Students recognized for promoting multiculturalism residence facilities

June 5, 2012

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Cortland Russell, an engineering major from Tampa, and Wen Ji, a graduate student in engineering from Xi’an, China, have been selected as the University of Florida Department of Housing and Residence Education Multicultural Student Award recipients for the 2011-2012 school year.

Russell and Ji were selected based on their contributions to promoting diversity and multiculturalism within UF residence facilities and across campus.

Russell, a Thomas Hall resident assistant and senior ambassador for LGBT affairs for Multicultural and Diversity Affairs, received the award in recognition of his campuswide contributions to policy development that focuses on understanding and accepting different cultures. Ji, secretary of the Mayor’s Council for Graduate and Family Housing and vice president of the Graduate Student Council, received the award in recognition for her work in assisting the transition of international students to the campus.

The awards recognize student leaders from diverse cultural backgrounds including but not limited to international, African-American, Hispanic, Native-American and Asian-American residents. Nominees for the award may be undergraduates, graduates or professional students living in residence facilities.

Award recipients must actively support and promote diversity and multiculturalism, provide quality programs to residents, and significantly contribute to the campus community beyond their housing responsibilities to facilitate multicultural understanding and appreciation for diversity through a combination of programming, student interaction, leadership within the University community and scholastic endeavors.