Madeleine Lopez has served as the Director of Brandeis's Intercultural Center (ICC) since 2016. Established in 1992 in the Swig Center near East Quad, the ICC is dedicated to creating a haven of respect, education and celebration that aims to foster growth and awareness of the myriad cultures of Brandeis University. The center fosters a welcoming community, where diverse experiences and perspectives are valued and dedication to the understanding of cultures and ethnicities is essential.

Tell us a little bit about your background.

I am a first-generation graduate from the University of Pennsylvania and Princeton University. I am proud of my Latina heritage as the daughter of a Mexican immigrant and Puerto Rican veteran. I’ve lived in a few places in the Northeast but still consider New York City the best city in the world. For the past 8 years, I’ve lived in Massachusetts with my family and have truly come to appreciate the beautiful changes autumn brings.

What is your main role at Brandeis?

I am the Director of the Intercultural Center and also work as an advisor to the DEIS Scholars Program. I also continue to mentor first-generation undergraduate and graduate students.

How did you first get involved with student life and the ICC? What made you want to pursue it for a living? 

Immediately after graduate school, I began teaching at the college-level with a focus on the Latinx experience in the United States. At the same time, I worked closely with first-generation student advising programs and on-campus student centers. A turning point in my career was serving as the Founding Director of the Cultural Education Center (now known as the Days-Massalo Center) at Hamilton College. Building a Center focused on diversity, inclusivity and cultural awareness from the ground up allowed me to merge my passion for student support and my academic expertise. The best part of my current role is supporting and learning from the diverse cultural experiences of Brandeis students.

How can current student-athletes take advantage of what the ICC offers them?

In recent years, the ICC and its affiliated clubs have  hosted more than 200 events representing the Asian, African and Latinx Diasporas. The Intercultural Center also hosts important discussions on timely discussions. We have brought the campus community together to discuss state sanctioned violence and the Charlottesville protests. This year, we partnered with AAAS to host a discussion on the Black Lives Matter movement, with AAPI Studies to address Anti-Asian Racism and the Coronavirus Pandemic. We were also fortunate to partner with a number of departments and the Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness to host a Indigenous Peoples Day Teach-In. 

Our sole focus is not on programming but on student support. As a staff, we continue to meet with students to focus on their academic achievement and personal growth. We have opened the ICC to provide students with study space and just somewhere to be comfortable. 

I welcome everyone to check the ICC events calendar for the most up-to-date information and zoom links.

What are your interests beyond Brandeis?

Taking care of my three children, reading, crafting and decorating. I used to be an active volunteer at my kids’ schools but COVID has ended those opportunities.