Dr. Rosalind Reaves has been unanimously selected as Oakland Community College’s (OCC) Diversity Champion for 2016 by the College Committee on Diversity and Inclusion. Reaves currently serves as faculty at the College’s Academic Support Center (ASC) at the Royal Oak Campus.
Reaves was born and raised in Detroit and received advanced degrees in Political Science and Education including a Master's Degree in International and Comparative Education. After graduation, she taught in Africa in the Gambia and Malawi.
"Multi-cultural environments provide unique opportunities to grow and expand personally and intellectually. However, invisibility is a prominent theme for those whose voices and perspectives have been historically under and/or misrepresented, so providing a platform, via curricula, is critical," says Reaves.
"I'm intentional in my lesson-planning, varying methods and activities in the classroom to foster communication and collaboration among students. Beyond the classroom, the goal is to develop a cadre of peer mentors that reflect OCC's diverse student population," she adds.
"Dr. Reaves commitment to supporting diversity and inclusion has been experienced within the community of learners at Oakland Community College, but also transcends our College border. As a mentee and colleague of Dr. Reaves, I believe that her efforts on diversity in the student body, faculty/staff and programs, deserve recognition,' says Stacey Jackson, Coordinator of Student Development and former Diversity Champion.
"My philosophy is that it takes a proverbial village to effect meaningful, substantive change. That said, this honor extends to many at OCC, particularly those with whom I've had the good fortune of collaborating and working over the years," adds Reaves.
Reaves will be recognized on the Diversity Champion Honor Roll, sponsored by the Race Relations & Diversity Task Force of the Birmingham Community House in early May. The Task Force is the beneficiary of a Kellogg Foundation grant. Its goal is to develop and maintain an open, intentional community that works to overcome racism, prejudice and discrimination through education, advocacy and response.
About OCC
With multi campus system throughout Oakland County, Oakland Community College is committed to providing academic and developmental experiences that allows each student to reach their full potential and enhance the diverse communities they serve. A fully accredited college, OCC offers degrees and certificates in approximately 100 career fields and university transfer degrees in business, science and the liberal arts. More than a million students have enrolled in the College since it opened in 1965.
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Media Contact: Bridget M. Kavanaugh | Marketing & Communications | T: (248) 341-2020 | bmkavana@oaklandcc.edu