The new Center for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) held its grand opening on Sept. 21, showcasing the remodeled space on the second floor of LaFortune Student Center.
The remodel was done in partnership with Workshop Architects, based on feedback from roughly 150 students provided in focus groups, according to Arlene Montevecchio, director of the Gender Relations Center.
The DEI center is home to three University offices — the Gender Relations Center (GRC), Multicultural Student Programs and Services (MSPS) and the Office of Student Enrichment (OSE). Additionally, student groups PrismND and Diversity Council have designated offices on the second floor of LaFortune.
Construction of the center began in 2022, after the Notre Dame Board of Trustees’ Task Force on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion called for “a space on campus where underrepresented students can gather” in their 2021 strategic framework. 
The second floor of LaFortune has become a popular study spot since the remodel. Because of this, the DEI center offices have seen “increased foot traffic,” Montevecchio said.
“There's more people on the floor at any given time than there ever was, but also more people coming into the office to ask about what we do — what services and programs we offer,” she said.
Arnel Bulaoro, the director of MSPS, said the new space has enabled a different kind of student interaction.
“I think previously in the old space, everything was transactional, ‘I'm here to meet with a particular staff member,’ and there was nothing else on the floor to keep you here, so they were gone after the meeting. Now we're somewhat seeing the opposite,” Bulaoro said. “We’re discovering more unscheduled meeting time with students than ever before.”
In addition to opening the space up for collaboration between the three offices, the remodel was key in “bringing the space back to the students,” said Ana Reyes Lam, assistant director for communications and operations at the DEI center.
After hearing that many student groups would go off campus for meetings so they could cook food, Workshop Architects suggested the idea of a community kitchen in the DEI center.
“What if we created a space that actually did what is currently happening with our student clubs, but instead of it happening off campus, it's happening here in LaFortune?” Bulaoro said.
The kitchen features a tile wall with the colors of flags from around the world and the word for “eat” in many languages. Lam said during a recent event for Graduate Student Appreciation Week, international graduate students searched the wall to find their home country’s flag.
“It is really great to see how a … small decoration piece of the space also brings visibility to our underrepresented student populations on campus,” Lam said. “And I think a lot of us know the power that food has to bring people together.”
The kitchen and three executive meeting rooms in the center are available for student reservation through ND Central. Lam said although community members have been slow to reserve those rooms, students have been using the space to play card games or have club meetings to prepare for the activities fair.
“I think this space does multiple things, but as a center, it now draws people particularly to a focused conversation, conversation around belonging. And how do we make sure that Notre Dame is a space where everybody belongs? And now we have a specific location where that conversation can happen,” Bulaoro said.
Between 600 and 800 students visited the center for its grand opening in September, Montevecchio said.
“I don't think I've ever seen a more diverse group of people at Notre Dame on this floor and it was truly remarkable,” Montevecchio said.
Jo’Vette Hawkins, president of Diversity Council, said she has seen increased meeting turnout because the space is so accessible and open. Now, sometimes their offices cannot hold everyone who attends.
“I think that the creation of the DEI center has created a home — not only for people of marginalized communities or multi-ethnic backgrounds, but it creates a space for all people to come and learn about diversity,” Hawkins added.
Bulaoro said the center was designed so that it’s difficult to leave because of the community present.
“We really wanted to create a space where you know, ’This space, my friends will be in it. And this is where I can just be myself,’” Bulaoro said.
New DEI center brings increased traffic to second floor of LaFortune
Panels highlighting the new DEI Center in the second floor of LaFortune Student Center.
The new DEI center includes a display of flags and the word “eat” in different languages along the kitchen wall.
