Meet Babson’s Assistant Director of Multicultural and LGBTQ+ Programming
If you have met Anthony Del Real, Babson College’s assistant director of multicultural and LGBTQ+ programs, you probably have noticed his extensive, colorful collection of Los Angeles Dodgers caps. Blue, black, and an incoming version that’s a perfect Babson green: No matter the day, weather, or event, Del Real’s got a cap for that. But, the caps are just one of many hats the self-described “openly queer, third-generation Chicano from East Los Angeles” has worn.
Before he joined the Office of Multicultural and Identity Programs (MIP) at Babson in October 2021, Del Real worked closely with LGTBQ+ young people of color while running an HIV-prevention program in Boston. At Babson, his mission is to ensure members of the LGBTQ+ and multicultural communities find a welcoming, safe and engaging campus.
The Q&A
What are some of the new LGBTQ+ programs you have worked on since you started at Babson?
“I’m a second advisor to Babson Pride for undergraduate students and Out Network for graduate students. In partnership with these groups, I am facilitating a new program launched in April 2022 called SYNERGY, which is an affinity-based discussion space for LGBTQ+ undergraduate and graduate students to explore ways to foster connections, as well as for them to voice what they would like to see at the College regarding LGBTQ+ programming and events. I also helped to plan Babson College’s 10th annual Lavender Graduation, which was to celebrate and honor LGBTQ+ and ally graduating seniors. For Pride Month, Babson’s Office of Multicultural and Identity Programs supported LGBTQ+ of color programming and events happening in Massachusetts.”
What are some of your future plans for LGBTQ+ and multicultural programming at Babson?
“I want to collaborate with other faculty and staff to help build more LGBTQ+ visibility and connection at Babson. In this next year, I will be helping to facilitate the LGBTQ+ ERG (Employee Resource Group), the LGBTQ+ Working Group, as well as supporting the efforts of the Black and First Gen working groups. In the projects that MIP is responsible for, as well as the partnerships we build with other programs, I will always be actively thinking about who we are reaching and who is missing. I want to build a strong relationship with our LGBTQ+ Alumni-Affinity Group network to keep them involved with things happening on campus and consider future mentor and internship opportunities. As (MIP Director) Natalie Joseph and I stepped into our roles within MIP, we both identified the importance of intentionality in all that we do with students. This intentional relationship building with student organizations will help us to further build the Multicultural Student Leader Coalition (MSLC) and help students to recognize the importance of partnership and allyship.”
What does Pride Month mean to you?
“Pride holds so much history for our community. The rights that we currently have as queer people to live, love, and express ourselves openly and authentically did not just happen. It is even still happening today. Knowing our history and recognizing that these events were not that long ago, puts into perspective the importance of fighting for current day aggressions and acts of bigotry and bias, including but not limited to #BLM, the Anti-LGBTQ policies in Texas and Florida, the attempted removal of trans accommodations in public spaces, and the fight to protect reproductive rights. For me, Pride is for celebration of all of the communities who have been made to feel ostracized for being themselves. I cannot celebrate Pride without being thankful of the queer elders before me who fought for my current rights as an openly queer Chicano and how much I still need to continue to fight for the rights of future queer individuals.”
Two More for Anthony Del Real
What does Babson mean to you?
“For me, in the seven months that I have been here, Babson has meant opportunity. Babson is an entrepreneurial school, and even though I have no background in business, my role has shown me that entrepreneurship is intertwined in every aspect of the work. I feel inspired by our students’ determination and tenacity. Through the positive and challenging experiences in program development, I am learning to embrace and learn from the challenges. I am helping to model and help students to define their own successes and ways they can continue to grow into the professionals they will become. The opportunity to try something new, meet with people from various backgrounds, experiences, and values is helping me to think and reflect critically about what is important to me and remind me that everything I work toward is for the students.”
Right now, what are you …
- Watching? “Right now, I’m watching ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 7,’ ‘Ash vs Evil Dead,’ ‘Stranger Things,’ ‘Bob’s Burgers,’ and ‘Steven Universe.’ ”
- Reading? “There’s more on my reading list, but right now, I’m reading Redefining Realness by Janet Mock, Karamo by Karamo Brown, and Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling.”
- Listening to? “I love ’90s and ’00s nostalgia pop like Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys, and I have a list of favorite artists I listen to like Lizzo, Dua Lipa, Adele, and Cardi B.”
- Doing in your free time? “I’m a huge ‘gaymer,’ and I’m so excited for the release of ‘Overwatch 2.’ I’m also playing ‘Pokemon Shield,’ ‘Kingdom Hearts,’ ‘Animal Crossing: New Horizons,’ and ‘Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker,’ which is beautiful. I also love drawing. I haven’t been drawing as much lately but I usually work with pencil and paper. Recently, I’ve been posting on Babson’s MIP Instagram and that’s helped me to express myself creatively.”
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