DEI Council

Nick Negrete

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is grounded in my commitment to access, equity, and social justice. Student success and inclusive excellence can only be achieved when an organization demonstrates an active commitment to diversity, both structural as well as through institutional policies. I have a personal background in racial and ethnic identity development, and have my own personal experiences growing into my own identity(ies) as a Queer ChicanX/LatinX man, having to navigate intersections of my own identities. My commitment to DEI continues to evolve as the world evolves, and I am committed to developing an environment of curiosity, openness, and advocacy for our community. I often function under the premise "just because you are, does not mean you understand." In other words, regardless of how I identify, I must value and honor the unique experiences of others and not assume one's experience based on our perceived similarities (or differences). In the words of Gloria Anzaldua, "I change myself, I change the world.".

Daniel Flores Estrella

The significance of the DEI Council, at an institutional level, signifies a collective effort of accountability (historical or current), opacity, antiracism, and other pertinent matters. This work means a communal endeavor of innovation, discernment, and to expand Otis' previous efforts, such as the intention to increase the diversity of the student population in the mid-2000s. This endeavor provided me with the financial means to attend Otis, becoming the first in my family to attend college. The work of the DEI Council is a creative reflection of Los Angeles' ongoing struggles and aspirations, a city where the vast majority of its inhabitants are migrants, refugees, and transplants.

Francarlo "Frankie" Resto

Community is at the center of my work in and outside of Higher Education. I believe that the work of the DEI Council comes from a place of community; understanding who are community is, identifying what our community needs, and dialoging around topics that impact the lived experiences of our students, faculty, and staff. As an individual who lives at the intersections of multiple identities (and still understanding a few), I believe that authenticity is critical to people being able to succeed and thrive. I believe that authenticity is critical to people being able to succeed and thrive. As a member of this council, I commit to learn, (un)learn, and (re)learn things that will push my own thinking to support positive transformation that cultivates authenticity at Otis College.

Jen Hofer

As a queer white Latinx/Argentinean Jewish BDS supporter who grew up mostly monolingual in a bilingual/bicultural family, I experience a constant interplay of privilege and invisibility, of histories of erasure and extermination intertwined with the realities of being the beneficiary of white supremacist structures. I have spent much of my life thinking about concrete ways to use the privileges I experience to prioritize and center the perspectives of those denied privilege—while working actively to dismantle the structures that afford me those very privileges, yet also without erasing my own identity and history. I'm still in the middle of that thinking, and probably always will be. My work in the field of cross-language practice, and specifically language justice—the right everyone has to communicate in our language(s) and a commitment to equitable communication—is rooted in this complex and intersectional thinking. Language justice work, like poetry and literary translation, has given me the space to contemplate very deeply when to speak up and when to remain silent and when to use my voice and my resources to support the speech and expression of others. I am grateful to learn from what can be heard when non-dominant voices are privileged. Photo by Patri Hadad.

Joanne Mitchell

My commitment to DEI is shaped by my experience as a queer person. To queer something, whether it's gender, or in the context of the institution: the curriculum, the attendance policy, hiring practices, or hierarchical structures, is to take a look at the foundations and question them. It's exploring limits, biases, and boundaries. Then, look for places where there's elasticity or discover ways to transform a practice into something new. To queer is to examine our assumptions and decide which of them we want to keep, change, discard, or play with. This becomes a practice in transcending the habit of settling for pre-defined categories and creating new ones. And even when we leave something unchanged, we have changed our relationship to it.

JoAnn Staten

For me, diversity, equity, and inclusion are about movement through time, space, and perception. I cannot envision a solution to our DEI issues without feeling the urgings of my ancestors or my heirs' anticipated whispers. I hear their call for the freedom to be Americans without qualification. Many of our students have the same desire. Today young people are determined to acknowledge our collective humanity, and Otis students connect to those efforts whether they focus on the country, our school, or our classrooms. Their vision is a noble one. Our challenge as educators is to be flexible by relinquishing past perceptions to support a truth our students are fighting to reveal.

My right is a future of equality with other Americans. —Elizabeth Catlett

Karen Hill

Strategic diversity, inclusion, and equity work is rooted in possibilities that bring about positive change. Here at Otis, we are committed to the cultural transformation that is an integral part of future-oriented organizations. DEI is my passion and its legacy leaving aspects humbles me. I love being a part of the change that will enhance our future.

Laura Salazar

Representation is one of the most important things that we need in our society, especially in the field of art and design. Lack of representation leads us to think about certain people as the norm, while misrepresentation has led to stereotypes that are still present to this day. Art and design, both of which are inherently political, have the power to define and destroy stereotypes. They were, they are, and will always be political as long as we have creatives who are not afraid to speak their truth. As artists, we have the power to make a change and help society move forward. I am committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion not only through my work but also through my actions, and I want to show other students that we have a voice, and our words can incite change.

Matt Schilling

As a Disabled and Queer person, equity is really important for my wellness. Educational institutions are one of the most major oppressive systems for Disabled people today. I have experienced that firsthand, all my life. I want change. That is why I wanted to join Otis's DEICouncil to begin with. On top of bettering conditions for Disabled people at our college, I want to help uplift the voices of other marginalized communities at Otis. Injustice to any marginalized group is injustice to all. I hope to take an active role in making Otis more accessible and combating the serious bias that takes place on campus.

Michele Jaquis

My worldview is predicated on the belief that most conflicts arise out of fear generated by a lack of knowing, understanding, and communicating with "the other." As an artist, my goals are to make sense of my own complex identities and experiences and to combat the increased xenophobia since the global refugee crisis and Trump's election. I do this by facilitating collaborations across difference—in my projects, my classroom, and among my colleagues. I am committed to understanding and improving how socio-economic status affects access to higher education, student debt, workload, motivation, and grit; how to best teach in a classroom of students with a range of cultural, language, and learning differences; and how to partner with my BIPOC colleagues and students (not as an ally, but as an accomplice) to help ensure they feel fully supported and included at Otis, despite those who may make them feel otherwise.

Jessica Ngo

I have never gotten over the Black student who told me a few years ago that I was the first Black professor they had ever had during their entire academic career--they were a couple months shy of graduation at the time. As the daughter of a Nigerian immigrant to the United States, the wife of a Vietnamese refugee who immigrated to France and then the US, and the mother of two young French-Vietnamese-Nigerian-American sons, to say that fighting for diversity, equity, and inclusion are important to me is an understatement. I consider it my life’s duty to assist in the creation of spaces where both my students and my sons can have every opportunity they deserve, regardless of their backgrounds, and where they feel included and heard. We constantly advertise Otis as one of the most diverse schools in the nation, but there is definitely more work to be done. I am excited and ready to play a bigger part in the College's DEI efforts and to offer my input wherever possible.

Steve McQueen

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion, is important to me so that all people, from different cultures, races, sexual orientation, religion, etc. can feel included. I grew up in a household with a single parent, myself being bi-racial and dyslexic, I understand the struggles and the feeling of not belonging. I want to be a part of the change so that everyone is included and feels included. It means everything to me for everyone to feel comfortable. As Campus Safety Chief, I’ve worked with a variety of individuals from different communities. I truly care for the students, staff, faculty, and visitors on campus. When our students graduate from Otis College, they move on to become the future leaders, and I want to be part of that change toward diversity, equity, and inclusion for every community member.

Eric Mathias

I believe in equity first. Individuals, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, et al, should not just be treated equally, but achieve equal access. I say “achieve” specifically because too often we take “equal access” for granted. Taking access for granted grows out of inequity and privilege. We need to step back and look more objectively. Bringing a perspective—and learning from those around me to grow and evolve that perspective makes DEI a crucial step for me. I have rarely found opportunities to speak out on issues of diversity and inclusion outside the streets as a vocal political protester. I think this feels a little bit like a seat at the table and a real opportunity to be a part of the Council. As a political activist since age 18, I have decades of causes behind me so it can feel a bit like a second skin. But I picked up the cause of diversity, equity, and inclusion as a lifelong journey at an early age (politically speaking) and discovered that fight has not ceased because the issues have not ceased. Clarity grows but the arc toward these ideals remains.

Claudia Hernandez Romero

DEI is important to me as a person, mother, and educator. As a Salvadoran immigrant woman, I have dealt with indifference at home and in the social realm. In high school, I witnessed police discrimination against Black friends, and I engaged in the use of language, jokes, and offensive narratives. In college, I realized that police discriminated against Black and Latinx men. I recognized that changes were necessary and that part of bringing forth change, I had to be willing to address my ugliness; I had to undo my racism and homophobia. I cannot make American society a better place for my son nor expect him to be a better human unless I model the process and collaborate with the community to chip away at those enduring systems of power that keep us down. I believe the DEI Council is doing great work to make Otis College of Art & Design a safe and prosperous place for everyone, regardless of difference, and I am honored to have a part in this work.

Valerie Diaz

I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. I am of full Puerto Rican descent and my artwork pulls from my experiences of growing up in the projects and the decay of my family’s roots over generations. Throughout my education, I consistently felt my ideas as an artist were never understood or embraced by my peers. Forced to navigate spaces that were not designed for me or others like me, I internalized this rejection. I withdrew from my art practice. It took me a decade to realize I was sharing my vision with the wrong people. It's this unspoken notion of white supremacy that I actively work against in my adult life. I am proud of where I come from and excited to be part of an institution that values different voices and cultures. There is always room at Otis College to further cultivate a safe space for POC creators. I hope my time in this committee will have a lasting impact on our community.