Diversity Statement
I am a citizen of a country where diversity and inclusion are considered among its core values. I was born in a small village in Bangladesh, and my early childhood, along with the unique experiences of village life, taught me many important lessons. From my middle childhood through my B.Sc. studies, I resided in various cities and towns. After completing my graduation, I spent two years in the capital city. From 2009 until December 2019, I lived in Canada, and from 2020 to the present day, I have been residing in the USA.
Throughout my life, I have encountered a wide array of diverse groups of people, including farmers, daily laborers, blacksmiths, shopkeepers, business magnates, professionals, the well-educated and the uneducated, Muslims, Garo, Hindus, Christians, Jews, Third Gender/Hijra, atheists, Asians, Africans, Middle Easterners, Europeans, Americans, and many more. The philosophy of life that I believe in has been shaped by various sources, but the diverse people and cultures I have come into contact with have played a prominent role.
I have experienced poverty and realized that the desire to accumulate wealth knows no bounds. It has become clear to me that true happiness comes from inner peace and contentment.
In Bangladesh, the education system is nearly cost-free; however, many families still struggle to cover the educational and emergency medical expenses of their members. To inspire change, during my first year of undergraduate studies, I co-founded an organization called “Organization for Helping Together Among the Students” (OHTAS) and served as its president for two consecutive years.
Upon arriving in Canada, I joined forces with a group of fellow Bangladeshi graduate students to establish EUTB (Education for Underprivileged Talents of Bangladesh – https://eutb.ca), aimed at providing financial assistance to underprivileged students in Bangladesh, enabling them to pursue their education. Since its inception, EUTB-Canada has awarded scholarships to several hundred students and currently supports 14 scholars.
During my time in Canada, I was affiliated with institutions such as Brock University, Humber College, McMaster University, and Seneca College in various teaching and learning roles. All of these institutions have robust departments and offices dedicated to fostering diversity and inclusion. They actively promote and provide guidance, advice, and consultations to students, staff, and faculty members on various issues, including but not limited to discrimination, harassment, and sexual violence. Additionally, these institutions offer accessibility services to support students with special needs. In my teaching career, I have had the privilege of successfully working with numerous specially-abled students, including those who are visually impaired.
However, data analysis research conducted by my lab on the records of 27,000 students reveals that minority students, including females, first-generation students, Hispanic students, Native American students, Native American females, African American students, Asian students, students aged 22-25, and financially challenged students, experience significantly lower success rates compared to the general student population. In most cases, the solution lies in providing them with extra care and guidance to unlock their potential and help them overcome their challenges, bringing them one step closer to success. I am unwaveringly committed to working with and providing individualized support to students, breaking the initial barriers, and establishing a comfortable rapport right from our first interaction, whether it be during a course lecture or research.
By birth, I am a citizen of Bangladesh, where, in terms of ethnicity, I belong to the largest demographic group. However, in Canada and the USA, I became part of a minority group. This remains the case in my current residence, where I represent less than 1% of the population. I firmly believe that diversity is a strength, and inclusion allows us to learn from one another, ultimately making us better human beings. My dedication lies in advancing equity and inclusion by fostering a safe, open, and respectful classroom environment and by nurturing a sense of collegiality among faculty and staff.