Week of October 14-18

Volume 11, Issue 6

“Unity is strength. When there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.” — Matthew “Mattie” Stepanek, American poet and peace ambassador (Learn more)

Student Spotlight: Shagufta Haque

Shagufta is an international student from Bangladesh working toward bachelor’s degrees in economics and finance, with minors in applied statistics and human resource management. She will graduate in May 2025. A student worker in the Office of International Education, Shagufta oversees the Conversation Partners and Culture Café programs. She is part of the Cook Honors College and Eberly Business Honors Program and is an intern for the Indiana County Chamber of Commerce. Shagufta is the student member of the IUP Council of Trustees and cochair of its Student Affairs Committee. She also serves on the Student Cooperative Association Board of Directors. Previously, Shagufta was a Crimson Scholars Circle peer mentor and an active member of the Student Government Association, Women in Business, and Muslim Student Association. Last spring, she was awarded the American Association of University Women (AAUW) scholarship, and she is now a member of the local chapter. During that same semester, she coauthored a paper on female labor force participation rates in South Asia that won first place at the 2024 Pennsylvania Economic Association Conference and will be published in the Pennsylvania Economic Review. We thank you, Shagufta!

Staff Spotlight: Dave Berberich

Dave is a key member of the leadership team in the Housing office, overseeing housing operations and services for both the Indiana and Punxsutawney campuses. He is an active member of the Care Team and works closely with the Office of Community Standards, the President’s Commission on Diversity and Inclusion, and the Social Equity and Title IX office. Dave currently serves as interim chair of the LGBTQIA+ Commission. He has provided numerous DEI trainings, programs, and workshops, all of which contribute to a more inclusive campus environment. His work at IUP centers on enhancing the overall student experience and removing barriers to success while fostering supportive and equitable opportunities for all. In 2021, Dave became an IUP alumnus by completing the Administration and Leadership Studies doctoral program. His dissertation focused on supporting college students who identify on the autism spectrum, reflecting his dedication to addressing the unique needs of diverse student populations. We thank you, Dave!

A note about IUP Values Me: Each week, we highlight one student and one staff member to “shine a spotlight” on their leadership and involvement in campus programs and their great work assisting our campus community with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and/or civil rights awareness.

Digest issues are emailed every Monday morning. Send all information concerning your event to social-equity@iup.edu, and we will include it in the appropriate weekly issue. Please be sure to enter your event in the online DIVERSITY, STUDENT, and CENTRAL CALENDARS so that it will receive wider marketing and achieve greater attendance.

Elise Glenn

Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer/Title IX Coordinator

B-17 Delaney Hall

social-equity@iup.edu

title-ix@iup.edu