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In February of 2022, The Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging opened under the Division of Student Engagement and Success.
Based on the Student Engagement and Success (SEAS) Department Handbook from April 8, 2022, published by Adrian Rodriguez, the Vice President of SEAS, the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging office fell under the Department of Multicultural Programs and Services. However, the office was never referred to as the Department of Multicultural Programs and Services, but always as the Office of DEIB.
Campus Announcement from January 31, 2023 regarding Black History Month events hosted by the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging.
At this point, where is ICA involved?
Housed under the Division of Student Engagement and Success, the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging had an office on the first floor of the University Center where all students were welcome. Especially multi-cultural student organizations that found a safe space within the Office of DEIB and its staff. The DEIB office was responsible for hosting monthly multi-cultural events like Black History Month and overseeing Islander Cultural Alliance.
In 2022, Susan La Torre transitioned to Associate Director of DEIB office from Student Activities. There were plans for the office to have an Executive Director until the introduction of Senate Bill 17. La Torre would oversee the Office of DEIB with the help of Jessica Montenegro and Sofia Rodriguez Oropeza. Susan also oversaw the Texas Leadership Scholars Program which is still active today.
Within Rodriguez Oropeza’s role as DEIB Specialist, she was in charge of large multi-cultural events on campus like Black Women’s History Month and to also be the main committee chair for these events to promote cross-campus collaboration.
Montenegro was the advisor of ICA to assist in rebuilding ICA through programming and had been operating like CAB except higher leadership wanted them to be more of a leader or council to other multicultural organizations. Jessica and the students also worked to be the voice for these organizations. In 2022, the Office of DEIB was still rebuilding and initiated the Student Voice Initiative (SVI) which were intended to help elevate student voices that would identify strategies to support students' sense of belonging at TAMU-CC. SVI utilized student-led focus groups to learn more about students' current sense of belonging on campus.
Due to Senate Bill 17, general information regarding the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging practically does not exist online. All information regarding the office like Campus Announcements, social media, and more has been wiped clean of the office’s existence, making it hard to find the original staff and the mission statement.
In Spring 2024, Kris 6 New Station in Corpus Christi did a story on the changes that occurred to the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) due to Senate Bill 17 (SB 17) that went to effect on January 1, 2024.
Kris 6 interviewed TAMU-CC ‘23 Alumni, Jazmeyne Evans on her experience as a student at the time partaking in multiple multicultural organizations on campus. Due to SB 17, the DEIB office was transitioned to the Islander Cultural Alliance which previously existed on campus in the early 2000’s.
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