Puget Sound Scholar Promotes DEI on Campus

Winston Zapet, a University of Puget Sound (UPS) Posse Scholar, spent his first year working as the student deputy director of equity, inclusion and justice. In this position, Winston influenced the way UPS student government creates and exercises DEI policy.

One of his responsibilities was to make presentations to clubs on campus, sharing best practices for building more inclusive spaces.

“Posse is a leadership scholarship, so I feel a responsibility to make a difference,” says Winston. “I wouldn’t have the confidence to pursue such ambitious goals if I didn’t have my Posse backing me up.”

I used to go into discussions to convince others to see things my way. But I’ve learned that’s not a productive way to converse.

Winston is no stranger to DEI work. At his high school in San Pablo, California, he was a member of the student Social Justice Council. The group traveled to Washington, D.C., to learn about advocacy work.

Winston plans to take what he has learned to continue to build DEI infrastructure on campus at UPS. Beginning the fall semester, he will be instituting a “teach-in sit-in” program featuring different keynote speakers discussing different DEI issues.

“I’m looking to create more DEI spaces on campus because not everyone has found something they’re super passionate about. I want to give students a space to get informed and maybe find something that excites them.”

Winston believes that starting conversations on campus is the first step to creating change.

“I used to go into discussions to convince someone to see things my way,” he says. “But I learned that’s not a productive way to converse. That’s part of my passion for DEI work; it creates connection between people who disagree and creates a dialogue around important topics.”