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When Jen deCoste walks into a room to speak about diversity, the
typical reaction from the crowd is one of surprise. DeCoste is a white
woman, without any visual signs of racial or ethnic diversity. To be an
expert on the subject of diversity, most people assume that one must be
a person of color. But deCoste embraces this reaction:
 “I always love it when I show up at a diversity event and
people say, ‘look, she’s white.’ That’s a great starting point for
me in speaking about diversity issues.”
DeCoste arrived at Penn State Altoona in March
2004 as director of institutional equity and
diversity. In addition to dealing with issues of race
and ethnicity, deCoste also tackles gender, age,
ability level, sexual orientation, and religion
matters. Through a variety of events for the College
and community, deCoste strives to bring general
awareness about the issues that face these diverse
groups and how someone in the majority group can
make a positive difference for a minority group.
“The biggest issue I continue to face is how to get
people who are in the majority to understand why
issues facing minority groups should matter to
them. If you’re a white person, why do you care
about what happens to people of color? If you are a
heterosexual person, why should you care about
what happens to homosexuals? Or if you’re a man,
what is the importance of
women’s issues to you?”
DeCoste emphasizes this
theme when working with
student groups on campus. “A
lot of my educational efforts
center around taking a concept
like ‘whiteness’and getting
folks in the majority
to think about race,” explains
deCoste. “I’ll ask them, ‘do you
realize that you have a race?’
Sometimes, when you’re in a
majority group, it’s very easy
to forget that you have a race,
a sexuality, and a gender.”
Pushing students to look at
things from this perspective
makes for better programs and
events, according to deCoste.
“If I’m working with the Black
Student Union [BSU] on an
event, I’ll ask them ‘why would a white person
want to attend this event?’ Or for the Gay Student
Alliance [GSA], I’ll challenge them to look at the
event from the viewpoint of a straight person.”
DeCoste is pleased that these diverse student
organizations recognize the value of including
dissimilar individuals. She facilitated the formation
of a diversity council at the College this year to
further promote communication and understanding
between diverse campus groups.
Diversity and power
“I stress that, when we’re talking about issues of
diversity, we’re talking about power and who has
‘voice.’ Whether you’re in the Gay Straight Allince
(GSA), the Black Student Union (BSU), or
another group, your issues pretty much boil down
to the same type of prejudice—it’s only the ‘face’ of
the prejudice that is different,” notes deCoste.
“Through programming, the diversity council is
trying to help others on campus understand that
these issues are global and not specific to that
particular minority group.”
DeCoste often encounters a major obstacle when
explaining to a person in the majority why he or
she should appreciate persons outside their
majority group—guilt. DeCoste uses herself as an
example:
“The hardest part about talking to
someone in a majority is that there’s a
point where you know that the light bulb
has gone on and guilt occurs
immediately. When I started really
thinking about what privileges my
‘whiteness’ has brought to me, it was
very hard. I began to realize that I was
part of the problem.”
DeCoste turned her own guilt around by becoming
an advocate for other minority groups. “It’s what
you do with your majority status that is important.
I recognize now that being white gives me a
power and access to things that people of color
may not have. But it’s what I do with that power
that makes a difference. I discourage offensive or
inappropriate jokes and I try to model positive
behaviors for others. I’ve taken the power I have
as a white person and used it to become an
advocate for others.”
Diversity is good business
DeCoste’s work extends into the Blair County community as well. She has
been part of an effort within the business community called “Diversity is
Good Business,” which is a council of business owners and leaders in
the area who meet monthly to discuss diversity issues in the
community and how to improve the business environment. Still in its
early stages, the Council’s next step is to work with the local
Chamber of Commerce and economic development group to
develop and implement a marketing plan to educate the
community as to why a diversity-friendly community is more
economically viable.
The ideals of her professional life are consistent with
deCoste’s personal life, even down to her choice in pets.
She opens her heart and home to sick animals and
currently is caring for two ill cats. Tess is a cat with
AIDS, who had a life expectancy of six months
when deCoste adopted her nine years ago. And
Maggie is a cat with a facial deformity due to
ulcerations, who is thriving under deCoste’s care.
DeCoste’s work at Penn State Altoona is the
progression of a journey that began as a public
school teacher, to a professional actress and
classical singer in cities such as Boston and New
York, to a position with the University as a
manager of training services. Her training interests
moved toward the topic of women’s issues in
education and training, leading to her current
pursuit of dual doctoral degrees in educational
curriculum and women’s studies. And led her to
Penn State Altoona, were she seems to have
found her true calling:
“I feel like I’m making a difference and am
so fulfilled by every aspect of my job. I’m
doing something I’m completely
passionate about—and I’m paid to do
it! I’ve enjoyed jobs before, but now
I’m working for a cause to which I
have dedicated my entire life.”
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