Zaneta Rago-Craft, Ed.D., has recently begun her tenure as the inaugural director of the Intercultural Center at Monmouth University.
Rago-Craft has worked in higher education for the last 10 years, including previous roles at the Center for Social Justice Education and LGBT Communities at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, the New York University (NYU) LGBTQ Student Center, the Center for Multicultural Education and Programs at NYU, and Ramapo College’s Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) program and Women’s Center. She has a passion for infusing social justice education into her student affairs work with a particular interest in facilitating conversations around the intersectionality of multiple identities and oppression, art as activism, feminism, anti-racism, mentoring, LGBTQIA+ representations in the media, and multiracial experiences.
Originally from Long Branch, New Jersey, Rago-Craft graduated from Ramapo College of New Jersey with a B.A. in history and women and gender studies in 2010 and an M.A. from New York University in higher education and student affairs administration in 2012. She also holds an Ed.D. in education, culture, and society from Rutgers University.
The vision of the Intercultural Center at Monmouth is to cultivate a campus environment where all its members can thrive equitably. The center provides programs, educational opportunities, and policy/practice consultation that supports the academic, social, and professional success of historically underrepresented campus community members including, but not limited to, people of color, LGBTQIA+, first-generation, low-income, international, and religious minority members of Monmouth University. In addition, the Center promotes diversity, inclusion, and respect while fostering a sense of shared responsibility for enacting equity across our diverse students, faculty, staff, administration, community members, and alumni.
Rago-Craft’s goals for the Intercultural Center include:
- Serving as a resource and referral for historically underrepresented students as it pertains to their overall wellness and success.
- Cultivating intercultural student dialogues that promote identity development, understanding, reflection, and mutual respect.
- Working closely with Student Life to support and mentor historically underrepresented student clubs and organizations.
- Coordinating educational and co-curricular engagement opportunities such as safe zone, heritage months, and other signature programming.
- Collaborating with areas across campus to attract and retain students and employees of diverse backgrounds.
- Ensuring that equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice efforts are reflected in curriculum, research, and faculty representation.
- Identifying strategies to address institutional opportunities related to diversity, equity, inclusion and campus climate.
- Serving on the President’s Advisory Council on Diversity and Inclusion.
- Acting as a liaison to surrounding communities and historically underrepresented alumni.
The Intercultural Center is located in room 202C in the Student Center. For more information, contact Rago-Craft via email at zragocra@monmouth.edu.