Virginia Tech amplifies student voices at American Association of Colleges and Universities event

Alexandra Pirkle

21 Nov 2024

A group of people stand in two staggered rows in front of a projector screen. Most are wearing some kind of Virginia Tech gear. — Student leaders met with Cedric Dunham III (at left), director of the Ujima living-learning community, and Ashley Offutt (at right), director of the Student Opportunity and Achievement Resources Program, for in-person and online discussions about diversity and inclusion on Oct. 5. Photo by Ashley Offutt for Virginia Tech.

Student organizations from 40 institutions across the nation, including Virginia Tech, convened to discuss important topics impacting diversity and inclusion in higher education on Oct. 5.

The National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, in partnership with the American Association of Colleges and Universities and the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Campus Centers, organized the Amplifying Student Voices event that brought together more than 400 student leaders for online and in-person conversations about diversity and inclusion and strategies for preserving inclusive democracy.

Ashley Offutt, director of the Student Opportunity and Achievement Resource Program, and Cedric Dunham III, director of the Ujima living-learning community, served as site supervisors for Virginia Tech. They led Hokies through essential discussions and provided space for student leaders to engage in difficult yet relevant topics.

“I think [this event] puts students in a more formal, intellectual space where they can think deeply and intentionally about the university, change, and how they can implement or begin to think about change and support from their position as students,” Dunham said. “I think it is also important for students to know that all campuses are working to help students have a voice in the change that needs to occur on their campus; it is not only a challenge faced by Virginia Tech.”

The event highlighted faculty and staff’s role in supporting students as they work to advocate for themselves and their values.

“It is imperative that as educators we continue to champion and advance more equitable and inclusive environments in academia,” Offutt said.

Both Offutt and Dunham hope students went home with the tools to continue their efforts beyond this event.

“I hope that students left with resources to continue building student-championed environments that make higher education work,” Offutt said.

“I am hoping they felt support, not only from other students, but from the staff there, and from [the Office for Inclusion and Diversity] as we put them in purposeful space to speak about change,” Dunham said. “I also hope students have the chance to think about ways they can change the landscape of the university through small actions such as evaluating their own identities and experiences while trying to create positive change.”

Dunham hopes students also were able to see the bigger picture.

“[This event] also gives them the chance to see other ways students at various institutions are looking to see change happen on their campuses,” he said.

The Amplifying Student Voices project is supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Lumina Foundation.