by Mickie Martin and Tonya Messam
The Ohio State ATI campus community is always changing, and one way it has changed positively is the increasingly diverse student body. In addition, ATI is cultivating a safe environment for people from all walks of life. There are many events focusing on diversity and new experiences on campus, and the RAs often plan fun events, like the one we had last semester focusing on Jamaican and Puerto Rican food and culture. There are also lots of events at the nearby College of Wooster and in the surrounding area.
Students can participate in clubs and organizations that help build programming to educate and celebrate diversity. Those include Cultivating Change and MANRRS (Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences). MANRRS helps connect students in agriculture who are underrepresented in the categories of race, ethnicity, religion, and sexuality. MANRRS creates opportunities for students to network and build essential skills for the workplace.
MANRRS is participating this year in an education abroad program entitled “Panama: Through the Lens of AgriCulture, Sustainability, and Diversity.” We’re very excited to see a different perspective of agriculture, learn a new culture, and experience economic differences firsthand. This study abroad program is where agriculture meets culture!
Here’s what MANRRS members have to say about their experiences:
Tonya:
- I absolutely love being a MANRRS member. We have an amazing bond that makes me even more drawn to the group. No matter where we go, we are always having a fun time. On our trip to Illinois, we had a chance to network with professionals in our field while finding ways to be better professionals ourselves. They even had people critique our resumes to make them more attractive to future employers. This club celebrates diversity and is very inclusive, which makes it a very fun and positive club that I am proud to say I am a member of.
Mickie
- I really enjoyed getting to meet the partners there! Getting the chance and opportunity to meet people I might internship with or potentially get hired by was exciting. However, it was nerve racking at the same time!
Lee
- This organization has allowed me to meet new people, make new laughter-filled memories, develop networking skills, travel, and have valuable discussions pertinent to our lives. I’m so glad I joined MANRRS.
LOVE THIS!