Article by student Mallory Armstrong, MRADS Program Assistant

Part of MRADS’ mission as a living-learning community is to promote a sense of belonging for all students. While there are many activities throughout the year that help students connect to each other and the campus, affinity groups have quickly become a valued component of MRADS’ culture.

Affinity Groups are small, student-led groups that share a common identity. MRADS currently hosts five groups: women in STEM, first-generation students, students of color, international students, and LGBTQIA+ students. Each group is led by a pair of first-year student-scholars, who organize events, facilitate discussions, and foster a sense of community for their participants.  Each interaction relies on “depth over breadth”, making sure that students can explore what matters most to them, says Associate Director, Dr. Janae’ Collier.

Over the last few years, the Affinity Groups have hosted holiday parties (e.g., the "Gru-niversity of Michigan" from the last Fall Celebration), professional and cultural events, study groups, and casual movie nights. But beyond simply being a break from the rigor of  Michigan’s undergraduate studies, the Affinity Groups provide a myriad of benefits to the community. According to Dr. Janae' Collier, they improve scholars’ “retention response, relation, and relaxation.” She explains, further, that when students are able to decompress in a space where their voices are heard and understood, it helps those students relate to one another on a deeper level. The groups promote feelings of being “welcome” on campus. They provide leadership experience for facilitators from the very beginning of their undergraduate career. And they bring the MRADS community together, allowing students to get to know people in a fun, relaxed environment.

Zoey Brookbanks, a senior who has been involved in MRADS since 2022, has been an integral part of the Affinity Groups since their inception. Zoey was a leader of the women in STEM group in her first year, where she met some of her closest friends and began her leadership journey in MRADS. “In high school, a huge part of my identity was the groups I led, but there is something very special about your group being your identity,” Zoey said.

Her experience parallels that of many others who have been involved with Affinity Groups.

Affinity Groups have allowed MRADS to uphold its core values, tying into 3 of the 5 tenets of the program: multicultural awareness, responsible stewardship, and strategic communication. They bring students together, create a more complex and inclusive community, and expose students to all different types of people. The relationships they create and leadership opportunities they offer provide a springboard for scholars to move forward socially and professionally throughout their Michigan experience.