This project is sponsored by a 4S Project RISE-ExSEL Grant from the State of Michigan King-Chavez-Park Intiative to the MTU Department of Educational Opportunity, and by the MTU Writing Center.

The goal of this project is to encourage productive diversity at MTU. Productive diversity is "the idea that what seems to be a problem–the multiplicity of cultures, experiences, ways of making meaning, and ways of thinking–can be harnessed as an asset (Cope and Kalantzis (eds.) Multiliteracies 2000).

The project was intiated by Nancy Grimm, Director of the Writing Center and a Humanities professor, and Nancy Barron, a graduate of MTU who is currently a professor at Northern Arizona University.

Kathryn Valentine, a graduate of the MTU now directing the Writing Center at New Mexico State University, took over Nancy Barron's position as project coordinator in the Fall of 2000. Jill Arola, a Learning Specialist in the Writing Center, took over for Kathryn in the Fall of 2003. Between 2005 and 2007 Karen Springsteen, a doctoral student in Humanities, joined the project to work with the students and create the website. At the end of 2007, Nathan Carpenter, also a Humanities doctoral student, took over for Karen and is the current website developer.

Most importantly, this website would not be possible without the insight and contributions of the students whose stories you read. We are grateful to all of the students for sharing their stories here.

If you are interested in participating in this project or would like to know more about it, please contact Jill Arola or Nancy Grimm in the MTU Writing Center.

For information about participating in ExSEL, please contact Kerri Sleeman or Susan Liebau. For information about the ExSEL program's projects contact Chris Anderson.