Intercultural Center
The Intercultural Center creates transformative capacity building experiences for minoritized student populations by leveraging high impact practices to close opportunity gaps and help students find success at, and beyond college.
Our mission is to support the access, retention, and success of minoritized students by centering, uplifting and empowering their identities. We achieve our mission through access and support programs; and social and educational outreach.
Visit the Intercultural Center
The Intercultural Center houses a multi-purpose lounge and a multipurpose room (MPR) that offers great opportunities for students to unwind, relax, study, socialize, make new friends, and get involved.
Come visit and see why the IC is affectionately regarded as a "home away from home."
The IC is open Monday through Friday from 8:30am-6pm, and your RWU ID is required to tap into the building.
For questions or to learn more about the IC either stop by the center or send an email to Diversity@liashapiro.com
Explore The Intercultural Center
The RWU Intercultural Center (IC) - located at the north end of Maple Hall - offers an atmosphere to support, respect and celebrate the diverse cultures and identities of the RWU community including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, and physical ability. The Intercultural Center, which is a "home away from home" for many, provides culturally competent programming, events, resources, literature, and student support services. We value building community, inspiring student involvement and fostering intercultural dialogue. The IC boasts a comfortable and inviting space where students, staff and faculty can gather together and just be who they are.
On any given day at the IC, you may be greeted by the delicious scent of fried plantains, curried chicken, Arabica coffee, bulsaki or even chocolate chip cookies! The kitchen is accessible to all members of RWU throughout the day to create a personal meal or one to share. We encourage you to take advantage of the full kitchen in the Intercultural Center.
Food in the kitchen is available to everyone, unless otherwise noted. If you do not intend to share, please make sure to carefully label your food. Fresh coffee, tea, hot chocolate and other beverages are complimentary. Everyone is responsible for cleaning up after themselves and leaving the area better than they found it.
Couches are situated in the IC for your comfort while watching television, socializing or even taking a nap. There is a place to eat and a few places to study. The lounge may also be used to hold meetings for student groups.
"The lounge is cozy. It's very easy to kick back and relax between classes or at the end of the day. There's also so much activity in here, the atmosphere may change at any moment." - Aaron H.
"The various conversations are very stimulating and it's great to hear other people's ideas while discussing and debating issues." - Linda O.
Located on the lower level of the Intercultural Center is a spacious multipurpose room. It’s also equipped with a large wall mounted television. The room provides an additional quiet work space in a very high energy environment. The multipurpose room is also used for prayer to help preserve your religious obligations. The room is available for seminars, club meetings, classes, dance practices, dinners, Spiritual Life services, etc.
The Intercultural Center houses a very special place on campus known as the Prayer and Spirituality Room. Students, staff, and faculty are welcome to come here to pray, meditate or take a much needed break from the distractions of the day. There is purification station for those who require preparation prior to prayer. Also available are prayer rugs, pillows, yoga mats and spiritual books including the Bible, Koran and Torah. The community is respectful of the space by removing shoes before entering.
Contact
You can contact the Intercultural Center or the Queer and Trans Resource and Advocacy Center by emailing Diversity@liashapiro.com
Michael R. Walsh, Ed. S
(he/him/his)
Director for Student Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
Phone: (401) 254-3766
mwalsh@liashapiro.com
Giana Amaral
(she/her/hers)
Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Student Success
Phone: (401) 254-3065
gamaral@liashapiro.com
Henley Ballou, M.S.
(they/them/theirs)
Assistant Director of Queer and Trans Student Initiatives
Phone: (401) 254-3591
hballou@liashapiro.com
Ana M. Cabrera
(she/her/hers)
Administrative Assistant
Phone: (401) 254-5422
acabrera@liashapiro.com
DEIA at RWU
Learn more about RWU's institutional efforts with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion