With the new semester have also come some exciting developments in the Student Life Division.
Assistant Vice President for Student Life Emily Perl, along with Mary Tandia, assistant dean for multicultural student services, and Karen Sykes, international student adviser, recently moved in to Dorsey Center. It’s a new office and a new title for Emily, who has taken on a variety of duties in her 18 years with Goucher. And though she says each evolution has been rewarding, she’s particularly excited about her new position.
In her new role, Emily will now help Dean of Students Bryan Coker by overseeing student engagement, religious and spiritual life, community service, and multicultural affairs. Her additional responsibilities not only allow his job to become more streamlined, but they also allow her to focus on one of her main interests—multiculturalism.
Emily said she’s been working toward a job like this for a long time. In fact, she was attracted to her graduate program because it emphasized multicultural student development. “The basis of my doctorate was basically how a rich learning experience occurs when we bring a variety of multicultural perspectives to the table, and how a student’s identity group can impact the different ways he or she develops,” she said.
Emily’s interest in multiculturalism has evolved through the years. “I grew up in a small town in Ohio with no diversity,” she said. “As my life has progressed, more and more of my experiences became more and more diverse, and I recognized that it was lacking in my growing up, so I’ve really sought it out.” Emily said she has witnessed huge growth in the number of students of color at Goucher, and she really seeks to make the most positive experience for all students, no matter their background or identity.
Emily said she wants to take Goucher’s success at celebrating diversity—including regular programming for African American, women’s history, and gay pride months—and integrate it even more into community practice. “Multiculturalism and inclusion isn’t just about celebrating and understanding different culture; it’s also about exploring the intersections between groups, including our commonalities and areas of conflict,” she said. “We want a lot more dialogue and different voices to be heard.”
Staff members are looking at mixed approaches to engage students and push beyond simply celebrating different cultures. To this end, Goucher has hired Sykes as the new international student adviser and is increasing the responsibilities of other staff members. “We’re really trying to step back and ask what our goals are,” Emily said. “For co-curricular, multicultural programming, what kind of educational outcomes do we want for the college’s community members?”
Emily will co-lead a diversity standing committee with Assistant Professor of History James Dator. Their group will spend this semester looking college-wide at what kind of diversity and inclusion efforts exist— what we’re doing well, and what we could improve upon. They’ll comb through the numbers and compile a report to hand to the incoming president.
Emily said she loves Goucher for the way the college can adapt with changing times and for the people that stay for the ride. “I don’t feel like I’ve been stagnant at all,” she said. “The relationships I’ve developed with people are incredibly valuable.”
When she’s not figuring out how to help students learn more about themselves and others, Emily is busy raising her 11-year-old daughter Mora, taking care of her Baltimore City house, and being active in her church community.