Paying Attention and Acting Now 
Hakseon Lee
Department of Political Science and Leadership Council Member on the Task Force for Racial Equity
I have been teaching in the Department of Political Science at JMU since fall 2007. Currently I am an Associate Professor and will become a Full Professor this fall. I chose JMU because I have relatives and friends living in Northern Virginia and in Chapel Hill where I earned my Ph.D. degree (i.e., at UNC).
As an Asian American immigrant who came to the U.S. as a graduate student back in 1999, I believe I have multiple identities: a native Asian who understands East Asian cultures; a naturalized U.S. citizen who casts ballots in national and local elections; a member of racial minority groups in the U.S.; and an international scholar who teaches and researches on American political economy from both domestic and international perspectives.
Sometimes I have to deal with systemic or institutionalized biases against Asian American or immigrants, mainly from local residents in the area who have not interacted much with either Asian or people from outside of the U.S. Most biases/discriminations are subtle, but strong enough for me to question myself: Can I live happy and comfortable in this area?
Our society was established by European settlers who committed a genocide against indigenous peoples of this continent. Then the settlers adopted the slavery system in which human rights violations/crimes against African Americans were institutionalized. Till the mid-1960s, Asians could not even apply for immigration into this society. All these painful historical events were based upon the white supremacist ideology, which in turn made our society systematically and institutionally racist.
If American society sets values on human rights protection, racial equity/justice, and democracy, we cannot simply wish that everything would become better in the future. For example, the universal suffrage including female voting rights was achieved only after persistent demand for political reforms in the 1920s. Likewise for Civil Rights movement in the 1960s. We need to act now to change our racist culture and educate young generations the pivotal value of diversity, equity, and inclusion in our society.
I want to encourage JMU community members to pay more attention to voices from ethnic/racial minorities. For example, how much and often they feel marginalized under the single race (i.e., white) dominated system and culture. Also, I urge JMU administrators and local government officials to more strongly condemn white supremacist domestic terrorism and racism which targets racial and ethnic minorities at JMU and local communities.
Seeking Out Your People
Amanda A. Randall
Co-Director for the Virginia Department of Education's Region 5 Training and Technical Assistant Center at JMU
I am in my 11th year at JMU, and I chose to work here because the position allowed me to support educators and families to improve outcomes for individuals with disabilities. As the daughter of a father with a physical disability, I have always been passionate about seeing individuals with disabilities live "their best life."
Eleven years later, I stay at JMU because I have found a community of people dedicated to something larger than themselves and who genuinely care about humanity as a whole. Although I have always found my community outside of JMU, it wasn't until the past three years that I found Sisters in Session (SIS). SIS is an organization dedicated to supporting African/Africana and Black descent women to navigate academic and higher education at JMU. This group has given me a sense of community on campus at JMU that I sought out for years.
As a first-generation African American female who grew up in and out of poverty, I have always had this constant need to prove to others that I belong in certain spaces. As I get older and have surrounded myself with other African American professionals, I have recognized my worth. I realize that not only do I belong in various spaces, but those groups are privileged to have me there and benefit from my knowledge. Because of my journey, I also have a deep desire to help others—especially other young African American students who can't see a path to college.
Based on our Nation's current climate, I hope that JMU is serious about taking a stance on supporting current and potential students, faculty, and staff of color. I want to see JMU continuing to plan and implement actions that disrupt the deep seeds at this university that have oppressed the opportunities and voices of women and people of color. When the "trend" is long over, I want JMU to continue actively working for change.
To all of the early-career or faculty and staff here, don't get discouraged or overwhelmed here at JMU. JMU is an excellent university surrounded by a very loving community. Find your niche here on campus and reach out to people with who you want to connect. Don't work in isolation or silo yourself as there are so many great people here. You just might need to actively seek out your people.
Achieving a Greater Sense of Community
Daerenz Lyons (’21)
President, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Xi Delta Chapter and Vice President, NAACP JMU Chapter
I am a recent graduate of James Madison University’s Hospitality Management program, with a minor in General Business. I plan to attend Graduate School to obtain a Master’s in Public Policy and Administration, and one day establish my own non-profit organization that helps individuals in marginalized communities succeed.
As a Black Male on campus, my community of those that looked like me was very small in comparison to the majority around us. That is why I chose to get involved with the Center for Multicultural Student Services early in my freshman year, so that I had access to a community of individuals that I could identify with and we could work towards common goals amongst our organizations. Though I was heavily involved in the Xi Delta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, the Inter-Cultural Greek Council, and the JMU Chapter of the NAACP, I was aware that my role within these organizations was to connect other students of similar backgrounds and advocate on behalf of the greater community that we were a part of.
Within these positions I was able to build a network with other students, and was given the opportunity to work alongside my peers, as well as other administration to continue to push Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work forward on campus. This influenced me personally because in working with so many individuals all with different skill sets and knowledge bases, I was able to learn a lot from others but also impart some wisdom along the way. I am appreciative of the fact that we were able to work together to try and enact change, and it showed me that as long as you surround yourself with like-minded supportive individuals, anything is possible.
My main hope for James Madison University, that can and should be applied to the Nation, is that as a collective we should be striving to achieve a greater sense of community on a daily basis. Creating that sense of community is going to be hard work, as it can only be done with the unification of all groups and identities, however it is something that will be very beneficial in pushing forward efforts to become a more equitable campus, and Nation.
Though I have recently graduated, I still look forward to being able to help others succeed in their efforts to make James Madison feel more like home. If there is anything you ever need, please feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn at Daerenz Lyons for my contact information.
Genuine Conversations, Thought-Provoking Programs and Relevant Resources
Contextualizing Anti-Asian racism in the United State: Then and Now
A Message of Support and Solidarity
Scholarships for Summer Youth Programs
George Vidal brings Brain-Bee opportunity full circle to high school students
Harrisonburg 360 Podcast: Real People, Real Stories, One Community
A History of Women’s Rights at JMU
First Black Woman Graduate in Virginia with Biophysical Chemistry Degree 
Disability Studies 101
Let’s Get DEEP: DEI Podcast
College of Business Diversity Council – Speaker Series
College of Arts and Letters – Discussions on Diversity Series
Forging Forward: DEI and Learning Outcomes
Compass Award Recipients