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The Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) collaborates with College divisions and offices to support the intentional cultivation of inclusive, equitable, and supportive work and educational environments within the Colby community.
We aspire to integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion into all aspects of our institutional life, synergize actions at all levels of the College, and cultivate inclusivity and mutual respect throughout our community.
The Pugh Center serves the Colby community as an integral resource and catalyst for engagement and advocacy that supports the college’s fundamental goal of academic excellence through cultivating an inclusive and equitable campus community.
The Pugh Center supports students through the development of co-curricular initiatives, opportunities to apply theoretical frameworks explored in the classroom, and fosters intellectual engagement with critical conversations across campus constituencies.
Our physical space, located within Cotter Union, Colby’s Student Union, is dedicated to all Colby community members interested in and devoted to engaging with experiences and issues related to race, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic and first-generation status, ability, religion, and spirituality. Beyond our physical space, we work intentionally to integrate our initiatives throughout the campus community.
Kimberly Walton-Trajkovski
Associate Dean and Director of the Pugh Center for Student Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
207-859-4265
[email protected]
[email protected]
Colby’s First-Generation-to-College/Low-Income Program for Student Success (FLI Program) is dedicated to supporting FLI students and their families throughout their Colby career. The FLI program provides the foundation and continued building blocks for success throughout students’ four years at Colby. The program offers a peer mentoring cohort model for first-year students to be matched with FLI second- through fourth-year students; a Pre-Orientation program prior to First Year Orientation to support a successful transition; a set of workshops, co-curricular activities, and trips throughout all four years geared towards building community, reducing academic barriers, creating awareness, and highlighting the contributions of the FLI Family.
Misael Beltran-Guzman
DEI Co-Curricular Programs Coordinator
207-859-4255
[email protected]
[email protected]
Colby’s International Student Program offers support to the international student community at Colby. The program is open to all students on F-1 student visas and dual citizens. The program supports students in their culutral and geographic transitions to Maine, community intergration and individual aculturation into the social fabric of the Colby community, as well as assists students in accessing the resources they need to be successful and grow at Colby. Through a netwwork of Buddies known as the Buddie System; the program is able to facilitate these goals through a mentorship model where each first year student is connected to an upperclass Buddie.
Misael Beltran-Guzman
DEI Co-Curricular Programs Coordinator
207-859-4255
[email protected]
[email protected]
Aura Moreno
International Visa Specialist, PDSO ARO
207-859-4146
Pugh 236
[email protected]
The Ralph J. Bunche Scholars Program at Colby College, named in honor of Nobel Prize-winning diplomat and civil rights activist Ralph J. Bunche, offers a select group of students from all backgrounds exclusive access to leadership development opportunities and grants for independent scholarship, internships, or humanitarian projects. Bunche Scholars are recognized for their demonstrated academic achievement and community involvement. They are leaders in their communities and often exhibit a deep commitment to social justice and civic engagement.
The Sexual Violence Prevention Peer Education Program (SVP) provides mandatory peer-led sexual misconduct prevention trainings to all incoming and second-year students. The sexual violence prevention peer educators also hold office hours in the Pugh Center (Room #239).
Emily Schusterbauer
207-859-4266
[email protected]
BIPR is a non disciplinary body charged with both responding to bias incident reports and implementing educational initiatives designed to decrease the frequency of bias incidents in our community. Community members who have experienced and/or witnessed a bias incident are encouraged to submit a BIPR report.
Spring 2021, the College joined the Liberal Arts Colleges Racial Equity Leadership Alliance (LACRELA) hosted by University of Southern California’s Race and Equity Center. Alliance membership consists of:
In collaboration with the Office of Community Values, Conflict Resolution, and Restorative Practice, our office is working to embed restorative practices into the ethos of Colby’s culture – this includes the ways in which we build community, deepen our connections, and navigate conflict, harm, and accountability.
