Page 44 - FDCC_February2026_Flyer

FDCC PILLARS
StatementS for the FDCC Barbara Currie Diversity Scholarship
Kashae
Garland
When I began my freshman year
at Villanova University, I knew
from the moment I stepped onto
campus that I did not belong. Each
classroom reminded me—I was
the only Black person in the room,
the only one who spent summers
working instead of vacationing in
the mountains, and the only one
who had to hide her sexuality.
As a low-income, Black lesbian
woman at a predominantly white
institution, I represented every
form of different from the Villanova
community. I cried to my mother
daily, convinced that I would
transfer and find a place where my
differences would be celebrated
rather than isolating.
Everything changed when I
stumbled across posters for the
Student Government Association
senate elections. Every candidate
looked the same—white, straight,
and mostly male. I was not
surprised, but I was disappointed.
But I was curious and attended the
debate, hoping to hear something,
anything that would show these
candidates understood the real
challenges underrepresented
students faced. Instead, the most
pressing issue raised was a call for
more chicken nuggets in the dining
hall.
As the crowd erupted in applause,
I felt something inside of me
shift. Feelings of frustration,
disappointment, and a profound
sense of injustice were brewing.
Students like me were navigating
microaggressions, harassment,
and daily isolation, yet here in this
room, the biggest concern was food
options. When it came time for
audience questions, I stood up.
“Since none of you spoke about
diversity throughout this entire
event,” I said, “how would you
handle issues of discrimination or
harassment that underrepresented
students face?”
Their stunned faces and the silence
that followed told me all I needed to
know.
That moment changed the
trajectory of my life. I no longer
wanted to transfer, I wanted to
fight. I made it my mission to make
Villanova a place where students
from all walks of life could feel seen,
heard, and safe. I went back to my
dorm and saw SGA had an opening
for a position in the Diversity,
Equity and Inclusion department.
I was unsure how I was going to
make changes, but I knew this
would be my start.
Kashae Garland receives the 2026 Barbara
Currie Scholarship from the FDCC’s Ned Currie
Over four years, I became President
of VU Pride where I advocated
for gender-neutral bathrooms,
a LGBTQ+ Resource Center
and created spaces for LGBTQ+
students to express themselves.. In
SGA, I rose to become the Director
of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Immediately, I saw that the DEI
position lacked real influence so
I restricted it by dissolving the
Director role and creating the
Vice President of DEI position to
40 February 2026 | Federation Flyer www.thefederation.org