Consolidation has been the watchword at Barnard this year, and the administration has turned its sights on diversity.
In an effort to streamline disparate diversity issues, Barnard has hired Pamela Phayme as program director of Diversity Initiatives to spearhead all diversity-related programs and to provide students with an open environment for discussion.
Last month, Barnard President Debora Spar announced a slew of staff changes, noting that the new Office of Diversity Initiatives “will engage in diversity in its broadest definition and serve as a catalyst for programming and dialogue among all student groups.”
In placing Diversity Initiatives under the auspices of the College Activities Office, Spar sought to consolidate the different components of diversity into one office. Phayme’s position will include advising cultural groups recognized by the Barnard Student Government Association, leading and facilitating Barnard’s Cultural Month, and developing new programs to foster dialogue between students and faculty.
“I was looking for somebody who had experience working with Offices of Multicultural Affairs,” Jessica Nuñez, assistant dean for student development, diversity, & activities at the College Activities Office, said. “What made Pamela stand out is that she’s absolutely the most dynamic candidate that we had … she’s got all the basic qualities we want in an administrator.”
A native of Richmond, Va., Phayme received her bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of Virginia and her Master of Education in college student personnel administration from James Madison University. Her expertise includes multicultural affairs and academic support.
“She’s got a really strong background in terms of working these types of programs and student groups and initiatives,” Nuñez added.
Anna Steffens, BC ’10 and SGA representative for diversity, acknowledged the importance of having an administrator in charge of different diversity-related issues and activities.
“I think that the new office will hopefully start out well in terms of getting students interested in her position and the new programs that we’re going to have,” she said. “Things were difficult in the beginning of the year because we didn’t have a diversity person. She has a lot of direct experience with students … she understands diversity as a broadly applied term that can apply to a lot of people on campus.”
Other students expressed similar sentiments, describing the new office as a good way to encourage more discourse on diversity.
“I think it’s a great program and opportunity to encourage students to diversify and learn about other people’s backgrounds,” Fatema Versi, BC ’12, said. “We tend to live in our own little bubble, and such activities can help us broaden our perspectives.”
“She has experience with Multicultural Affairs and diversity,” Judith Chow, BC ’12, said. “It gives us more options of where to go if we have questions about diversity.”
Chow also stressed the importance of informing students about such opportunities—especially those who may not be as interested in the topic.
“People know that diversity is important but at the same time they don’t really bring it up—they don’t really talk about it as much,” she said. Chow hopes Phayme can “find a way to encourage people … if they have events or discussions, more people would go.”
According to Nuñez, Phayme would serve as a source of guidance for students when situations or incidents arise pertaining to diversity—she will provide students with a forum to discuss such issues.
“She will be a great administrator and meet with faculty representatives and students and other administrators to find out what they would like to see in her role. She will be in a position to respond to situations if they came up and be able to pull together and have a discussion and dialogue.”
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