Q&A with Zahida Sherman, Director of the Multicultural Resource Center

Beginning on Monday, February 18, Zahida Sherman will serve as the new director of the Multicultural Resource Center. Before coming to Oberlin, Sherman worked as an assistant director of black student success at University of the Pacific, associate development coordinator of diversity and inclusion at Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP in Los Angeles, and assistant director of diversity, equity and inclusion and assistant director of admissions/director of multicultural admissions at Kenyon College. Sherman holds a master’s in history from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s in anthropology from Ithaca College.

Learn more about Sherman in this Q&A.

How would you describe your role in 6 words?
Cultural unifier with West Coast vibes.

What will your role as Director of the Multicultural Resource Center (MRC) entail?
My role is to create opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to understand identity, power, privilege, and equity, inside and outside of the classroom. In other words, my role is to help Obies understand their own identities so they can better promote social justice and belonging for everyone.

What’s something that you’re excited about?
I’m excited to foster collaborations across campus and bring more visibility to MRC programs, services, and especially its vibrant history.

What are you most looking forward to in your new role?
I’m really looking forward to working with the campus community to explore what social justice means for Oberlin right now.

What's one of your passions in life?
I love storytelling in general, and writing, specifically. I love how our stories have the power to make our personal struggles and triumphs relatable on a universal level.

What do you think some people might be surprised to learn about you?
When I was a kid, I wanted to be astronaut!