Reagan Saul

I helped create the #DiversityIsOurStrength project, working as the Project Manager.

My Family History

Way way back in the 1800’s, the Carroll's (used to be O'Carroll - Irish) migrated from Ireland and dropped the “O” to avoid discrimination as Irish immigrants. They came to the USA/Iowa looking for work and an opportunity to raise a family, initially working as farmers. New family members started going to school and getting educated for jobs such as banking. My grandfather worked in the energy industry.

Living in Iowa

I grew up in Waterloo, Iowa, and it’s my hard work ethic and the way I interact with others makes me “Iowan.” I love my community. Iowa in general is a very neighbor-friendly state.

My Dreams

I am good at digital content creation, search engine optimization (SEO), all technology associated with the Adobe Creative Cloud, advertising strategies, and critical thinking. I just got a job at Spinutech (Des Moines) as an SEO Strategist.

A Teacher Who Changed My Life

Dr. Anelia Dimitrova, Professor of Digital Media, University of Northern Iowa. Anelia has gone above and beyond for not only me personally, but all of her students. I have never had a teacher care so deeply about their students’ success. Anelia has never given up on me, even when I feel defeated. She has taught me to care for others even when it doesn’t directly benefit you, what hard work looks like, that failure is okay, and to love each other deeply.

My Favorite Thing

Tennis Shoes

My object is my shoes because over the past few years life has thrown me many curve balls and these are the shoes that carried me through everything. The shoes also represent my fears and goals. My entire life I have never been able to run, however, I have been training for a half marathon and even though it is the hardest goal I’ve ever set for myself, I find happiness in the fact that I am conquering my fears.

What #DIVERSITYISOURSTRENGTH means to me

This phrase to me means using our differences to make the world better, and working together for equal opportunity in education and in life.

Alex Knospe Amanda Jensen Annebel Trumm Ben VanHorn Brett Foreman Colin Hughes Connor Gibson Dakota Davis Elexia San Nicolas Hannah Stater Kalei Owens Leslie Owusu Madison Watland Preston Larson Reagan Saul Sami Enos

#DiversityIsOurStrength is a public web and mural project developed by Interactive Digital Studies (IDS) majors at the University of Northern Iowa. IDS is an interdisciplinary program focusing on creating digital experiences. We are using what we’ve learned in our culminating IDS Practicum course to create a highly visible public project that both addresses the challenges and embraces the future of educational diversity in the Cedar Valley.

One inspiration for this project came from the 24/7 Wall Street article that identified Waterloo and Cedar Falls as the #1 worst metro area for Black Americans in 2018. Having this distinction continues to be disturbing for all of us. Our second inspiration comes from 1619 Project, a New York Times initiative led by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and Waterloo native Nikole Hannah-Jones. The project reframes the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of our national narrative.

Thank you to literacy educator Dr. Shuaib Meacham, Associate Professor at the University of Iowa, who has guided this project.

Also thank you to Anthony Woodley and Mack Vos for helping in the final stages of the project. Due to COVID-19, the project became delayed and was unable to be completed by the end of the spring semester, and without their help, the project could not have been finished.

PROJECT DOCUMENTATION

Contact Us

Email: diversitystrength@uni.edu