FAU Student, Alumnus Recognized as Emerging Scholars
Florida Atlantic University student Gabrielle Rind and recent FAU graduate Dawit Rumicha were each awarded the Emerging Scholar Award at the 17th International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities and Nations in Toronto, Canada. The two also gave a research presentation on diversity in higher education during the conference.
The Emerging Scholar Award, given by the Diversity in Organizations, Community and Nations Research Network, recognizes outstanding students who have an active research interest in the themes of the conference, which were urban diversity and economic growth. The award also provides a strong professional development opportunity by creating networking opportunities and giving awardees the chance to lead discussions and panel sessions during the conference.
Rind will graduate from FAU in December with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences, where she recently completed a thesis for her work in leukemia immunotherapy. She is currently the director of multicultural programming at FAU, where she provides guidance to multicultural student organizations to help them achieve their goals.
“I am all about practicing inclusion, and that means helping others on the basis of them being people, not on the basis of skin color, ability or economic background,” she said. “I push others to work together with a clear vision and to act in a selfless manner.”
She has presented at the FAU WeLead Diversity Matters Student Leadership Symposium and at the seventh annual International Conference for Religion and Spirituality in Society in London. She hopes to one day attend medical school.
Rumicha graduated from FAU in May with two bachelor’s degrees in neuroscience and biological sciences and completed an honors thesis in breast cancer immunotherapy. Rumicha previously served as director of multicultural programming at FAU where he led his team to an increase in active student participation of more than 200 percent. Under his guidance, the program earned the Boca Raton campus “Program of the Year” award.
“Being a first generation child from a family who migrated from Ethiopia, I understand firsthand that each student is unique in what they bring to the university community,” he said. “I focused on the needs of our constantly-changing student body to help make FAU a welcoming home away from home.”
Similar to Rind, Rumicha also spoke at the FAU WeLead Diversity Matters Student Leadership Symposium and at the seventh annual International Conference for Religion and Spirituality in Society in London. After completing a master’s degree in public health, Rumicha hopes to attend medical school at FAU.
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