WASC Testimonials

Keyoshia Ray

CSUDH Student, Communications: Public Relations
ASI, Vice President of Academic Affairs
Student Government

I am in my 3rd year here at Dominguez, 21 years old and first generation. I really like to play basketball. That is one of my favorite things to do. I’m really actively involved here on campus. I have been the president of a couple of organizations and I’m currently the Vice President of Academic Affairs for the Student Government here on campus.

WASC Questions:

Please describe your involvement in activities related to diversity and the impact that you believe they have had on you?

One of the highlights here at Dominguez Hills is the Cross-Cultural Retreat which I have had the pleasure of attending for the past three years. The Cross-Cultural Retreat helps us to appreciate the diversity we have here at Dominguez Hills which I think is a big plus for us. We have a number of different diversity chats and it really helps us to open up with other students here on campus, network and appreciate one another.

Diversity Chats. I haven’t heard much about that before. Tell me a little more about it.

Diversity Chats are basically we pick a number of different topics whether it be interaracial dating or being an interracial child, anything that we might feel afraid to address normally in any different setting. We go away for weekends. We have different topics posted and you can go to any topic that you want to go to. It’s really just either asking questions, getting a better understanding of other people and how they feel about the same topic that you may have been afraid to ask being here at Dominguez. By the time you get back you really have a better understanding and really a better appreciation for students.

Has the diverse student population had an impact on your learning?

I think it has had an impact on my learning in a positive way. It has helped me to understand better, it has helped me to really focus on networking here. I think that’s a plus especially attending such a diverse school. I think that we have a different aspect. It’s more intimate and we have a better understanding especially for going out to such a diverse business world. I think it really gears us up for that.

What kind of networking avenues, besides ASI have you pursued?

The Cross-Cultural retreat is definitely one and the First Year Experience which would be the UNV 101 classes. That forces us to really network with each other as far as students are concerned and building communities with other students and you get to know more students, faculty, staff and administration. Besides that, the different organizations that I’m involved in like the Black Business Student Association or Sisters of Isis which is a mentor group for women.

How has learning in a diverse environment prepared you for the “real world”?

I think it has definitely prepared me for the real world in a way that I am able to identify and understand other cultures and other people’s views. It’s really helped me to have an open mind about things so I think that’s definitely something that you need to have in the business world.

- Donna Cruz