“I love my mother’s metaphor of hands. She said if all our fingers have the same length and width, our hands would be less attractive, less functional, nor could we harness the hands’ fullest strength. Similarly, if all people share the same racial characteristics, hold the same beliefs, the world would certainly not be an interesting place." — Binh Le, Associate Librarian
“Diversity embodies celebrating how we are different. Inclusion embraces our diversity by bringing our unique skills together as one powerful resource. Inclusion creates a respectful, nonjudgmental environment of involvement, connection, and collaboration where different perspectives allow teams to excel in innovative ways. Penn State strives to be a global community.” — Fran Pahlevani, Associate Professor of Mathematics
“What inspires me to be ‘All In’ at Penn State is my strong commitment with my students. When I stand in front of the class, I think not only about the subject I’m teaching, but also my responsibility to show the importance of creating a safe, open, welcoming environment in order to become successful global citizens.” Rosa Maria Tamayo Chism, Senior Lecturer, Spanish
“The ‘All In’ initiative encourages each of us to consistently find ways to bring diverse and underrepresented voices to the forefront, and to foster respectful dialogue and inquiry that leads to equitable and inclusive campus communities.” — Paula M. Smith, Associate Librarian
“Diversity represents an opportunity to learn. We are all so unique, and our differences make us even more beautiful and valuable to those around us. Inclusion represents hope for a day when labels are obsolete, and we are all just people.” — Robin M. Burgess, Office of Continuing Education
“In my opinion, being from a different background should not affect whether we can be one big Penn State family. Diversity is what makes Penn State unique and one big cultural melting pot. Here at Penn State, diversity is never rejected but accepted with open hands. WE ARE!” Ashish Baby, senior
