Lisa Rogers ePortfolio Commitment to Social Justice Reflection

This artifact, titled The Multicultural Experience: Support for Identity Development in Higher Education, was submitted for ELPS 432: Multiculturalism for Social Justice. This was co-authored with Jonathan Merrill. We also facilitated a class dialogue discussion around topic. I believe that this piece demonstrates my commitment to social justice as it pertains to my work in higher education. One of the key aspects of this paper is a comprehensive review of the historical and contemporary literature surrounding multiracial students at institutions of higher education. Through talking with professionals on campus and completing the review of the literature I more fully understand the context in which I am working. This paper provided me the opportunity to explore my most salient identity as a White person. In a section of the paper, I explore how my identities connect to the topic of multiracial students on campus. As a white woman, I was appreciated the opportunity to explore and learn more about how multiracial students experience campus. In this paper, I write about how my dominant and subordinate identities connect to the experiences of others. In writing about my connection to the topic, I realized the benefits I have not only of being white, but also having an identity that is easily defined. Throughout the scholarly portion of this paper as well as my own personal reflection, I demonstrate my personal and professional commitment to social justice and serving others. As alluded to earlier, this paper was the catalyst for my exploration of my racial identity throughout the duration of the program. I have since had many conversations with peers whom with I share similar and dissimilar identities. Reflecting on this paper now shows me how much I have grown in my understanding of social justice issues on and off campus.