Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
Our Commitment to Participants, Staff and Community
OVERVIEW
Living Our Mission
Verto Education is committed to fostering community and diversity in all abroad locations. Institutionally, we are committed to implementing hiring practices that result in Verto staff who are reflective of our diverse student population. We also continue to encourage diversity abroad and create more opportunities for every participant, especially those who are underrepresented in higher education and study abroad.
Through our daily practices, we strive to strengthen our community and make all feel welcome, included, and valued. Verto is dedicated to being an organization in which staff, participants, and alumni feel seen, supported, and affirmed. Our community and the following initiatives continue to open constructive dialogue and bring about positive change:
- Actively diversifying our staff to be reflective of Verto participants, identifying bias blind spots to create equal representation, high employee retention, upward growth, and productive recruitment
- Creating an evolving, robust training program for our staff to better understand and anticipate the needs of all participants and alumni through cultural humility and collaborative onboarding experiences
- Researching and facilitating safe spaces and providing mental health resources for all staff, participants, and alumni.
- Continuing to diversify our participants, high school counselors, independent educational consultants, and partner institutions to promote accessibility within higher education through presenting merit scholarships and need-based grant opportunities. Scholarships and grants are made possible through The Verto Fund, Verto’s non-profit arm.
If you are an enrolled participant or parent, prospective participant or parent, or prospective staff member, Verto invites you to our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Office Hours and Virtual Events.
Diversity Abroad: Recent Articles
APRIL 5, 2022
HOW TO FIND A PLACE OF WORSHIP IN SEVILLE, SPAIN
When it comes to religion, Seville has a fascinating history. Catholicism is the dominant religion in Spain today, but large portions of the country, including Seville, were under Islamic rule for hundreds of years during the medieval period. You can still see this influence in the city’s famous architecture. If you’re studying abroad in Seville, Spain, you’ll be living in a city with a rich and complex religious history. No matter your religious beliefs, we’ll help you find a place of worship and a community that works for you!
APRIL 5, 2022
AN LGBTQ+ STUDENT’S GUIDE TO LONDON
When you think about the LGBTQ+ scene in London, you probably envision the massive annual events that flood the streets, squares, and sometimes entire neighborhoods with cheering crowds. There’s Pride in London, which draws more than a million people for a parade that completely closes down historic Oxford Street. Then there’s UK Black Pride, which bills itself as Europe’s largest annual celebrating people with African, Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American, and Caribbean heritage.
JUNE 18, 2020
VERTO OPPORTUNITY GRANT: OUR BELIEF IN ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE STUDY ABROAD
As the faces of our organization, our dedicated staff are the people who foster student success and make our experiential learning curriculum come to life. We sat down with Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Lead, Malea Malik, and Hiring Manager, Emily Stickle to learn more about how Verto recruits and hires our exceptional staff. They share about Verto’s intentional recruitment and hiring practices and the organization’s commitment to embracing diversity abroad and at home.
JUNE 18, 2020
VERTO’S HIRING PROCESS: Q&A WITH OUR HIRING MANAGER AND DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION LEAD
At Verto, we believe in giving all participants the opportunity for an incredible experience abroad regardless of their background. In fact, we are so committed to this mission that we have created an exciting new opportunity to make the Verto Study Abroad Experience even more accessible for all participants.
JUNE 18, 2020
A MESSAGE FROM VERTO LEADERSHIP: STRONGER TOGETHER
Verto Education was founded on the belief that we can all learn from each other. That everyone benefits from getting out of their comfort zone and having uncomfortable conversations that lead to deeper knowledge and empathy.
JUNE 22, 2020
POSITIONALITY – WHAT IS IT AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT MY SEMESTER ABROAD?
Positionality is where we stand in relation to dynamics of power and privilege. It is the way that each of us with our unique set of identities (our race, class, religion, gender, sexuality, nationality and ability status) affects our social and political context differently. How does this connect to diversity abroad?
FEBRUARY 27, 2020
7 WAYS THAT WELL MEANING STAFF DO HARM: INCLUSIVE BEST PRACTICES FOR SUPPORTING UNDERREPRESENTED PARTICIPANTS
It occurred to me that as a former study abroad student and an international education professional, I have witnessed (and been guilty of) this phenomenon – doing harm when I meant to do good.
JANUARY 9, 2020
PERSPECTIVES FROM FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS
In this post, I’ve interviewed four “first generation” Verto participants. First generation participants are the first in their immediate families to go to college. Meet these amazing young people who are paving the way for the future of college and study abroad
NOVEMBER 13, 2019
HOW DO WE ACHIEVE DIVERSITY IN STUDY ABROAD?
One of the biggest challenges in the field of international education is increasing the participation of underrepresented student groups. Although data shows that study abroad is becoming more diverse, there is still a long way to go. Diversity doesn’t happen by accident.
Partner College Resources for Minority Students
Partner Colleges with over 30% of incoming students who identify as Black or African American; Hispanic; Asian, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; American Indian or Alaskan native; or two or more races (2019):
- Temple University (31.8%)
- Case Western Reserve University (36%)
- Rhodes College (30% – Multicultural & International Students)
- Pace University (34%)
- Adelphi University (44.6%);
- Portland State University (32.85%)
- Goucher College (38%)
- University of Auckland, NZ (63% Non-European Students)
- University College Dublin, Ireland (32%)
Common student organizations on campus you could join:
- Black Student Association (BSA), Black Student Union (BSU) or African-American Student Association (AASA)
- National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC)
- National Black Graduate Student Association (NBGSA)
- National Indian Education Association (NIEA)
- Alpha Pi Omega
- National APIA Panhellenic Association
- Latinx Student Union (LSU)
- India Student Association (ISA)
- Indigenous Student Association (ISA)
- Students for Palestine Association
- Asian American Cultural Association (AACA)
- Hawaiian and Pacific Islander club (HAPI)
- Common Ground Alliance (CGA)
Partner College Resources for LGBTQIA+ Students
Partner Colleges that are LGBTQIA+ Friendly (Top 50 Nationwide):
- Portland State University
- University of Oregon
- Case Western Reserve
- University of Vermont
- Lynn University
- Naropa University
Common student organizations on campus you could join:
- Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA)
- VISION
- LGBTQ+ Support Group
- OUTreach
- Pride Alliance
- Pride Law
- Queer Transgender People of Color
- Gender Spectrum Support Group
- Common Ground Alliance (CGA)
- Queer Student Union (QSU)
- Students for Trans Awareness and Rights (STAR)
Partner College Resources for First-Gen Students
Partner College Resources for Religiously-Affiliated Students
Partner Colleges with Religion-Focused Majors/Minors
- Belhaven University (Biblical Studies and Ministries)
- University of Tennessee- Knoxville (Judiac Studies and Religious Studies)
- Temple University (Religion Major)
- Clark University (Jewish Studies)
- Rhodes College (Jewish, Islamic, & Middle East Studies)
- Ohio Wesleyan University (Pre-Theology & Religion)
- Springfield College (Religion Minor (Humanities)
- Valparaiso University (Theology and Ministry)
- Catholic University (Pastoral Ministry (Cert.), Sacred Theology, and Theology and Religious Studies)
- Muhlenberg College (Jewish Studies & Religion Studies)
- Regis University (Religious Studies)
- Hanover College (Theological Studies)
- Portland State University (Judaic Studies)
- Cornell College (Religion)
- DePauw University (Religious Studies – Minor)
- Naropa University (Religious Studies)
- Merrimack College (Jewish/Christian/Muslim Relations – Minor, Religious and Theological Studies – Minor & Science and Religion – Minor)
- Belhaven University (Biblical Studies)
Common student organizations on campus you could join:
- Campus Ministry
- Center for the Study of Jewish Christian Muslim Relations
- Christians United for Israel
- Hillel Foundation
- Muslims Students Association (MSA National)
- United Council of Christian Fraternities and Sororities (UCCFS)
- Catholic Students Association (CSA)
- Chaltuzim
- Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FSA)
- Multi-Faith Council (MFC)
Partner College Resources for International Students
Partner Colleges with over 15% International (Non-U.S.) Student Population
- Lynn University (18%)
- University of Auckland, NZ (23%)
- University College Dublin (29%)
- Rhodes College (31% – Multicultural & International students)
- Wooster Colleges (16%)
- Ohio Wesleyan University (29.2% – Multicultural & International students)
- Illinois Institute of Technology (42%)
Common student organizations on campus you could join:
- World Student Association
- English Language Program (ELP)
- Cultural Exchange Club
- Conversation Partner Program
