with Kim-Le Arvary
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Before coming to the Women's Center, Kim-Le Arvary spent time as an account
executive in the sales department of Manhattan's Infinity Broadcasting,
home of radio station WXRK, working on the Howard Stern show. "It
was pretty funny when I interviewed and they saw I had majored in women's
studies," she said with a laugh. "I considered working there
'research.' "
Despite finding the environment fun and interesting and Stern being "not
that bad," Kim-Le felt her true calling was in education. She began
substitute teaching in the Lodi school district for grades K-8 when a
familiar name called on her with an opportunity to come back to her alma
mater.
"I started volunteering in the Women's Center as a student assistant
and then a peer educator," she explained. "When a position became
available, [Center Director] Esmilda Abreu thought of me and I felt it
was a dream job. I always loved working here. I enjoy the year-long commitment
we stand for."
Kim-Le has been a program coordinator since November and is responsible
for organizing the Center's activities. "I'm constantly doing research
and keeping my ears and eyes open to things that can benefit the University,"
she said. "It's also terrific that we work with other departments
on campus, such as Health and Wellness, Residence Life and the School
of the Arts, among others."
Having been a student here not too long ago has helped Kim-Le in assisting
students on everything from courses to parking. "I do feel I can
relate to students but the University is growing so quickly I'm trying
to keep up as well," she said. "There's that cyclical motion
of learning and teaching, learning and teaching."
The greatest reward of her job is seeing the advances the Women's Center
is making in providing education and women's advocacy within the campus
community. "The biggest impact I saw was when we did the casting
for the 'Vagina Monologues,'" she explained. "To see so many
staff, faculty and deans coming to audition because they felt that this
is a good cause [proceeds benefit local charities that work to end violence
against women] spoke volumes to Montclair getting the message out that
domestic violence needs to be stopped.
"There have been huge strides in the past two years toward women's
equality and diversity issues," she continued. "I see so many
faculty and staff doing their own programs focused on diversity and their
heritage and pride, and I think it's wonderful that they can use Montclair
as their platform for teaching in a different way outside the classroom."
Kim-Le's commitment not only to her job but to the cause of women's issues
began at MSU and has come full circle. As a transfer student with a liberal
arts associate's degree, Kim-Le was undecided about what path she wanted
to pursue. "I was open to anything, but I wasn't sure which direction
to go in," she said. When Kim-Le came across a brochure for women's
studies, it all fell into place. "I thought, 'What better topic to
learn about than myself?' I fell in love right from the beginning, and
truly believe it's a cause I'd like to dedicate my life to."
The knowledge Kim-Le gained through her studies she applies daily and
hopes to get the message across campus-wide. "I learned to be sensitive
to certain issues and people and society in general," she said. "It's
important to know that you can learn from everyone and that goes across
the board from colleagues to students to community members."
Is there a colleague you'd like to nominate for "On the Job?" If so, e-mail his/her name along with a brief description of how he/she contributes to the campus community, to Jennifer Fusco at fuscoj@mail.montclair.edu.