Celebrating NJIT's Hispanic/Latino Employee Resource Group

NJIT has established employee resource groups (ERG) that meet regularly and encourage faculty and staff to connect outside of their direct working relationships. This month, NJIT is celebrating its Hispanic/Latino ERG and profiled two of its members: Vivian Lanzot, director of Community and Public Service in the Career Development Services office; and Roberto Rojas-Cessa, professor in the Helen and John C. Hartmann Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE).

What is the mission and purpose of your ERG?

VL: The Hispanic/Latino ERG continues to evolve and our purpose is to showcase our strength as a community on campus that serves as a resource to support the university's mission. By representing the many cultures that exist on campus we look to share and educate others about ours, from the history that unites us, to the food and music that makes us who we are as Hispanics/Latinos. We would look forward to having our voices heard as we are a contributor to the success of our campus community.

RR: Most of my activities are based on the research and teaching goals performed by my lab, the Networking Research Lab, in the ECE department. Our goal is to open the doors to students who are interested in scholarly activity or simply want to learn more about engineering and research. We are also open to those who may need to discover what engineering, communications technology, networking and science and technology are. We welcome everyone.

What motivated you to join the ERG?

VL: This group provides you the opportunity to share with colleagues a common space while collaborating to share your culture with the whole campus community at NJIT.

RR: I like to work toward developing teamwork to create more impactful benefits to people and the society than working individually. Also, it is important that we all feel welcome in working and study environments to develop our skills.

How has the ERG contributed to your sense of belonging at NJIT?

VL: It was great to meet other Latino faculty and staff and learn where they were located on campus. Now when you see one another you greet each other with a smile. It's like, "Hey I know you." And that adds to one’s sense of belonging. Representation matters!

RR: I think NJIT is making great progress on inclusivity. There are multiple instances that make me feel the sense of being in a nice place. Small ones are those when we share a talk with students, beyond the classroom. Others are when you find multiple people that have similar interests. One top experience was the Commencement of 2021. Despite being unable to gather together at the time to celebrate our graduates, NJIT placed seats all around campus to welcome all graduates, families and students. 

Can you share a memorable experience from your involvement with the ERG, or one you hope to have?

VL: I look forward to developing and showcasing all that we have in common and for students to share in our commonality.

RR: I was impressed by the recent Hispanic and Latine Month Opening Ceremony held at NJIT — especially by the size of the Hispanic community at NJIT. I hope that these ceremonies occur for most groups and also hope that more students participate.

How does your ERG enhance personal and professional growth?

VL: The ERG is a resource, it's a network and as a result you are tapping into the networks of others. As we evolve these relationships will strengthen allowing us to grow and establish opportunities that could benefit members of our ERG.

RR: Feeling welcome in the workplace can leverage the potential for professional growth and enhance your sense of self improvement. I think that skills, of many types, need to be leveraged for professional growth. I think NJIT is very welcoming and seeing many students have groups of interest and friends make the environment really collegial.

What upcoming events or activities are you looking forward to from the ERG?

VL: Meeting and sharing with one another to discuss topics that impact us on campus and how we can support one another is what I look forward to. As we begin to expand I am confident that more will come of the ERG and the membership. The University has a month-long celebration of Hispanic/Latino Heritage and as a group we can support these events that showcase our students, faculty and staff.

RR: I was recently contacted for some volunteering activities. I think we need to increase awareness of volunteering and participation. Such activities are very rewarding and also count as experience on skills not experimented in the classroom.

How does NJIT's support contribute to the success of the ERG?

VL: Allowing the time and space for ERG to collaborate and engage our colleagues uplifts morale. Being supportive of our needs as employees and being collaborative allows for positive influence and encourages a sense of belonging.

RR: NJIT is very open and welcoming. There are many interest groups on campus and new groups being formed by new staff and students all the time. There are new initiatives taking place at NJIT to make everyone welcome.

What advice do you have for colleagues who are considering joining the ERG?

VL: Come to the table with an open mind. Share your ideas and experience. I bet you will find that there is so much that we have in common than what we have in differences.

RR: I have observed that faculty at NJIT care about students, although everybody shows that in a different way. But if somebody is not involved, ask your friends about it, there may be something to do just around the corner. 

If you are interested in joining one of NJIT’s ERGs, please sign up here. If you don't see your group represented please email hr@njit.edu