Explore Our Communities:
What Are Identity/Affinity Communities?
From research we have learned that college student participation in learning communities produces higher levels of academic effort and outcomes; student learning construction and assimilation; personal, interpersonal, social, and intercultural development; and retention and success.
At Drew we are promoting inclusive and integrated learning communities comprised by students, alums, family members, employers, faculty, staff, and community members. The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) encourages active engagement in the Launch Career and Identity/Affinity Communities to pursue and facilitate customized cultural and career development opportunities, networks, support, programs, and resources.
There are 18 distinct Launch communities. About half of them have a career-development focus and the other half have a culture-development focus based on the identity/affinity of its members. The Launch Identity/Affinity Communities have joint oversight from the DEI Office for design, implementation, and function.
The Launch Identity/Affinity Communities are groups of like-minded people who care about the issues impacting that particular community, as well as the contributions of that community to the institution and beyond. Members of each Identity/Affinity Community collaboratively design and promote healthy and sustainable approaches to meeting their needs and contributing to their systems. Join as many communities as you choose; you are welcome here!
September 9, 2019
Not sure where the immigration policies are going? Here is a new article on Green Card. Read the article here.
By
Max Zhang
Max Zhang
Experiential Education Specialist; Chinese Language & Culture Advisor 
August 19, 2019
In theatre, diversity in casting means more than ethnicity, age, and gender identity. KC Wright in an article from Backstage.com showcases 9 theater companies that actively celebrate actors with disabilities. Read the article.
August 18, 2019
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Albert Einstein, and Oprah Winfrey share an interesting thing in common. Can you guess what it is? They were the first in their family to graduate from college. This article from greatschools.org by Connie Matthiessen, profiles 32 …
August 16, 2019
Imagine listening to a fascinating presentation on the topic of Deep Sea Diving In A Wheelchair? TED (technology, entertainment, and design) Talks have become an important part of our online learning environment and culture, though they go as far back …
August 16, 2019
Trying to help a high school senior get into his dream school, Laurie Kopp Weingarten called the college to emphasize that the boy should be able to lay claim to the latest, and fuzziest, of all admissions hooks: being a …
Jessica Johnson 
Dara Murray 
Marissa Kraynak, PhD 
Whitney McClees 
Abby Brinn 
