Dustin writes:

 

For me, diversity is not merely a word that is incorporated into a paper or speech to pacify critics or demonstrate sensitivity to others; it is a guide for living a purposeful life.  Although I consider my diversity "work" to have begun when I conducted a study on race and religion for my senior paper during my bachelor's program, I was raised, much like Ms. Sandy Marshall, with an awareness of differences and how attitudes about other's lives can either result in hate and misunderstanding, or foster growth and acceptance.  Though I am still interested in the intersection of race and religion, my work with diversity issues has shifted more to GLBT issues.  As a result of that shift in focus, I conducted a study on perceived social support in GLB college students for my master's thesis, and am now the primary investigator in a study on counselor competency in working with transgender clients.  My research team includes undergraduate and graduate students who are also interested in exploring these issues.  I am also incorporating diversity into the undergraduate course I am teaching this year, Human Relationship Development. To counteract the very limited cultural perspective of the assigned textbook, I incorporated a diversity theme throughout the class to encourage student exploration of these dynamics.  Recognizing that the text for the class I teach as part of my assistantship failed to address diversity issues, I have incorporated a diversity "theme" throughout the class in order to allow students to explore issues from more than one cultural perspective.  By exposing other BSU students to diversity issues (such as the role of culture in mental diagnosis, various ways that stigma can impact relationship development, etc.) it is my hope that those I interact with will move forward in their own development. 

As I have continued my own development I have become more involved with outreach projects related to social justice.  It is my belief that social justice and diversity are intricately related, and that understanding leads to a responsibility to effect change.  I served as the co-chair of "Hope for the Holidays," a program that I created with the Social Justice League (a newly-formed group spearheaded by students in our department to focus on social justice issues).  Through this program, students, staff and faculty in the Counseling Psychology department worked together to create gift bags for child clients in our Counseling Practicum Clinic, many of whom are from low income families.  We were able to provide gift bags for over 40 children who otherwise may not have received a present during the holiday season.  I also have been a member of BSU's Diversity Outreach Team through BSU's Counseling and Psychological Services Center.  This outreach work has provided me with many opportunities to speak to undergraduate groups about sexual orientation, race, economic status, gender, and other issues of diversity.

By serving as a role model for my undergraduates and helping shape their attitudes toward diversity issues, conducting research and presenting at professional conferences, and by working to develop my identity as an advocate for oppressed groups I have grown in various ways.  I have improved my ability to accurately listen to others' world views, which are sometimes vastly different from how I see things.  I have learned the power that mutual understanding and respect can have on relationships.  I have found comfort with my own identity and a deeper understanding of who I am and how I can work to effect change not only through research and professional presentations, outreach activities, and advocacy to my Congressman, but simply by how I live my life.  Though I believe there is great merit in the academic pursuit of diversity issues, I believe living my life surrounded by people who are different than me allows both me, and others, the opportunity to gain understanding about differences and, in a natural way, better relate to others.

My intention for future diversity work and social justice advocacy includes continuing to conduct research on GLBT issues in general and GLBT issues in racial minority groups, advocating for increased attention to diversity in counselor training programs, and incorporating even more diversity issues into the classes I will teach in the future.  I also plan to continue my involvement with Social Justice League and continue to help mobilize this organization to reach out to those who go unheard in our society.  Eventually, after becoming a licensed psychologist, I also plan to take on some pro bono clients in order to serve those who cannot afford to pay for counseling services.  Through all of these aspirations, and many more, I will continue to immerse myself in different cultures and live my life in a way that demonstrates my commitment to diversity and social justice.