It’s not just the recent renovations that have changed the atmosphere in the HAWC. This fall, there is an important new staff member adding to the fresh vibe within student affairs. One of those new faces is Kari Enge, who has been selected as the director of Intercultural Affairs. Coming from a wide background focusing on many areas of collegiate life, Enge looks forward to growing Pepperdine’s intercultural competence and getting to work directly with students.
Graphic: Tell us about your educational background and how you ended up being chosen as the new director of Intercultural Affairs (ICA) here at Pepperdine.
Enge: I was born and raised in Portland, Ore., then moved to Massachusetts when I was 13 years old, and that’s how I ended up doing my undergraduate education at UMS Amherst. I then worked for about three years in the Student Activities office at MIT before moving out here to California for my Master’s degree at USC in 2004. I also worked full time as a resident director and as a disabilities services counselor, and then decided to get my doctoral degree in higher education and administration, and stayed from 2006 to 2010, where I worked full time transitioning from residential life into alumni affairs, where I worked for a little over four years with a black alumni association before I walked in 2010. So I was trying to find a position that encompassed my entire skill set, from student and alumni affairs to disability services, and this was it.
G: What specific goals do you have for ICA this year?
E: I want to create some effective and strategic programs around building intercultural competency and community among students and foster diversity education for staff and faculty. Two of my main passions are leadership development and mentoring, which I don’t know if those two things have been a large part of this office in the past. Since I only have about six months left until graduation, I’m already looking forward to the next calendar year to create a leadership development conference out of this office, as well as a mentoring program that sort of matches up students based on their interests to alumni that can facilitate and be a vehicle of transition from college to life after college. A lot has already been done under the previous leadership in regards to student groups, which has grown from four to now 16 student groups. I’m blessed to step into these big shoes, which I’m more than prepared to fill because my absolute passion is working with students.
G: The topic of diversity holds a lot of weight on this campus, especially in regard to student representation. Have you experienced challenges with the diversity atmosphere thus far here at Pepperdine?
E: Every institution has their struggles with creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone. Diversity, to me, is not just race and ethnicity. It includes walks of life, abilities, all of that. I don’t think Pepperdine is much different than other universities in trying to achieve the state where diversity is a part of the fabric instead of something so rudimentary like, “Oh, did we add that diversity part in there?” I think as people, faculty, staff and students, grow to be more aware of what it means to be interculturally competent, it will become a more organic part of the process, of curriculum, the way we speak, the things we advocate for as a university.
From the students I’ve already worked with, you guys are all so involved, and so passionate about everything you put your hands on, that it really makes my job easy. One of the sad things is that a lot of the students that I’ve been working with are seniors, so I’m boo-hooing already. So part of what we’re doing in this office is helping that passion that’s wrapped up in the seniors to fall naturally to the younger members.
G: There’s no better way to help students get to know you than knowing about some of your favorite things.
E: My favorite movie is “Sound of Music,” I just love it! In terms of music, I listen to a lot of gospel, so I’d have to go with “The Best in Me” by Marvin Saap. And favorite food? Cookies, I’m a sweet tooth. I’d rather be stuck on an island with cookies than real food. And when I’m not working, I could easily be found at the movie theater or renting a movie. Also, I love to read. I have a lot of different spiritual books. I’m a huge Joyce Meyer fan and Max Lucado. I know it sounds boring, but I’m just a really casual person.
G: Is there anything else you would like students to know about you?
E: I want all students to know that this office is open for every single student. I want this office to be one where every student with a need can come to. And the need doesn’t have to focus around diversity or multicultural interests. I just love to mentor, I love to advise, and my door is always open.
