Student Spotlight: Diamond Byrd
Diamond Byrd, a first-generation college student, graduated from California State University, Fullerton in May 2020 with a B.S. degree in Child and Adolescent Development and started the Master of Social Work (MSW) program at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) in Fall 2020. Diamond is an accomplished and inspiring student, a veteran, and the first African American woman to hold the title of ASI Executive Vice President at CSULB. Read more about Diamond’s career goals, the opportunities she has had at CSULB, and what advice she has for other students.
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!
