Pack IDEAs Student Spotlight: Gavin Bell ‘21MED

In each edition of Pack IDEAs (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access), a newsletter released by the NC State College of Education Change Agent Task Force, we highlight faculty, students and alumni who have expertise and experiences that align with advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the college. In becoming an anti-racist college community, we must deepen our commitment to creating and sustaining a healthy teaching and learning community that uplifts the humanity of all people, but especially Black, Indigenous and people of color, who due to structural inequities are marginalized in education and society. The spotlight feature offers a counternarrative that celebrates and showcases the brilliance of individuals within our college community.

Gavin Bell ‘21MED
Higher Education Administration Program
Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development

Education has provided Gavin Bell ‘21MED with many opportunities to interact and intentionally support student populations, especially those who look like him — one thing he loves about the education field.

Bell, who is a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, says education is an effective avenue for bolstering confidence and growth in students, particularly those from underrepresented communities.

As a second-year graduate student in the master of education in higher education administration program, diversity, equity and inclusion in education is very important to him because he’s so passionate about the field, but he also recognizes that this is one of the arenas that has seen significant disparities in access and support for students.

“In order for this field to be all it can be, there has to be intentional action steps taken beyond just a simple ‘representation quota,’” he said.

Bell appreciates the support and the opportunities the NC State College of Education has provided him and other students so far.