You can find my diversity statement as a .pdf file. Or, could be found below:
DIVERSITY STATEMENT
Diversity plays a crucial role in solving critical challenges by bringing together different perspectives, broad experiences, unique skills, and mindsets within a team. I have embraced the beauty and significance of interacting, learning, and progressing alongside people from different backgrounds in research and teaching settings. My teaching experience at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) and the University of South Florida (USF) has helped me appreciate the complexity and vibrancy of the U.S. academic environment, shaped by diverse student and faculty cultures. I aim to initiate and engage in various diversity and outreach initiatives in the future. I believe my experience mentoring and teaching a diverse body of students will allow me to contribute meaningfully to this mission.
I understand the unique challenges that various underrepresented groups face in achieving their professional goals. My experience of moving to the U.S. from Bangladesh to pursue a Ph.D. at USF in 2017 has helped me relate to the challenges of adapting to a different culture. During my orientation, I was fascinated by the display of many national flags (including Bangladesh) in our engineering building. It made me feel welcome and gave me confidence in approaching and introducing myself to my colleagues. When my wife, Ausmita Sarker, Ph.D., started her Ph.D. journey at USF, I became more aware of the challenges unique to female graduate students. The friendly, welcoming, and respectful environment of her research group helped her overcome the initial difficulty of feeling isolated as one of the few female Ph.D. students in the department. Such an inclusive culture is essential for supporting any minority group, as the feeling of alienation is a shared experience among them.
I was fortunate to be exposed to diverse environments in both research and teaching. In graduate school, my research group consisted of members from ten different countries, including one of only three female Ph.D. students and the first-ever domestic African-American Ph.D. student. In addition, USF’s unique student demographics (>21% Hispanic and a very high undergraduate-to-graduate ratio) helped me navigate the diverse undergraduate teaching environment as a teaching assistant. This experience greatly benefited me in adapting to my role as an Instructor at UCCS. My teaching philosophy emphasizes classroom participation and project/team-based discussions, where I intentionally structure student groups to promote diversity in collaboration and communication. My goal is to inspire students to pursue their interests in STEM while training a diverse cohort to become independent thinkers prepared for this modern era of automation and AI.
I have actively participated in and contributed to events that promote diversity and inclusion, such as the Bulls-EYE Mentoring program (an NSF-supported summer initiative), Cool Science, and Educating Children of Color (ECOC), where I currently volunteer. These programs aim to enhance STEM education and introduce middle school students to various engineering disciplines, hands-on activities, and the role of engineers in community development. Working closely with middle and high school students, in addition to mentoring undergraduate researchers and graduate students, has helped me refine my mentorship and communication skills. Furthermore, serving as the president of the USF badminton club, facility advisor of UCCS badminton club, Bangladesh Student Association at USF (secretary), and UCCS (facility advisor ) allowed me to develop leadership skills while organizing tournaments that included students from four nearby universities, creating an environment that fostered diversity and inclusion.
As a faculty member, I am committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable learning environment that reflects the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and innovation. Engineering and STEM fields benefit immensely from diverse perspectives, and creating an environment where all individuals feel welcomed and valued enhances both learning and discovery. My goal is to ensure that students from varied racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and academic backgrounds have access to opportunities that support their academic and professional growth. Through mentorship, I will provide guidance and development opportunities, helping students navigate their educational and career paths while fostering a sense of belonging. I recognize the importance of representation in engineering and will incorporate inclusive teaching strategies, such as collaborative team-based learning and real-world applications that integrate multiple perspectives. Outside the classroom, I will strive to connect students with university-supported diversity and outreach programs, ensuring they have access to resources that enrich their educational experiences. My commitment extends beyond individual efforts to supporting broader DEI initiatives, focusing on equitable practices in student recruitment, faculty development, curriculum design, and fostering a departmental culture where all students, faculty, and staff feel valued and empowered. I hope to contribute to a respectful and supportive academic community where individuals of all identities—including people of color, individuals with disabilities, all gender identities and orientations, and those from immigrant and refugee backgrounds—thrive in their educational and professional journeys.
I was sent to an army public school in my fourth grade for good education away from my underdeveloped village. Living my life miles away from home/parents since the age of ten taught me to be self-aware and adapted to hardships. Fighting my way to the best engineering college in Bangladesh, I have been involved in-home tutoring and coaching K 12 students since 2010 to pay for my monthly expenses. Learning to deal with hundreds of students developed the foundation of my teaching interest and philosophy over the years. I was sent to an army public school in fourth grade to receive a better education away from my underdeveloped village. Living miles away from home and my parents since the age of ten taught me to be self-reliant and adaptable to hardships. Working my way into the top engineering college in Bangladesh, I started home tutoring and coaching K-12 students in 2010 to support my monthly expenses. Teaching hundreds of students over the years helped me develop a strong foundation in education and shaped my teaching philosophy.
In summary, I strive to create an inclusive, respectful, and supportive environment in both my classroom and professional settings. I aim to foster a welcoming atmosphere by incorporating representative materials from diverse cultural groups, communities, and societies. I look forward to continuing my journey as a faculty member and contributing to the promotion of diversity through teaching, research, and academic service.
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