New Colorado Diversity Initiative director transforms longtime program
Christina Alston (second from the left) with the Fall 2023 Colorado Advantage cohort.
Christina Alston reflects on her first few months with CDI and what the future holds
The Colorado Diversity Initiative (CDI) has been a fixture on the University of Colorado Boulder campus for close to two decades, bringing in and nurturing the next generation of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) leaders. During that time, the program’s seen many changes, but nothing quite like what’s happening now.
Now part of the Graduate School after moving from the Office of Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement (ODECE), CDI oversees several programs, including the Summer Multicultural Access to Research Training (SMART) program and the Colorado Advantage program. These programs promote diversity at CU Boulder by preparing undergraduates for graduate school, offering learning and mentoring opportunities for graduate students, and providing broader research support for faculty and staff.
In July 2023, Christina Alston became the director of CDI after former director Barbara Kraus retired and immediately began transforming the program, rebranding it from a preparation program to one that also fosters community and belonging.
We asked Alston about her plans for the program, including where she sees the program going.
Christina Alston at a conference.
Question: You’ve been the director of CDI for a few months. How’s it going?
Answer: It's going fast! I'm quickly transitioning from the learning phase to the direct-action phase. That is not to say that I am not still learning or that I do not have things about CU Boulder to learn to aid in my facilitation of student recruitment and retention. However, things are currently moving at such a rapid pace that direct programmatic action change is required.
CDI has been on an exciting journey during my time here, from remodeling my office to instituting new programs for staying in direct contact and engagement with potential CU Boulder graduate students, and creating belongingness events for our current historically minoritized and marginalized students.
Q: What are your future goals for CDI? Anything you’d like to accomplish?
A: As part of my five-year plan, one of my objectives is to ensure that the programs, activities and support provided by this office are socially just and equitable. To help support that goal, I intend to form an external advisory board to ensure that I, as director of this office, am not biased in my advocacy for historically marginalized and minority students and am inclusive of their full range of support needs.
Q: What do you think is the significance of CDI?
A: One of the most important aspects of CDI is its potential for growth. CDI has had a relationship with the STEM community for a long time, but it was still in a bubble. Everyone who participated in the engagement was thankful for their efforts and support. CDI has long been the small fish in a large pond, moving upstream quietly. People are now ready for transformation and change.
Q: What would people like to know about CDI?
A: I want current graduate students to know that CDI is more than just a place to get mentorship and career guidance; it also helps you feel like you belong at CU Boulder by hosting at least three social events each semester to help you form community.
I want faculty members to know that CDI is here to help them understand how they can improve the departmental climate for their graduate student populations. CDI will provide honest and unbiased feedback on your department's recruitment plan through one-on-one or departmental discussions.
Learn more about CDI and their current projects on their website.