Student Spotlight: Diamond Byrd

I have always had a passion for helping children and love education and learning. As I got close to completing my bachelor’s degree, I had heard about the Master of Social Work program while I was working at the Veterans Center at Cal State Fullerton. I chose Cal State Long Beach because of the quality of the program and for the rapport that the university has with the veteran community.  

After graduating, I would like to work in higher education supporting a marginalized community that relates to one of my intersecting identities whether it be with black students, the veteran community, or women.  

I went into the program thinking I wanted to do school social work and had previously worked for the Corona-Norco Unified School District as a Mental Health Specialist which was a fun and challenging experience. Now I realize I want to do school social work but in a different way.  

I believe my purpose in this world is to start a black college in my community in the Inland Empire. I want to create an institution that provides financial assistance to students because having financial barriers inhibits students from obtaining a higher education. I want to build a school where students can see themselves in their professors and peers. There have been instances where I have been the only black person or the only black female in my class, so I understand that representation matters. 

Through the MSW program, I was placed in an internship in the Black Infant Health Program for the City of Long Beach. In that capacity, I got to work with postpartum mothers in decreasing the health disparity in the community and providing holistic support to them. It was an amazing experience to support such a vulnerable population, and I appreciated that I was given the opportunity through the MSW program.  

Go for it! I have found not only myself but my purpose in this program. I feel like there are a lot of opportunities in the program, like different organizations, and there is a mandatory internship so you will get experience! 

SisterFriends was the first organization I joined when I started at Cal State Long Beach. I was searching for community virtually and found a connection with the people in this organization. It was amazing to have faculty and staff devoting their time to engage with students. 

I served as ASI Commissioner of Veteran Affairs from 2021-2022, and I am currently the ASI Executive Vice President at CSULB. 

Last year, I was involved in revamping the Black Business Student Association after it had been dormant for several years, and I also sat on the board to help create the first Black Graduate Pan-African Association. 

Get connected and find your community, whether it is a cultural or an academic group. Find a community that makes you feel like you belong because it exists here at Long Beach!