Celebrating Diversity During International Education Week

What does diversity mean to you?We asked Chatham University students, faculty, and staff this question, together with questions about where they are from or have been to and what languages they speak. The majority of the students who answered the questions are international students taking language courses offered by the English Language Program and Modern Languages Program, including Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish. The answers showcase the diversity of places, languages, and cultures that makes Chatham University a great place that it is. Enjoy the word clouds and different takes on diversity below!Places mentioned Antarctica was mentioned because it was the only continent Professor Galford and Dean Motley haven't been to.Languages spokenIf you'd like to share your thoughts, please send an email to Linh Phung, Director of English Language and Pathway Programs and Member of the Diversity and Inclusion Council: lphung@chatham.edu.

Name	Major/Position	Places	Languages	What diversity means
Abdelaziz Bagabas	Geomatics	Saudi Arabia, Egypt, England, and Indonesia	Arabic, English	"Diversity means respect and learn culture disparately around the world."
Abduleh Al Ghanmi	ELP	Saudi Arabia, US	Arabic, English	"It means to me learning something new from different people or culture. It means to me how I can improve myself.”
Abdullah Almatairi	Electricity Technician	Riyadh, US	Arabic, English	"I have one language which is the language Arabic. I visit the USA because I study language English."
Ahmir Allen	Creative Writing/Film	Pittsburgh	English, Spanish, Japanese	"Diversity is about open-mindedness and inclusivity. In a diverse environment people can feel accepted without a fear that someone will view them as "less than" or understanding of their basic human rights."
Alex Ferrer	Policy Studies, Graphic Design	Las Vegas	English, Spanish, German	"Diversity to me is the acceptance of different cultures in a community. Once this happens, people expose themselves to different lifestyle and become more diverse."
Allison Love	Human Biology	Pittsburgh	English	"Diversity is being able to bring people together from different backgrounds or cultures. Realizing the differences between others and accepting them and celebrating them."
Ameerah Almarawani	ELP	Saudi Arabia, US	English, Arabic	"Identify the cultures of society. Communicate with new friends. Communicate with my family. Gain language.”
Arief Zulkifli	International Studies	Malaysia, U.S., Dubai	English, Malay	Diversity means the presence of various things. In a general context, I would associate diversity with the inclusion of many people from various backgrounds/ genders. However, diversity could simply be the range of something.
Asami Nabeshima	English Literature/ Junior	Japan	Japanese, English	"I think diversity is to have to do something with people who have different culture, so we should understand and respect other culture each other.”
Bholika Kothiya	Healthcare Administration/ ELP	India	Hindi, English	“Diversity means variety. It is understanding between two cultures.”
Brian Harr	Biochemistry	Derry, PA	English	"Diversity literally means having variety. To me, diversity means being accepted in each aspect, regardless of how much it may differ from others."
Chris Musick	AVP, Office of International Affairs	Yorktown, IN	English, Japanese	"The beautiful differences in thought, perception, and worldview gathered in one place working toward a common goal without conflict.”
Christine Emerick	Counseling Psychology	Halifax, PA. Traveled to many different states, including Arkansas, North Carolina, and Massachusetts.	English	"Diversity means various people with different backgrounds coexisting in an area. Diversity also allows for conversations to be had between different people and allows us to learn something new, if we are willing to learn.”
Chika Kitagishi	English Literature	Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong	Chinese, Korean, Japanese, English	"It is something broadening any perspectives."
Curran O'Neill	Media Arts	Pittsburgh	English, (some) Japanese	"Diversity is a vast number of people from different races/ ethnicities/ sexualities/ genders/ classes/ etc. A group of people that don't all share the same character traits."
Cymon Butler	Graphic Design	U.S.	English, Spanish, Japanese, French, German	"What diversity means to me is multiple groups of people converging together, with none in particular standing out. There are different ways of thinking and backgrounds, but everybody is accepting of one another."
Daria Montgomery	Psychology	Russia, Chicago, Pittsburgh	English, French	"Being diverse, to me, means having people of all walks of life having an equal chance to be heard and respected. We all come from different places, were born into different circumstances, were raised different ways, and so should take that to find a middle ground that we can all stand on."
Darlen Motley	Dean, School of Arts, Science and Business	PA, NY, Chicago, Atlanta, VA, visited all continents except Antarctica	English, Basic Spanish	“Diversity and inclusion means respect and appreciation of values and culture of all peoples.”
Ding-Wei Linh	Chatham Semester	Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, U.S., Canada	Chinese, English	“We don’t want to be the same, but we want to understand each other.”
Dori Cawley	Media Arts	Newport, RI, USA	English, Japanese (learning now), Spanish, can read Hebrew	"Diversity means that you are surrounded by people of different ethnicities and cultures. It also means that you want to better your understanding of the world."
Duncan Eisen-Slade	Sustainability	Born-Scranton, PA; raised-Mt. Pleasant, SC; Living-Pittsburgh, PA	English	"An environment of rich cultural expressions and a variety of opportunities and communities. Not living in a mirror chamber. An environment of many different types of people."
Elena Woodworth	Sustainability	Pittsburgh, PA	English	"Diversity means having a group with all different people of race, socio-economic status, religion, sexuality, gender, language, cultural background, and any other differences. It means having those differences, but having respect and appreciation for those who are different from you. It also means wanting know and understand those differences."
Erika Nankawa	Bioscience (in Japan) and ELP (in the U.S.)	Japan	Japanese, English	"I think that different food from country to another is diversity. I think that different color of skin is diversity. I think that different education system and different languages is diversity. "
Faisal	Information Management Systems	Saudi Arabia, USA, UK, UAE	Arabic, English	"Different cultures, opinions, and perspectives coming together."
Fernando Soriano	Biology-Environmental Science	The United States of America	English (primary, fluent); Spanish (secondary, roughly fluent)	"Diversity is a pre-emptive step to achieving a larger goal: equality. Diversity itself means nothing if no constructive steps are taken to assist the needs and inequalities of non-dominant identities/classes."
Gregory Galford	Educator, Architect	Grew up in rural West Virginia. Lived in Philadelphia, London, New York City. Have visited every continent except Antarctica. Bucket list.	Can read road signs and menus in 3-4 languages	"Diversity means willingness to listen and learn from those who live and think differently."
Hana	Education Techniques	Saudi Arabia-Jeddah. Immigrates UAE	Arabic, Indonesia, English.
Hannah Hutton	Undecided	Bethel Park, PA	English, Spanish	"The presence and acceptance of those who are from different backgrounds and cultures. It can also be the incorporation of various traditions from those cultures in everyday life."
Hasnah Alghamdi	History		Arabic, English	"Languages, cultures, personal, customs and traditions"
Heather Sekeres	Biology & Sustainability	Brookville, Pennsylvania	English, some German, and some Spanish	"Support and acceptance of people from all walks of life. Each person is valuable and without any one of us the world would be a little less beautiful."
HongChing Cheung	Accounting	Hong Kong, Pittsburgh	Cantonese, English, Japanese	"Diversity means being in an environment surrounded by a large range of people that may include people from different countries, race, age, gender. Diversity involves with interactions and relations with others who are different."
Hyemi	Economics	Korea	Korean, English	"There are many kinds of diversity such as age, gender, religion, ethnicity, and race, etc. Studying in America, these days. I think about race diversity more. People have to recognize and respect the diversity, but there is still some discrimination based on race."
Jade Miley	Sustainability	Born in China. Grew up in US	English, a little bit of Mandarin	"Knowing what life and cultures are like to people in other countries and/or cultures. Being aware of what is going on in the world other than just your own country/culture."
Jake Reed	Criminology	Ontario, Canada	English and French	"Diversity means having different people all from a different backgrounds. It means having a group of people where not one person is the same as the next."
Jake Rideaw	Communications	Potomac, MD	English and French	"Having people of different backgrounds coming together to coexist harmoniously in society, regardless of gender, race, and religion. People are able to come together to form strong bonds with one another.”
Johnny Artinger	Exercise Science	Pittsburgh	English	"Diversity is what makes everyone different from one another. We all come from diverse backgrounds making us different in our own unique way."
Jordan Annarumo	Human Biology	Ellwood City, PA	English	"Diversity is when our population is represented by more than just Americans. To be diverse you embrace cultures and customs from other nations."
Justin McCloskey	Sustainability	California, Pennsylvania	English, Japanese	"Diversity to me means the mixing of different cultural traits and aspects into one purpose or event."
Juyeon Shim	English Language and Literature	S. Korea	Korean, English	"(Maybe) in cultural way, because of the diversity, I can learn many culture at once and experience others. Diversity is good to get along with others and experience many things than I expected."
Karun Lelahuta	English Language Program	Thailand, Bangkok	Thai, Japanese, English	"The people from different background, such as culture, country, language, etc. Live in the same place and shared their experience together."
Kazuki Tarumi	English Literature/ Chatham Semester	Osaka, Japan	Japanese, English, Chinese	“People from different countries come together.”
Kelsey Calamaro	Human Biology	Florida	English	"Diversity has a common meaning to me, it means different. This is not something bad, even though some people may make it seem that way. Diversity is intriguing, new and educating because you never know what you might learn from an entity that is diverse."
Kimara Bernard	Architecture	Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Been to a lot of countries besides the United States	French, English, Creole, Spanish	"To me, there is a lot of meaning for Diversity. The fact that we all have different beliefs, languages, ethnicity, that we have our own culture .And all that makes us ourselves makes us diverse."
Kiyo Irie	Environmental Bioscience/ Junior	Japan	Japanese, English	"Diversity is learning other cultures and; languages to me. I think the goal of diversity is understanding each culture."
Kylie Fletcher	Cultural Studies/ Graphic Design	Born in West Virginia, US. Grew up in Okinawa, Japan and New Mexico, US.	English, Japanese, French	"To me, having diversity means having a space with a number of different identities and cultures (race, ability, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, etc.) that co-exist with one another. Diversity should be met with respect for other cultures."
Laramie Ball	Psychology	New York State, USA	A little bit of Spanish and Japanese	"Equal respect and representation for all people regardless of who they are, where they are from, and what they believe. A celebration of these differences, and that these differences are not pushed down, but uplifted."
Linh Phung	Director, English Language and Pathway Programs	Vietnam, State College, Pittsburgh. Visited Brazil, Canada, and Malaysia	English, Vietnamese, Basic French. Learned some Spanish. Learning Chinese	We were born with different characteristics and into different circumstances, resulting in different experiences and opportunities in life. Understanding differences also means understanding shared humanity.
Liz Peace	Psychology	Pittsburgh	English, Japanese	"Diversity means celebrating everyone's differences. By understanding what makes everyone unique and being open-minded, we can all learn a lot."
Liz Romano	Music	Cape Cod, Massachusetts	English and French	"Diversity is being different, but is also celebrating these differences."
Maha Al Humaidi	ELP Student	Saudi Arabia	Arabic, English	"Diversity means for my knowledge and learn new language. I can communicate with another person.”
Maha Aloufi	ELP	Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Turkey, Egypt, Britain, America, France	Arabic, English, beginner French	"More diversity, I see, the more happy I feel. People from all around the world share different culture with each other."
Marina Razgarina	ELP Lecturer	Grew up in Russia. Visited Turkey, England, France, Ukraine, and Canada	Russian, English, Turkish (Int), French (low int)	"It means appreciation for other cultures, religion, traditions. It means sharing what's good about our cultural identities. It means tolerance and open-mindedness. It means losing preconceived notions about other cultures."
Marissa Wightman	Human Biology	California	English	"Diversity means to have varying qualities within oneself and others. I think diversity also means to be unique."
Megan Simda	Early Education	Virginia, West Virginia, and Ellwood City	English and learning French	"Diversity means living in a world where everybody is able to bring something different to the table. Because everyone's unique cultural background and attributes. Diversity makes the world a better place for everyone."
Meier Parr	Exercise Science	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	English	"Diversity means being a part of, and appreciating, multiple cultures."
Mina Hogsett	ELP Teacher	From West Virginia, US, Lived in Palestine/ Israel, Finland, South Korea, and Kenya. Visited 29 countries total.	English, Arabic	"To me, diversity is when different people, perspectives and emergent ideas may share a space together where listening, respect and curiosity overshadow fear and conflict"
Mitra	MBA/ ELP	Iran	Farsi/ Persian, English	“Diversity is defined as differences. For me, it means variation between people and society. We can see a lot of diversity in the U.S., which is amazing.”
Monica Snyder	International Studies (focus in Latin America) and Policy Studies	Pittsburgh	Portuguese, English, French (intermediate), Spanish	"Diversity to me means including everyone. Making others feel welcomed at all times is also very important."
Nagisa Fujimoto	Chatham Semester	Japan	Japanese, English	“Diversity means various ideas and cultures in each country and acknowledging them.”
Naomi Saenz	Chemistry	Pittsburgh. Grew up in Mexico	English, Spanish, and some French	"Different ethnicities, race, languages, and cultures living in the same community."
Natsuki Sakagami	English Literature/ Chatham Semester	Japan	Japanese, Chinese, English	“To know new things and accept them.”
Nayu Hattori	International Studies	Kobe, Japan. Been to Hawaii, Guam, California	Japanese, English	"Diversity for me: People respect everyone, and accept everyone no matter their age, the gender, the place raised or born, the nationality and any other things."
Noriko Sasaki	English Literature/ Chatham Semester	Japan	Japanese, English, a little German	“Everyone has a right to live freely. Everyone should not be limited about anything.”
Rumi Horibe	English Literature/ Chatham Semester	Japan	Japanese, English	“Japan, America, ect.”
Sabrina Cheng	Undecided	Pittsburgh	Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese Chinese, English and currently learning Japanese	“Diversity is surrounding yourself with many different types of people. Diversity covers religion, opinion, sexuality, nationality, age, etc. and it's important for everyone to be exposed to different point of views.”
Seina Maeda	English	Japan	Japanese, English	"It means that people and animals which exist in this world have difference. Everyone and everything is not the same.”
Shashanka Hassan	Exercise Science	India	English, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Japanese	"Diversity is one of the many important things I think a country should have. Diversity gives us an opportunity to learn and experience new things making us get more out of life."
Sierra McCullough	Psychology	New Castle	English/Spanish	"Diversity is a broad array of cultures accepted as one. We need diversity to understand the many ways of life."
Sierra Spraker	History/Education	Baltimore, MD	English, Spanish, German	"Diversity to me is allowing different people or things to be intermingled. Diversity is not only by race, but all other characteristics."
Siyeon An	Communication	S. Korea	Korean, English	"Something that's not fully attained even in America."
Soumayani Ghoshal	Journalism/ Junior	India. Visited Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland	Hindi, Bengali, English	"Diversity is an amalgamation of cultures, traditions, cuisines, values, and beliefs. It brings together people from different races, ethnicities, and cultures and portrays unity in differences.”
Sueng a Park	Fine Art	Seoul, S. Korea	English, Korean	"People have different cultures, which is they use different languages and lifestyles. It's a little hard to understand but it is really interesting."
Sydney Steven	Biochemistry	Pittsburgh	English	"Diversity is the variety in a group, it may be people or objects. It is what makes people unique and who they are."
Sylvia Shipp	Student Advisor/ ESL Lecturer	Lived in 40-45 different places (20 cities) in the U.S and 2 countries overseas. Visited 40 cities abroad.	English, Spanish, German, Arabic	"Inclusion of many different groups with regard to race, religion, gender sexual orientation, socio-economic level, etc."
Tae Matsuo	ELP	Japan	Japanese and English	"It means that everyone can communicate with others who have different personality (like religion, language, race) without bias and discrimination, with full of respect and smile :)."
Tarah Dunn	ELP Lecturer	Pittsburgh. Been to France, Italy, Spain, and Japan	English, ASL, French	"Diversity is infinite light that radiates a warmth to be felt each day."
Trevor MacKenzie	Mathematics	Lancaster, PA	English, German	"Diversity is including people from various backgrounds and opinions. It's about hearing multiple viewpoints and making sure no one is removed based on their character or characteristics."
Victoria Vernail	Biology	Virginia	English	"Diversity means being surrounded by people that think differently and see the world in a different light. It is the ability to look at a situation from another perspective and share a multitude of ideas."
Yazeed Feizo	American Flights Academy	I grew up in Saudi Arabia and I visited the United States.	Arabic, English	"Improvement and knowledge of languages"
Yeongbin Byeon	Visual Arts	S. Korea	Korean, English	Diversity means understand different cultures."
Yue Gao	ELP	China	Chinese, English	"Good thing is we can learn a lot of culture, but sometimes I'm in the culture shock."
Yundian Ying	ELP	China	Chinese, English	“Different kinds of experiences, backgrounds. I love to know lots of people who have various thoughts. That’s really broaden my horizon.”
Yuri Morii	English Literature	Japan	Japanese, English	"It is given us some ways of thinking."
Yuri Mukai	Linguistics/ Chatham Semester	Japan	Japanese, English	“Diversity is the idea that various races and genders should be included and play an active part in a social community.”
Zauyah Waite	Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, Office of Student Affairs	Lived in Alor Setar-Kedah; Petaling Jaya-Selangor; Malaysia; Kansas City-Missouri; Kansas City-Kansas; Toledo-Ohio; Pittsburgh-Pennsylvania	Malay and English	"For me, diversity means welcoming, including and respecting everyone particularly when they are not like me or have a different set of values than me."