Office of Multicultural Affairs

Programs - Peer Diversity Trainers

Welcome to the Peer Diversity Trainer's Web page. Working in collaboration with the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Peer Diversity Trainers (PDT) are dedicated to promoting diversity and multicultural awareness at Susquehanna University. They bring programs and activities into classrooms, dorms, and other venues to stimulate conversation about diversity issues.

Why do we need PDTs?

In an increasingly global and diverse society, it is crucial for citizens, particularly students, to learn about and express their emotions about issues relating to diversity, including race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, ability, age, religion, and class. Many people internalize anger, fear, contempt, and guilt about these issues.

As a result, people express them in unhealthy and unproductive ways in school and the workplace. Blatant and subtle forms of racism, sexism, and other "isms" exist in daily interactions and life activities as well as media portrayals and other cultural values.

For example:

• Hispanic women earn 53% of what White men employed in full-time, year-round jobs earn and African American women earn 63% of what these men earn.¹ White women earn 70% of what white men earn.
• African American job candidates and African American college applicants are likely to face prejudice when their qualifications are ambiguous but not when their qualifications are clearly strong or weak (Dovidio & Gaertner, 2000; Hodson, Dovidio, & Gaertner, 2002).
• In 2003, there were nearly 7,500-reported single-bias hate crime incidents reported to authorities (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2004).
  • More than 51% were attributed to racial bias.
  • Nearly 18% were attributed to religious bias.
  • More than 16% were attributed to sexual-orientation bias.
  • About 14% were attributed to ethnicity/national origin bias.

Further, with the growing population of Latinos and other racial/ethnic group in America, citizens must be accepting of each other in the work place, schools, and in other societal venues.

Diversity training addresses these emotions and behaviors. It provides a place for them to be expressed, confronted, corrected if necessary, and overcome.

Who are we?

Peer Diversity Trainers (PDT) are Susquehanna University student volunteers who bring diversity awareness programs into residence halls, organizations, classrooms, and other areas of student life on campus.

Students interested in becoming PDTs participate in six weeks of training at the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA). During these sessions, volunteers:

• Use a curriculum written by the OMA to examine the components of program development.
• Learn how to design and lead diversity-awareness sessions.
• Experience and observe examples of diversity programs to learn from and critique.
• With OMA assistance, volunteers create their own program about topic(s) of their interest.

Current PDTs:

• Denise Hughes
• Rachel Jasko
• Megan Stump

What do PDTs do?

PDTs seek to increase discussion about issues in multiculturalism and diversity on Susquehanna's campus and surrounding areas. They engage participants in dialogue about controversial and sometimes uncomfortable topics in a safe environment.

PDT duties include:

• Organizing, arranging, and leading different activities and discussions that explore multiculturalism and diversity.
• Facilitating activities to ensure a comfortable and trusting atmosphere for people to openly express their thoughts, beliefs, and values.
• Maintaining neutrality during the dialogue to enforce a non-judgmental and safe atmosphere.
• Moderating and alleviating tense moments within the discussion.

Where can we be found?

Susquehanna University's Office of Multicultural Affairs administers the PDT program. The OMA serves as a central resource center for trainers and participants. However, the real action of PDT occurs across campus.

PDTs can be seen in:

• Residence Hall programming.
• University Experience classes.
• Volunteer organizations.
• Greek organizations.
• Study abroad programming.
• Campus newspapers, bulletin boards, and other media forms.

When did PDT begin?

Originally conceptualized in 2002 by Brian Johnson, former Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the program development commenced in the fall of 2003. First, the curriculum was researched and created during 2003 and 2004. Next, the OMA recruited students interested in the program to be PDTs.

By the end of fall, 2004, the students successfully completed their own training and created their own diversity programs. Today, PDTs are bringing their programs to the Susquehanna University community.

How can I reach PDT for program services or for information on how to be one?

For more information about PDTs, how to become a PDT, or to schedule a PDT to come to your event, meeting, or class, please contact Armenta Hinton at hintona@susqu.edu or via phone at 570-372-4696.

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¹Werschkul, M and Williams, E. 2004. The Status of Women in the States. Washington, DC: The Institute for Women's Policy Research.