Blue Jay Q&A with Dr. Charles Lu, Associate Dean of Diversity & Inclusion
Every Blue Jay should feel a sense of belonging on campus, no matter their background or identity. JHU’s Center for Diversity and Inclusion is at the forefront of a university-wide effort to create and sustain an environment where students are empowered to be true to themselves. The center brings together the offices of LGBTQ Life, Multicultural Affairs, Religious & Spiritual Life, and Women & Gender Resources, and will offer programming and resources that support students’ personal development.
This summer, Johns Hopkins welcomed Dr. Charles Lu as our new Associate Dean of Diversity and Inclusion. We spoke with Dr. Lu to learn more about his plans for the center and to get his advice on how parents and families can support students as they explore their identities.
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Dr. Charles Lu, Associate Dean of Diversity and Inclusion
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What’s your vision for the Center of Diversity and Inclusion?
Given the academic rigor of Hopkins, our students oftentimes talk about “surviving at Hopkins” as opposed to “thriving at Hopkins” because they feel that they need to sacrifice parts of their cultural values or identities in pursuit of excellence. My vision is that our center will empower our students to understand that their diverse identities only enhance and improve our university community.
To do this, the center is working towards creating programs and opportunities to build a more cohesive and pluralistic student experience. In my short time here, I noticed that undergraduate and graduate students have virtually no interactions despite occupying the same space and facing a lot of similar challenges (e.g., family obligations, social isolation, imposter syndrome, etc.). Through the intergenerational mentorship and community-building that we will be creating through our programs, I believe that all our students will be able to bring their fullest identities and thrive at Hopkins.
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Lighting of the Quads Returns to Homewood
On December 3, Johns Hopkins’ 17th annual Lighting of the Quads returned to Homewood in full swing to commemorate the end of another fall semester and the beginning of the holiday season. Throughout the evening, students, faculty members, staff, alumni, and community members gathered on Keyser Quad to enjoy activities, performances, and fireworks—all supported by the Hopkins Parents Fund!
In the crisp 40-degree weather, our community enjoyed games, food, and giveaways sponsored by over 20 departments on campus. Students had the opportunity to play games and collect swag such as LOTQ t-shirts, a winter Jay snow globe ornament, snowman and reindeer stuffables, hand warmers, succulents, and more. Those who came out enjoyed hot chocolate, donuts and cookies, as Keyser Quad was lit up with an interactive LED expression board, 3-D hologram projector, and lightshow activities.
The festivities were accompanied by performances from the JHU Pep Band and student groups The Sirens, Take Two, Adoremus, and Octopodes. President Ronald J. Daniels gave his remarks and led the community countdown to a spectacular fireworks display. The night ended with cheers of celebration and Interim Dean of Students Allison Avolio’s closing remarks: “This is what community looks like.”
Additional coverage of Lighting of the Quads is available through the Hub. Please visit Hopkins Parents Fund to learn how you can support student programming for the Hopkins community!
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5 Tips to Help You Plan Your Class of 2022 Celebration
- The university-wide Commencement ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 22 at 6:30 p.m. at Homewood Field on the Johns Hopkins Homewood campus. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be postponed to Monday, May 23 at 9 a.m.
- Our 2022 Family & Friends page has links to frequently asked questions, hotels offering discounted rates, details on event accessibility, parking and transportation information, and suggestions to help you commemorate your graduate’s moment.
- The Commencement Undergraduate Checklist, contains information on ordering graduation-related items, including class rings, graduation announcements, senior portraits, and academic regalia.
- Johns Hopkins is committed to promoting the full participation of all individuals with disabilities in the Commencement exercises. Large print program books will be available and the ceremony will be captioned and include ASL interpretation. For any other requests, please contact the Commencement Office at commencement@jhu.edu or 410-516-7711 by April 22.
- Bags and purses larger than 13” x 15”, including luggage and backpacks, are not permitted. All bags and purses may be searched upon entering Homewood Field. For a complete list of restricted items visit the Frequently Asked Questions page.
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In December, parents of students expected to graduate in May should have received an email from the Commencement Office. If you did not receive the email or have questions, please email commencement@jhu.edu or call 410-516-7711.
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Johns Hopkins Takes Novel Approach to Addressing Behavioral Health Crises On, Near Campus
In early November, Johns Hopkins University announced the official pilot launch of the Behavioral Health Crisis Support Team, or BHCST, a mobile co-responder program that pairs clinicians with specially trained public safety personnel to respond to behavioral health-related crises. This new team will help the university fulfill its commitment to provide quality, equitable behavioral health crisis services on its campuses and in nearby communities.
In this first phase, the team of crisis clinicians have begun serving the Homewood campus this fall on a pilot basis and will gradually expand to a 24/7 service that covers the university's other Baltimore campuses. BHCST clinicians now work in designated shifts alongside specially trained public safety officers to conduct field assessments, triage and de-escalate behavioral health-related calls, and coordinate follow-up case management, among other services.
The BHCST program launch is “a celebration in the power of community to play an active role in redesigning what behavioral health support looks like and to leverage university resources to realize this collective vision," Branville Bard, vice president for public safety, and Kevin Shollenberger, vice provost for student health and well-being, wrote in a message to the Hopkins community. "As we seek to enhance behavioral health crisis services at Johns Hopkins, it is our utmost hope that this new approach will meet the moment on our campus and nationwide in prioritizing behavioral health care access for all.”
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January 24 — Spring semester classes begin
March 21–25 — Spring Break
May 22 — University Commencement
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Upcoming Blue Jay Family Webinar
Our next Blue Jay Family Webinar is scheduled for January 19 at 7 p.m. EST. This session, “What Does Success Mean for My Student”, is the fourth in our "FLI Compass" series that focuses on our first-generation, limited-income families.
In this webinar, we will address how a Hopkins education sets students up for success. Register here to attend.
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Home for the Holidays
If this is your student’s first winter break, you may have a dreamy image in your head about how wonderful it will be to have them home again for an extended period of time!
This article from Collegiate Parent offers a realistic portrayal of what it might actually be like to have your student home for the holidays, as well as some tips for navigating potentially challenging situations.
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JHU Welcomes New Vice Provost for Student Affairs
Rachelle Hernandez, who has more than 25 years of experience working in higher education student services, student success, and new student enrollment, will join Johns Hopkins University next year as its next vice provost for student affairs. Her first day at the university will be March 1, 2022.
Read more about her appointment in the Hub.
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OneHop Mentoring Program
OneHop is a resource designed to help students and alumni make their first networking connections in a safe and comfortable setting. This new mentoring program is designed to help students see that mentoring relationships are sometimes quick, informal and casual.
It’s easy for students to get connected. Please visit OneHop Mentoring, or if your student has more questions they can email onehopmentoring@jhu.edu.
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January Life Design Lab Sessions
This month, encourage your student to register for Hindsight Is 2020: What I Wish I Knew About…, a series of panel discussions presented by the Life Design Lab. At each session, alumni panelists will reflect on their academic and professional experiences, offer advice, and take questions from current students.
All panels in the series will be held virtually from 8–9 p.m. EST. Students can review the schedule and register online for each session. Please contact Andrea Wiseman at awiseman@jhu.edu with any questions.
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