RIT/NTID Diversity Spotlight
[ID: RIT National Technical Institute for the Deaf. Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Black Heritage Month Spotlight. Pictured in a green circle is Rachel Romaine, an African American woman smiling, with her hand on her hips, wearing an African robe with hues of purple and red flowers, accompanied with a head scarf of the same design. She has long braids, silver earrings and a watch. Quoted below is: "BHM is a great time for me to reflect on the amazing things Black people have accomplished. Rachel Romaine ‘22. International Business and Management Information Systems BS (Double Major)." Black History Month colors, red, yellow, black and green are found on the photo's bottom border.]
Rachel Romaine ‘22
(She/Her/Hers)
International Business and Management/Information Systems BS
RIT/NTID
Rachel is a fourth-year International Business and Management Information Systems double major and Digital Business minor, expected to graduate in May 2022.
What is your nationality/how do you identify?
American; I was born and raised in the United States, but I have Nigerian-American parents.
What does Black History/Heritage Month mean to you?
Black History Month is a great time for me to reflect on the amazing things Black people have accomplished and for me to be extra proud of my Nigerian heritage and being a Black woman.
What or who has been your biggest cultural influence?
My family is my biggest cultural influence.
From your lens, how can the larger community better support POC, like yourself?
The larger community can support us by learning about our cultures. This will help better understand the challenges and barriers people of color face and the larger community should advocate whenever they can.
What is your favorite cultural dish?
My favorite Nigerian dish is Okra soup with pounded yam/fufu. The soup consists of chopped okra, chopped spinach, crayfish, Nigerian spices, and a variety of meat and seafood such as chicken, turkey, goat meat, shrimp, and fish. I also love the famous Nigerian jollof rice which is a close second. One can find a variety of videos of how to make these dishes on YouTube.
What advice would you give to those who are just joining your major as they look to advance their skillsets?
They should check out the variety of clubs within Saunders College of Business along with the professional business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi to meet new people and expand their professional network.
Share a quote that you live by.
“Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.” —John Quincy Adams
Share a cool, random fact about yourself.
I watch a lot of telenovelas (Spanish soap operas) on Netflix in my free time. I learn new vocabulary words and slang which helps improve my Spanish listening and speaking skills.