GCC’s Inclusion & Diversity Center is a dedicated physical space in N328 promoting community, equity, unity, social gathering and cross-cultural understanding among students. All are welcome, especially those traditionally underrepresented in college. In addition to offering a student kitchen area with snacks, microwave, coffeemaker and refrigerator, there is a sunny student common room with comfortable seating, games, books, and magazines; a faculty mentor is also housed in the area as a resource for student support and guidance. Diversity, in all of its incarnations, nuances, and multiple identities, is not about division, but connection. The GCC Inclusion and Diversity Center promotes relationships that honor and celebrate commonalities and appreciate and embrace differences through shared experience and interaction. If you have questions, ideas or feedback, or want to get involved, please contact Faculty Mentor Lillian Ruiz, ruiz@gcc.mass.edu or (413) 775-1236. Meet Your Faculty Mentor My name is Lillian Ruiz, and I’ve taught English, public speaking and media studies at GCC since 1993. My grandparents emigrated from Puerto Rico to the Bronx seeking better lives for their families. Most had only a few years of schooling and spoke no English. My parents learned English as children and attended high school, while I became a first-generation college student, earning my degrees through scholarships, loans, and work. Like many GCC students, I know the challenges of higher education. As your faculty mentor, I’m here to help you succeed—stop by my office (N328A) anytime to say hello or ask for guidance.