Amalhyn Shek, Undersecretary of Multicultural Affairs

Hello! I am a junior at the college and am finishing up the pre-med track and majoring in Public Health. My parents are both natives of Colombia but also have family roots tracing back to India(dad) and Lebanon(mom). Growing up within this melting pot of backgrounds and in the multi-faceted Washington D.C. gave me an appreciation for the many cultures, backgrounds, and my favorite- the range of gastronomic delights of our oh so multi ethnic DC metro area.

My experience with diversity at William and Mary started before I was even a student, when I spent a weekend on campus during Escape, the office of undergraduate admission’s program geared towards students of diverse backgrounds. During that weekend I met many of the past and current students of the college who have gone on to be some of my biggest mentors. As soon as I started my freshman year I chose to join a variety of organizations. I have been on the exec board for SASA, the South Asian Students Association, for a year and a half and, through it have been exposed to a world of event planning and collaboration that I had not dealt with on such a large level before. In the Student Organization for Medical Outreach and Sustainability, SOMOS, I’ve been afforded the chance to travel, befriend and embrace a new culture and to see collaboration and teamwork in action. As undersecretary of Multicultural affairs, I can’t wait to see how different organizations will continue the great level of intermingling and collaboration that exists amongst the many groups at the college. With the range of events planned for the year I am excited to see the continued development of the ideas surrounding diversity at William and Mary.