Friday Focus: Learning means welcoming
November 15, 2019
— by Julie Queen, interim vice chancellor for administrative services
In my role as vice chancellor for administrative services, one of the things I enjoy most is that it allows me to learn new things about UAF that I never had exposure to before. This means walking through facilities I wasn’t familiar with before, learning and understanding the business and functions of the university in new ways, and connecting to how we in Administrative Services support those functions.
I have also had the pleasure of building networks and relationships with people I may not have met before, asking questions about what they do, what works, what needs improvement, and what I can do to help or remove barriers. These experiences often lead to networks and growth that I find rewarding both professionally and personally.
Last weekend, my family and I had the pleasure of attending a Diwali celebration on the Fairbanks campus. Our gracious Provost Prakash extended the invitation promising a fun event where children are welcome. I must admit, Turner is 1 and Polly is 3, so needless to say, we spend most nights cooking at home. Sensing my initial hesitancy, her exact words were, “Don’t worry. If they cry, we fill their mouths with sweets!”
How could I pass it up?
The Diwali (Festival of Lights) celebration was put on by the Namaste India student club. The event featured cultural performances, dancing, a fashion show, door prizes and of course Indian fare. The festival dates back more than 1,000 years, and is a celebration to signify the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance. It is also just a darn good time! I was completely and pleasantly surprised upon entering the Wood Center ballroom to see it packed, full of color and people. It was standing room only with nearly every seat filled. Students, community members, people in cultural and traditional regalia, and those who followed the delicious smells were all shaking hands, extending hellos, and eagerly awaiting the dances, presentations, and food.
Even more amazing is that the student club has only about a dozen members, but with the help of friends, family, students and community members, a small team of people entertained and cooked for hundreds of attendees. We were very impressed by the student engagement and community support, in addition to the diversity and welcoming nature of the event, regardless of background. Additionally, trying all of the exotic foods was absolutely delightful — neither my husband nor I passed up a single thing. Among the tasty treats, we loved the chana masala (a spicy chickpea dish that I could have eaten a gallon of), and the kids tackled the naan like pros.
One of UAF’s strategic goals is to embrace and grow a culture of respect, diversity, inclusion and caring — in short, to truly feel welcome even in new or less familiar settings. It was such a fulfilling evening seeing students and community members partner to create a sense of belonging within the group. This may have been our first Diwali, but it won’t be our last. A heartfelt thank you to the Namaste India Club for hosting a memorable event. We made it through to the dancing, which was Polly’s favorite part!
Friday Focus is a column written by a different member of UAF’s leadership team every week.