DEIA Stories:
We invite you to explore our collection of inspiring videos that celebrate the richness of our community’s diversity, and honor the incredible individuals who courageously shared their stories, allowing us a glimpse into their lives and experiences.
This collection features powerful DEIA stories that highlight the strength and resilience of our staff members. Through these personal narratives, we celebrate the transformative power of diversity within our community.
Warren Nevins
In this DEIA Story, Warren Nevins reflects on becoming a caregiver at a young age, supporting his mother through mental illness while navigating his own identity. His 23-year journey at Rutgers transformed from seeking to belong to building deep community connections. Now an IT Director at DOCS, Warren shares how early caregiving shaped his approach to relationships and his understanding of human uniqueness.
Marialaine Potts
In this heartfelt DEIA Story, Marialaine Potts shares her journey from facing bullying in school to finding acceptance and purpose. She reflects on discovering strength through dog training, which helped rebuild her confidence after years of being ostracized for her identity as a gay woman. Her 39-year career at the Division of Continuing Studies became a place of healing, self-discovery, and belonging.
DEIA Video Shorts:
Diversity and inclusion are fundamental principles that create an environment of fairness, respect, and a sense of belonging. Diversity encompasses the wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints of each staff member, including differences in race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, and socioeconomic status. Inclusion fosters a culture where every staff member feels valued, empowered, and supported. It requires proactive efforts to ensure equal opportunities for growth, advancement, and active participation.
This collection features staff members sharing a little bit of their culture in their native languages (English closed captions included) and what DEIA means to them. They beautifully highlight the cultural connections that make our community so vibrant.
What does DEIA mean to me?
How do I celebrate my culture?
By: Hyun-Ja Lee
How do I celebrate my culture?
By: Dr. Olga Chaban