Junior Samantha Hubbard has been named Student Government Association Director of Diversity Outreach by the new SGA executive board. Hubbard will work closely with the newly established Student Task Force for Bias, Discrimination and Bullying this fall, one of the first initiatives enacted by President Maravene Loeschke.

The Director of Diversity is an important role because of the ever-increasing number of diverse students in Towson, and throughout the nation, according to Victor Collins, the assistant vice president for student affairs and diversity.

“We will inevitably continue to become more diverse as a society,” Collins said. “The more we learn from one another, about one another, the greater the likelihood of community harmony and commitment to societal equity and fairness for everyone.”

SGA Chief of Staff Kennard Wallace said he and SGA President Brandy Hall were looking for someone with a passion for diversity and personal experience with diversity.

“Her level of professionalism and event planning skills from her Take Back the Night event in the latter half of the spring semester really pushed her over the top in my eyes,” Wallace said.

Hubbard said that the position is close to her heart.

“Diversity is my passion for a number of personal and universal reasons,” Hubbard said. “My focus on diversity is, indeed, global in outlook and action. I care deeply for those who have no voice, the underprivileged, and the disenfranchised. My female, queer and Latina identities fuel me to make differences, to give back to my community and to work to inspire others.”

Hubbard said she plans to focus on educating students about the Maryland DREAM Act, which stands for development, relief and education for alien minors. The act allows non-citizens who were brought to the United States by their guardian prior to age 16 to receive in-state tuition.

She said she also intends to maintain a strong relationship with student groups by inviting them to the Diversity Committee to voice their concerns and resolutions.

“This position also allows me to be a liaison to student groups who believe in protecting and creating diversity and to the student government association,” Hubbard said. “This position allows me to reach out to more students, to educate, to learn and to meet new people and hear new stories. It means everything to me.”