CDC hosts student panels for new director candidates

The Center for Diversity & Community (CDC) is getting closer to choosing a new director, and are giving students the opportunity to be a part of the hiring process.

For three days — April 2, 3 and 5 — students in the CDC will host student panels to help them get to know and possibly choose who they want to lead the CDC.

Saeed Dabbour, a junior business major and student assistant at the CDC, is part of the interview committee and said the meetings have been going well so far.

“We have a good selection of candidates and it was a really close race,” he said. “I want to see the CDC taken to a new path, I want to see a new vision, definitely see it move forward and moving on.”

At the panels, students participated in some activities provided by the candidates, and discuss specific topics such as identity, privilege and experiences of oppression.

Students were also given a chance to sit down with the candidates, review their resumes, fill in evaluations at the end of the panels and ask them interview and personal questions about their time with diversity jobs.

Dabbour said it’s important to have students have a say in the decision process, but also get to know their potential director.

“You get to speak to them and you get to have your voices heard, too, since you fill in those evaluations and do give them Dr. (John) Howe,” he said. “You get to know their experiences and what have you done, who have you been involved with.”

Having these personal interviews, especially with students, is important to create a stronger relationship, Dabbour said.

“When (the committee) starts speaking to them, they’re all excited about the students, they really want to speak to students first and see what students want and how they can make it work into the Center,” he said.

Dabbour said he hopes the new candidate is picked soon after the final panel on Thursday, and said he’s excited for a new face in the CDC.

“I’m looking forward to more student relationships,” he said. “Even speaking to these new candidates is a breath of fresh air which makes me really excited for the next coming year for all the things and the changes that will happen hopefully.”

The next and final panel will be hosted Thursday at 2 p.m. in the CDC.