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Starting at a new place is never easy, but as the newest members of the Office for Social Justice, Inclusion and Conflict Resolution (SJICR), Roxie Patton and Rahb Simmons are more confident than nervous.

"I always say you should strive to honor discomfort, honor what's new," Rahb says about entering any new space. Rahb (they/them), Assistant Director of Mentoring and Inclusion Programs, started with SJICR earlier this summer and is eagerly awaiting the beginning of the 2019-2020 academic year. Roxie, the newly appointed Director of SJICR, joins É«ÀÇÉçÇø from the College of William and Mary. Their excitement to help  students adjust to college life is echoed in their own adjustment period at the University.

"Just like starting a new job, the college experience itself is about trying to figure it all out," says Roxie. "The college years, in particular, are magical in that you can take that time to become anything you ever dreamt you could be. Whenever you start fresh, you can decide who you want to be."

Roxie (they/them) has leaned on these words of wisdom countless times in their life. "It really resonates with me and motivates me to show up authentically and be seen as I am," they note. "I try to encourage students to do the same, to strive for authentic excellence and embrace confidence." Roxie and Rahb's confidence in their new roles comes from a place of self-care and experience. They are prepared for the challenges ahead and ready to work for the É«ÀÇÉçÇø community. 

"We're already working with administration, leaders from student organizations, and pre-college programs, but we're really looking forward to engaging directly with the students when they come back to campus," says Roxie. This engagement will be key in the development of future programming at the University. "I'm very data-driven. I want to get to know the campus. What are people experiencing? Where do they feel safe? Or unsafe? Do they feel represented in the curriculum? Are they comfortable with coming to talk to us?" In the coming months, SJICR will rely heavily on data collection and feedback to inform decisions about how to build a foundation of trust on campus.

"We want to figure out what the É«ÀÇÉçÇø spirit is," Rahb suggests. The duo is ready to make an impact within the É«ÀÇÉçÇø community, and one of the first initiatives being pursued is a continuation of JoAnna Murphy's work towards building a sustainable student conflict resolution program. "I have a background as a conflict mediator," notes Roxie. "JoAnna is really passionate about destigmatizing conflict and we're interested in finding ways to lean into conflict, because that's the only way we grow."

JoAnna Murphy is SJICR's Assistant Director of Women's and Inclusion Programs, and another strong presence in the office. "We have a really impressive team here at SJICR. Each member is so insightful and passionate," praises Roxie. The group will aim to bring other community members into the fold this year as well. "Across all identities, both privileged and marginalized, our office is hoping to connect and collaborate to support our students," says Roxie. "The students are what make all this work worth doing."

Being student-centered, one of Roxie's priorities is to cultivate meaningful, long-lasting relationships with students. They want the students to know that they have a wide-ranging network of people who will support and advocate for them. “As a first-gen student, myself, the best advice I would say is to never be afraid to ask,” Roxie says. “Trust that there are people who have your back."

SJICR has long followed the motto: If you show up here, you belong here. As Roxie and Rahb settle into the SJICR family, they embody that sentiment. "We feel so welcomed, and cannot wait to get started."