I am a Person- Not a Label

Alexander WashingtonMississippi State University

Mississippi Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

Overview• Diversity in Higher Education

• Importance of a Diverse Environment

• Diversity in MASFAA

• Circles of my Multicultural Self

Objective• Bring awareness to…

• Our individual characteristics that are often misunderstood or portrayed in a negative manner

• Identify personal stereotypes, whether proud or sensitive, that allows us to properly educate and promote a healthy financial future for students

Past, Present, & Future• In the south, racial segregation started to decline in higher

education in the 1950’s

• The impact in the post-segregation era feeds discussion and debate as educators and politicians wrestle to find clear answers to desegregation and equal opportunity

• “Today, leaders at public and private TWIs often find themselves walking on egg shells as they try to strike a balance between the past, present and future of a profound social change, the kind of change about which many segregation-era parents could have only dreamed, the kind that many post-segregation era opponents find offensive.” (Stuart, 2013)

Accept the Challenge

Take the Challenge make the ChangeBe you

Be proudBe the one

Diversity in the Workplace• Diversity in the workplace strives to make people

of all socio-economic backgrounds feel comfortable

• Promotes equal opportunities among all employees to be hired and promoted based on merit not race, gender or creed

• Promotes equality when counseling, processing, & awarding students

How we use “Labels”• Categorize students by:

• Socioeconomic Status• Expected Family Contribution

(EFC)• Ethnic Stereotypes• Communication Stereotypes• Physical Appearance

MASFAA Assessment• Survey conducted October 1, 2012- October 30,

2012

• Emailed using the MASFAA Listserv

• 45 members participated—36.3% of listserv

MASFAA AssessmentAs an Administrator, does diversity have

any value at higher education institu-tions?

Yes No

MASFAA AssessmentRank the diversity efforts of your

department/office?

Excellent Progressing

Moderate Infrequent

No Efforts

Circles of My Multicultural Self

• Activity to engage participants in a process of identifying what they consider to be the most important dimensions of their own identity

• Stereotypes are examined as participants share stories about when they were proud to be part of a particular group and when it was hurtful.

Circles of My Multicultural Self

Alex

Male

Black

Religious

Mississippian

Circles of My Multicultural Self

“I am (a/an) _________

but I am NOT (a/an)

___________!”

Circles of My Multicultural Self

“I am a

FINANCIAL AID COUNSELOR

but I am NOT

PERFECT!”

We are ALL People—Not Labels

“Once you LABEL me, you NEGATE me”

Discussion/Questions