Marshall Magazine Autumn 2022

“ When we work and socialize with people who come from backgrounds different from our own, all our lives are enriched by the new experiences we share and the new things we learn .”

— Associate Provost and Associate Vice President Mary Beth Reynolds Assessment and Quality Initiative

own. To increase access to the university by reducing barriers that disproportionately disadvantage people from underserved populations and provide support needed for success. And to promote student learning through outreach to the community.” During its implementation, Marshall’s Quality Initiative will focus on three themes: Year 1: Complexities of Identity Year 2: Building Bridges Year 3: Embracing and Celebrating Differences Projects supporting the first goal include theme aligned readings. For example, one book will be se lected each semester for campus-wide reading, with suggested scholarly readings for classroom use. In addition, there will be theme-aligned lectures, discus sions and activities; diversity dinner groups that bring together new freshmen from different backgrounds several times each fall; and an inaugural diversity learning community. “Members of student organizations are being chal lenged to select another organization with whom, under normal circumstances, they might not be likely to collaborate.,” Reynolds explained. “There can be many reasons for possible lack of natural collaboration, and students will be asked to consider these reasons.

Is it because the members of the other organization differ from them in background, political or religious ideologies, general outlook on life? Our hope is that, through working with and getting to know people who are different fromourselves, we expand our appreciation for differences and realize we have many similarities.” The book selected for campus-wide reading for this year’s first semester is Dr. Cicero Fain’s Black Huntington: An Appalachian Story . A Huntington na tive, Fain is a visiting diversity scholar in Marshall’s History Department. “There is no greater pleasure and point of pride than knowing that your work matters,” Fain said. “My book illuminates, acknowledges and celebrates the sacrifices, labors and successes of Black pioneers who contributed mightily to the rise of Huntington as a regional industrial, commercial and sociocultural center. This unique history continues to animate the efforts of area residents dedicated to elevating it to a place of prominence and relevance. In truth, one cannot truly appreciate the story of Huntington and the Tri-State region without knowing the story of its Black heroes and heroines. I am delighted that my book contributes to this goal.” The book selected for campus-wide reading for the Spring 2023 semester is Another Appalachia: Coming Up Queer and Indian in Mountain Places , by Neema Avashia.

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