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Grand Opening of DIGS Set for Oct. 1

Space for Supporting Diversity and Inclusion Officially Opens in Hawks Hall
Grand Opening of DIGS Set for Oct. 1
Join the Nebraska Business community for the grand opening of the new Diversity and Inclusion Gathering Space (DIGS) at Howard L. Hawks Hall, October 1 at 11:30 a.m. All are welcome in DIGS in HLH 102 to gather for meaningful conversations. The space was named by senior marketing major Ambi Anuh-Ndumu (center). Photo taken prior to the current Lincoln/Lancaster County mask mandate.

Celebrate the grand opening of the Diversity and Inclusion Gathering Space (DIGS) at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Business at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, October 1. All are welcome to attend the program and open house in Howard L. Hawks Hall in the west welcome center area and HLH 102 by RSVPing at http://go.unl.edu/openDIGS.

DIGS serves as a hub for conversation, inclusive programs and gatherings to help people feel they belong in the Nebraska Business community. Ordered after the soft launch last year, new furniture arrives for DIGS this fall while programming continues to evolve based on feedback and ideas from students. 

“We believe in the power of every person. We embrace diversity in all forms seen and unseen, and work toward ensuring that excellence is inclusive,” said Dr. Kathy Farrell, James Jr. and Susan Stuart Endowed Dean. “DIGS and, more importantly, what happens inside the space helps us live by our guiding principle Be Inclusive, and is one of our strategic initiatives to better develop inclusive business leaders the world needs.” 

Early adopters of the space include students who served as pilot members of the Inclusive Business Leaders, a first-year scholarship program that supports underrepresented students' academic, social and career goals to cultivate a more inclusive environment. During a project in the pilot, senior marketing major Ambi Anuh-Ndumu pitched to name this space in Hawks Hall Room 102. Out of many options from the group, a favorite emerged and received approval from Farrell.

“We were honored to name the space so that the space’s purpose rooted in inclusive excellence is presented in a more approachable way. By calling it DIGS for short, we’re saying to students it’s yours to come hang out. It’s your space to build connections, have conversations and decompress after classes,” said Anuh-Ndumu, who is from Papillion, Nebraska. 

Harrison Lloyd, an international business, economics and accounting major from Pflugerville, Texas, is passionate about building inclusive spaces on campus after not initially feeling included at the College of Business.

“Early on, there seemed to be a lack of representation of the LGBTQIA+ community in the college. I questioned my place in business and wondered if people would take me seriously in a business setting. I joined efforts to form the Pride in Business student organization last year, and in the process, I felt relief. Having representation and opportunities to find community in inclusive spaces allows students to focus on their academics and hopefully lessens the doubts of whether or not they belong,” he said.

He, along with other student leaders involved in diversity and inclusion-related student organizations, plan to use the space to host meetings and more. Lloyd, who now serves as president of Pride in Business and vice president for the Business International Student Association, hopes other students will use DIGS as a springboard to build community.

“By investing in this space and its inclusive efforts, the College of Business shows it's walking the walk. My advice to other Huskers looking to make an impact is to show up and be inclusive. Building the sense of belonging for yourself and others is an active process. Introduce yourself to your classmates, make others feel comfortable and be welcoming to all. Not all impacts have to be large-scale to be meaningful,” Lloyd said.

In addition to strengthening our community, the space provides an inviting place for students to go for help and student resources. Anuh-Ndumu sees this as one of the space's biggest benefits for students.

“Often students in minority groups feel ostracized when attending predominantly white institutions. I want to provide these students with a sense of belonging and show them that any struggles they may have do not need to be faced alone. There are resources and people at the College of Business always ready to help,” she said.

Anuh-Ndumu, Lloyd and Farrell will join Dr. Marco Barker, the university's vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion, and Rik Barrera, the college’s associate dean of student services, inclusion and chief operating officer, in sharing brief remarks during the grand opening ceremony that will conclude with a ribbon cutting with college and student leaders and an open house with refreshments.

To learn more about the college’s commitment to inclusive excellence, visit: https://business.unl.edu/inclusion. To RSVP for the DIGS Grand Opening, go to: https://go.unl.edu/openDIGS.

Published: September 16, 2021