DIB to SIB: A New Face

The University of Wisconsin - River Falls rebrands the Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DIB) office after the executive order to disband all DEI initiatives from schools and Universities.

Following the change in name, the office also dissolved their director’s position, resulting in uncertainty of the office’s position of importance for the UWRF community and students.

In the spring semester of 2025 dean of students, Dr. Michael Gilmer reassured students that the office would remain, only that the goals and brand of the office would be revised. This is something that still brought a lot of anger and frustration to students, even sparking rumors of a potential protest in opposition of the actions the UW system had taken.

Now, in the Fall of 2025 real change has been made to the office, no longer going by the acronym DIB, the office has been rebranded as the Student Inclusion and Belonging (SIB) office, run by the Student Success and Engagement manager, May Xiong.

The office has transitioned as a department under the Student Success Center but still maintains its own individual space for students and faculty to enjoy.

Xiong was fully established in her new role over the summer of 2025, preparing for her debut. Xiong comes from experience working in higher education at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire and hoped to continue that journey and passion at UWRF.

“Change is always hard… I really want to put the students first, the hardest part for me is being able to relate to the students and getting them to trust me, so they can share some of their ideas and experiences with me and so far it’s been really, really good.”

The DIB office was known as a hub for the identity-based student organizations and Xiong has made an effort to ensure that they continue to feel that sense of safety with SIB.

“I want to keep the tradition of this being identity based, so that individuals who don’t feel like they fit into mainstream have a safe place where they can feel respected. That’s something that I want to continue and foster.”

Xiong says she hopes that with work and time she can create a lot of exposure for the office, allowing students to become more connected with the resources and opportunities that SIB has to offer.

Due to SIB residing under the Student Success Center, Xiong does her best to become familiar with each office in Rodli so that she can better accommodate the students.

Xiong expresses interest in eventually holding “pop-up” services for students around campus so that they can become more acquainted with SIB. While doing future tabling in the University Center to grow more awareness around the space as well.

One main goal this year is to grow the use of SIB’s space. There are hopes of talking to other students who don’t know much about the office, so that they too can feel welcome in that space.

“I’m hoping by having inclusive experiences through programs like “Aspire”, outreach, leadership workshops, and campus activities, [it] will make people more curious - like ‘what’s SIB?’”.

Although a lot of people were thrown off by the imminent changes that took place with SIB some students grew to adapt to the change, warming up to the new face and new feel of the office.

The president and vice president of the Asian American Student Association (AASA), Elijah Moua and Osheana Lor are looking forward to seeing the work that Xiong does representing the office in its rebrand.

“I think it’s been great… she’s doing a great job on starting new – new activities, new events, pulling the social groups together and checking in on us, working to bring back the “Aspire” program and connecting student leaders, and updating students on new opportunities and resources,” said Moua.

Lor added on by stating that “[Xiong] is doing a great job of exposing SIB and other orgs to other students, showing that this is who we are as cultural organizations.”

Emily Murray, vice president of the Student Feminist Organization (SFO) said that although her exchanges with Xiong have been brief, she thinks Xiong may be a good fit for the office. “I think May has been trying her best to reorganize the SIB office programming in a way that is both cost efficient while still representing the multiple different identities that students have.”

While some students felt Xiong has been doing great so far, others are still struggling to make a connection with her. Nanati Omer, 3^rd year, feels there is a tear in communication and the tactics she is currently using should change.

“She has an idea of what she wants to do but the way she is executing it is not collaborative, it’s more directive. She hasn’t communicated with other student orgs about what she’s doing, why she’s doing, and how she’s doing it, so it’s kind of a ‘find out when you do’ from a second person… she’s pushing for student orgs to have meetings and It feels like she’s playing favoritism for the ones who have – like if you don’t reach out to her, she won’t reach out to you.”

Omer also expressed disappointment in the name change of the office, stating she felt safer viewing the campus because there was a place for diversity. It upsets her that the original name was taken away and she has not taken it lightly. Omer doesn’t seem to be the only student who feels the same way about Xiong and the office, and while others chose not to make a direct statement there have been clear feelings of dissatisfaction.

With reviews coming from all ends of the board the identity-based student organizations have continued to put their best foot forward and strive for greatness.

Xiong says she is working very hard to innovate and create fun and engaging activities and events for the student body. She understands change can be hard and will do her best to make it easier. She continues to uphold traditions such as the movie night series but adding a twist to make it more educational and engaging, a put up a tent event, Friendsgiving, and so many more.

Xiong wants the space to come back better than ever, getting recognition and student participation like never before. With only a month of school down, it’s only the beginning for the new office and manager, Xiong feels that the campus and people in it have been nothing far from welcoming.