UMD journalism school's new DEI coordinator wants to bring ambition to the job

Alexis Ojeda-Brown, the new diversity, equity and inclusion program coordinator, poses in her office at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism (Taylor Edwards/The Black Explosion)

The Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland welcomed Alexis Ojeda-Brown, the new diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) program coordinator, at the beginning of the spring semester. 

So far, she’s been meeting with different student organizations to see what their experiences have been and what they would like to see from her.

One of our staff writers, Aaron Wright, wrote about student concerns about diversity in Merrill in the Diamondback last year. In the article, Wright talked about how Merrill’s overwhelmingly white majority— 71% of undergraduates when he wrote it— initially made him feel isolated in the program.

Ojeda-Brown knows that feeling. She graduated from UMD in spring of 2018 with a double degree in history and English with a certificate in African American studies. During her time as a UMD student from 2014 to 2018, she spent much of her time in student activism organizations combating the many racist incidents on campus.

Ojeda-Brown was a multiracial/biracial community organizing intern at the Office of Multicultural Involvement & Community Advocacy in Stamp. She was also one of the founders of the Nu Zeta chapter of Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority Incorporated.

“Instead of being a student, I had to do other roles and other jobs. That kind of took away from my studies, and I didn't think that was fair,” Ojeda-Brown said.

At UMD, there was a lot of racial tension. She remembers strain between Greek organizations, chalk drawings leading to Stamp targeting undocumented students and the murder of Lt. Richard Collins III. The coordinator also remembers how the now beloved app Yik Yak was once a place where subtle racism was seen all day if you opened it between classes.

Ojeda-Brown took all of it as a learning experience. She credits her experience as an undergraduate to her inspiration to get into DEI work. Although she spent more time in protests than in classes, she learned how to properly connect with people.

“And in my undergraduate, I was very, very angry… [and] purposefully aggressive. And it was not good. I was like, ‘I don't want other students to feel like this,’” Ojeda-Brown explained.

Before beginning her journey at Merrill, she worked in museums like the Baltimore Museum of Industry and the Lillie Carroll Jackson Civil Rights Museum at Morgan State University. She did a variety of work  such as creating curricula and doing tours. 

One thing that she found in common within her roles was that she relied heavily on newspaper archives whenever she had to research and get other information. She didn’t realize how much museums rely on the press to document our history. 

“My passion for history and preserving history led me to want to connect with Merrill,” Ojeda-Brown said. “Instead of me just looking at history, now I get to support students that will be recording and making history in the future.”

Another valuable thing she learned at museums was that “people don’t know what they don’t know.” As a Black, Latina, queer, and a plus-sized woman, she said she’s privileged in the world of DEI because she has experience as a member of minority communities. 

The coordinator used to be frustrated with people, but her perspective changed when she realized that although it’s not her responsibility, she wanted to help educate them instead. Not everyone is born with the knowledge and experience that comes with being a minority, Ojeda-Brown said. 

Her ambition has led Ojeda-Brown to set a lot of goals in her new position. 

Support student organizations and affiliated groups.

As an undergraduate student, she was involved with The Black Explosion. She said she understands how hard it is to get support and retention for an organization as a student because she’s been through it before. She also wants to encourage non-Merrill students to write for student newspapers, just like she did. 

Work closely with Merrill on recruitment and retention.

Ojeda-Brown wants to connect the journalism school with local high school students. The Prince George’s County native wants to find potential talent near the school as well as those out of state. She wants to help students realize that journalism can be used in different ways, like she used it in museums. 

Creating partnerships with other schools and departments.

This is one of her biggest goals because she is fond of the African American studies department. There, she felt that she had the most meaningful classes that helped her figure out what she was passionate about and showed her it was possible that majors could intersect. Pairing journalism with another major could help journalists become more culturally competent and have a wider world perspective. 

“I wasn't going to pay all this money to come to Maryland just to get one degree or just do one major,” Ojeda-Brown said. “If I’m paying all this, I'm going to be a double major…and I’m going to do what I can while I can.”

The coordinator also wants to boost the Asian or Asian American Pacific Islander and first-generation representation within the student organizations. Asian students are grouped under “other minority,” which constitutes only 11% of Merrill’s student body, according to university data. She wants to compile resources for these students to make their experience easier. 

“It doesn't matter how small a demographic it is. Everyone deserves some type of space where they can practice their craft and study and be supported,” Ojeda-Brown said.

Outside of work, Ojeda-Brown enjoys roller skating— which she picked up during the pandemic— and attending anime conventions in her free time. She hopes to go to the Leonardtown skate park once the weather gets warmer.

Ojeda-Brown knows that being a minority at a predominantly white institution can be hard. The best advice she can give students to make it easier is to take advantage of the resources the university offers. 

“You might have to do a little digging sometimes—or you can just come to me, and I could find those resources for you. But you go to this huge campus— this Big 10 campus, this state flagship campus— use the resources like use what they got to benefit you and to serve you.”