University Housing claims on its website that it’s “committed to embracing diversity in all forms,” and nothing supports that claim more than taking a look at its employees.

The housing staff members at N.C. State are one of the most diverse groups on campus, which allows the University to cater to a diverse student body, according to Susan Grant, director of University Housing.

The department engages in various programs to reach out to a diverse group of potential employees who could be interested in working for the University, Grant said.

According to Grant, one of the ways that the department hires these people is through networking, where previous employees contact people they know and inform them about vacancies.

“One of our outreach events is to contact our former staff members who are located across the U.S. and sometimes they pass along our vacancies to people who are looking for jobs on their campuses,” Grant said.

Grant also said that one of the reasons that the University has such a diverse staff is because the student population is also very diverse.

“People coming from other places teach us new things,” Grant said.  “We like people who have different backgrounds and unique experiences to be a part of the staff.” 

Yulisa Lin, the assistant director at Sullivan Hall moved to the U.S. to attend college after having lived in Panama, Ecuador and Nicaragua. 

“I saw the opportunity to come to N.C. State and I was able to interview and meet with people here,” Lin said. “Between the opportunities for professional growth, the people I met and the comfort that I felt with University, I made the decision to stay here.”

Lin also said she has lived in Raleigh the longest compared to previous cities she has lived in because she feels comfortable with the area and the University. 

“As I got to know my job and the people who I worked with, I got to know the area and felt at home,” Lin said. “I’ve been in Raleigh since 2007 and I think this is the longest time that I have stayed somewhere geographically.” 

Lin said hiring people at N.C. State with different backgrounds demonstrates how the University welcomes diversity and that its openness will always help people feel at home.

In addition, Lin said people who have different experiences and different backgrounds help to provide a unique perspective at the University.

“I do believe that our institution has truly made an effort to make sure that there is respect for people with diverse backgrounds and I feel that in many departments there is an intention to collaborate and a willingness to learn from each other,” Lin said.

Hazael Andrew, the assistant director of southeast campus for university housing moved to U.S. from the Commonwealth of Dominica twelve years ago, and began working at N.C. State in 2012.  

Andrew said that having worked at both Old Dominion University and Arizona State University, the diversity at N.C. State in terms of workforce and student body is remarkable. 

“I think it’s a bit more diverse at N.C. State in terms of culture and the upbringing of people with different backgrounds, and N.C. State has been one of the most diverse communities that I’ve worked in,” Andrew said.

Andrew also said that N.C. State having such a diverse workforce and how employers recognize input and contributions from people with different cultures reflects well on the University.