CAPA WORLD

At CAPA, we seek to foster increased student diversity and to provide all participants with the opportunity to explore, challenge and redefine their identities in distinct ways. Launched in Spring 2017, the Diversity Advocates Program (DAP) is an extension of this philosophy and provides resources for advocates to pursue diversity initiatives of their own within their global cities.

CAPA is pleased to announce the Spring 2019 cohort of Diversity Advocates Program Scholars.

Anthonia Okafor, University of Massachusetts at Amherst

Anthonia Okafor is spending this spring at CAPA London. She is a senior at University of Massachusetts at Amherst and is studying Public Health Sciences.

Anthonia is a Nigerian-American and a member of the Commonwealth Honors College at UMass Amherst. During her undergraduate career, she has been a part of a student-governed staff for the advocacy agency Student Bridges, whose mission is geared toward access and retention of current and prospective underrepresented students in higher education. Student Bridges’ work is done through building partnerships with local schools and community organizations, offering college awareness events and activities, providing college preparation and success activities, and advocating for enhanced institutional and public policies and practices for underrepresented students on campus.

Anthonia was also one of the nine Peer Advisors for the undergraduate Public Health Sciences department in which she served as an active resource for her peers by holding advising office hours, mentoring Public Health transfer students, and leading information sessions for prospective Public Health majors. She is looking forward to exploring London in all its cultural aspects and learning something new about the city every day.

Jeffrey Chan, University of Massachusetts at Amherst

Jeffrey Chan will be spending his spring semester with CAPA Sydney. He is a junior at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and is studying Operations & Information Management and Data Analytics. He is originally from Framingham, MA.

At UMass Amherst, Jeff is a member of the massive 400-member Minuteman Marching Band. In addition to his capacity as the leader of the Minuteman’s Student Administrative Staff, he has helped recruit students from across the United States and from every major on campus. He has been a key resource to other LGBTQIA+ students and students of color within the ensemble. Over the summer, he held a Senior Counselor position at the New England Chinese Youth Summer Camp (NECYSC) based out of Weston, MA. Aimed at creating an inclusive environment to children who come from less diverse towns, NECYSC establishes a safe space for Chinese-Americans and those interested in Chinese culture to explore their own identity and culture. While in session, Jeff has led discussions about being an ethnic minority in society and the importance of civil participation in American politics.

He is excited to learn about the local communities of Sydney, the challenges they face, and how to be a respectful traveler!

Juan Santos Gonzalez Jr., Rider University

Juan Santos Gonzalez Jr. is making his way to CAPA London this spring. He is a junior at Rider University and is a double major in Accounting and Information Systems.

Juan came onto campus his freshman year and has since been very involved in the Rider community. He is Vice President and Treasurer of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. and Treasurer of the Latin American Student Organization (LASO). He has also worked part-time.

Upon graduation, he aspires to work with one of the Big Four accounting firms in the assurance and audit practice areas. Juan will have the opportunity to intern in his field while abroad and at Ernst and Young in summer 2019. He hopes to gain more insight and interest within his field.

Kim Corona, Ursinus College

Heading to CAPA Sydney this spring is Kim Corona, a junior at Ursinus College. She is studying Media and Communications with a minor in Creative Writing and is hoping to include a Latin American Studies minor as well. She is from New York City, New York.

Kim is quite involved on campus—she is the News Editor for the Ursinus Grizzly, her college newspaper; she is also a member of a local sorority, Omega Chi, where she had the privilege of being the New Member Educator. She has taken an interest in ethnographic research after taking a research class for her major. While in Sydney, she is interested in fusing her passion for writing with her research, whether through journal entries or other art and media forms. She is curious about how her experience growing up in a multicultural city like New York will offer insight during her time in Sydney. As a Mexican-American, she is interested in researching the ways study abroad programs can help minority students integrate themselves in a different country, while also learning aspects of culture, identity, and inclusion in their host country.

Malia Waltman, Lebanon Valley College

Malia Waltman is spending this spring at CAPA Shanghai. She is a junior at Lebanon Valley College and is pursuing a double degree in International Business and Digital Communication.

Each person is different and has a unique story, and for Malia, it started in China and is now coming full circle as she travels back. About 20 years ago, she was adopted from China and moved across the world to a small county in Pennsylvania where she grew up with her parents and three siblings. Her parents opened her eyes to what it means to embrace diversity and cherish her own story and journey. Growing up as one of the only few Asian Americans in her small town was not always easy, but it challenged her and made her who she is today.

She wants to use her love for culture, people, business and technology to help others open their eyes to the world beyond their bubble. She believes the world is a diverse place filled with amazing people, cultures, and stories, and hopes that as a DAP Scholar she'll help bring her two worlds together.

If you have any questions about the program or the application, please contact jgueron@capa.org.