IDENTITY: POWER, PRIVILEGE + INTERSECTIONALITY

    Working in admissions at a PWI often has its barriers and moments of discomfort for me. Though I work in admissions and am part of that office, I do not work with the "typical" student that the university is looking for, whether they want to admit that or not. I work recruiting for the Talent Development program at URI. Though I work in the admissions office, I identify with the Talent Development team. The Talent Development Program aims to serve first-generation students from underserved or underrepresented populations. I recruit and review all of our applicants and strategically recruit in lower-income areas, which other colleges often neglect. I'm not interested in recruiting students from East Greenwich whose parents have a PhD. Our students come from all over the state but primarily from inner cities such as Providence, Pawtucket, and Central Falls. Students that come into the program, mainly (about 98%) students of color, come from similar backgrounds and share a common understanding. The TD program is a community; students attend the Summer Success program, where they live on campus in one residence hall for 6 weeks. These students become a family, and typically, all go on to be part of the multicultural clubs and organizations on campus in some capacity. This program is where students make their college connections; meeting their first year, these friendships last until they graduate and beyond. Within Taft Hall, the TD office, students find a home. The TD team is diverse, and its members offer acceptance and commonality that is difficult to find elsewhere on campus. All team members except for one person, a person of color, and almost all of them are URI and TD alum.

    The program is rooted in student success, offering an opportunity to attend college to students who would not have been able to be admitted through the traditional admission requirements. Our work is with the student's best interest at heart, helping them achieve their dreams and goals through education while providing them with skills and experiences that will help them post-graduation. Students who come into the program haven't had people in their lives who could help them navigate college or the education system, and they are often the first people in their families to go to college. Each student has a TD advisor at TD who will work with them throughout their four/five years at URI. Their advisors will help them with academics and be a one-stop shop to assist them with all their needs. At a PWI, it is easy to feel like you're a fish out of water, stuck in a system that wasn't initially made for someone who wasn't a white male. Our team is devoted to blocking out the noise and helping students prevail. At TD, students are not pushed aside with hopes that they'll succeed but guided and cheered on every step to graduation.