Brea Lauren Roth is a perfect fit for her job.
As program coordinator at the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center, Roth strives to enhance the college experience of culturally diverse students. She planned events last academic year such as salsa dancing, pumpkin carving and the African Children's Choir.
She also planned MSU's first-ever International Light Festival, where participants decorated and released 100 floating paper lanterns on Chadwick Lake.
Part of the joy of her job is to have the opportunity to get people of different cultures to mingle and bridge the gaps between them.
"I love bringing different cultures to people and giving them the opportunity to try new things, whether it is a new food, tradition or way of understanding. Everyone should experience the beauty that comes from that," Roth said.
Originally from Fort Collins, Colo., Roth has lived and visited numerous places, including Los Angeles, where she attended Biola University, Alaska, Mexico and Japan.
In 2009, Roth traveled to Japan for a sports ministry internship. She traveled with a soccer team for the first two weeks, and then traveled on her own for four more weeks, completely immersing herself in the culture and even climbing Mt. Fuji.
"A part of us wants to stay in our comfort zones, but we're really not that different from one another," Roth said. "It's exciting to see the diversity at events."
Adding to her travels, Roth started her journey to Starkville when she promised her brother she would live the next place he was stationed. When he was transferred to Columbus Air Force Base, she kept her promise and now resides in Starkville.
"I absolutely love it here, especially because Starkville has such a feel of family to it. I'm also having fun learning how to cook Southern food," she said.