The Queen’s Student Diversity Project (QSDP) recently hosted the second annual Intersectionality in Academics conference on campus, bringing together more than 125 prospective students from the GTA, with a focus on the various academic and co-curricular opportunities available at Queen’s.

“Student Affairs was delighted to partner with QSDP again this year to support their conference,” says Allison Yokom, Director of Undergraduate Enrolment and Operations. “The work they are doing is making a real impact in enhancing diversity and inclusion at Queen’s.”

During the day-long event, students were given a tour of campus, received information about clubs and financial aid, and had the chance to speak with Queen’s students, staff, and QSDP representatives.

Participants also heard from a student panel that discussed intersectionality on campus. Current students from various backgrounds were able to share their experiences within academic fields where they are traditionally underrepresented, including black students in STEM and men in nursing.

QSDP hopes that these diverse perspectives allow prospective students to see themselves within the campus community, and encourages them to pursue their academic studies at Queen’s.

“We started the annual conference to help grade 11 and 12 students realize the importance of their diverse backgrounds within an academic setting,” says Fatoumata Tounkara, Vice President and Conference Chair of QSDP. “We hope that through the lived experiences of the panelists and speakers, these students are able to see the diversity on campus and realize the abundance of opportunities available to them at Queen’s.”

Founded in 2017, QSDP is a student-led organization that is redefining diversity on campus by creating a more inclusive and informed Queen’s community.

Visit the QSDP Facebook page to learn more about the project and upcoming events.