “They are a phenomenal group of students,” Edwards said. “They are all quite successful. They provide me with priceless support.” Whitney Hughes, marketing senior, said she became a diplomat because of her success in the business college. “I believe that students who have achieved success in the College of Business have an obligation to help others do the same,” Hughes said. Hughes said she expects the diplomats to support the students. She said she joined this group not for herself but for the students. “Hopefully, through my service as a diplomat, I will be able to have an impact on underclassmen. I hope to help them have as successful of a college career as I have had,” Hughes said. Kelsey Dargin, accounting senior, said she joined the group because she never had this opportunity as an underclassman. “This type of program was not available to me as a sophomore when I was trying to apply to the college.” Dargin said. “I believe by being a diplomat, I can share my experiences and mistakes. That way those coming after me will be better off.” Dargin said she expects the group to build strong relationships that will last beyond their time in the college. She said the program is necessary because “many minority students go unnoticed.” “By having this program in place, students can develop skills to make them more competitive and matter beyond their ethnic background.” Dargin said. Edwards said that while the group was established to help serve the students, the University and the state, it would be a nice byproduct if the program helped to increase recruiting and competitiveness for the business college. “They can be representatives of the minority population in the college showing us how we must change and grow to become a more equitable and diverse college.” Edwards said.
—-Contact Sean Griffin at [email protected]