You Belong Project

"Diversity on campus teaches you about other perspectives and can be inspiring when seeing someone going through or have been through the same thing as you."

Kadmiel Konan is a sophomore in the Industrial Design program at the Hines College of Architecture of Design. He is originally from the Ivory Coast, located on the south coast of West Africa. Konan moved to Dallas, Texas where he began taking community college courses before transferring to the University of Houston to pursue Industrial Design. He believes that Industrial Design allows him to pursue his passions for drawing, technology, and helping others. Konan is a part of the International Students Organization as well as a member of Alpha Rho Chi, the co-educational fraternity for students in architecture and the allied arts. Konan and other members of Alpha Rho Chi have created the podcast Sorry I’m in Studio, where they interview Hines College professors, students, and alumni. Konan’s goal after he graduates is to use his knowledge of Industrial Design and become an entrepreneur supporting causes such as environmental sustainability and education for the youth.

"Diversity in a college has helped me be more confident to express myself more and challenge me to try new things."

Pear Siriko originally from Thailand is a Graduate Architecture student at the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design. Siriko explains how diversity and inclusion among the University of Houston’s students have allowed her to gain different perspectives and challenge herself within the Architecture discipline. Siriko aspires to participate in projects aiding communities within the world.

"Diversity brings inspiration and valuable knowledge of cultures that will impact our design, and as a woman, it's our base in how we achieve equity in architecture."

Senior undergraduate Architecture student Ana Peralta explains how her Venezuelan culture is integrated into her everyday work. Peralta was accepted into the Architecture Honor Society and is the Executive Director of the Future Women in Architecture student organization at the University of Houston. Diversity and inclusion within the Hines College are important to Peralta as she is able to work together with other students of different backgrounds to cultivate new ideas.

"As a person of color, to be going to an institution that values diversity and seeing someone that looks like me on campus is important."

Pascal Bakari was raised in both New York and East Africa, before moving to Virginia where he applied to a STEM academy to further explore the design process within Industrial Design. After graduating, Bakari moved to Dallas where he took college courses before transferring to the University of Houston. Bakari enjoys the practice-based and hands-on learning the Hines College offers, and he believes Industrial Design is a service industry in which all designs must have a function. He is now a University of Houston Ambassador, guiding prospective students in their educational journey, and hopes to find his area of specialty in the Industrial Design industry within the next few years.