ARC Alumni Newsletter – December 2024

One Alumna's Commitment to Diversity at American River College

For American River College alumna Diane Bryant, the opportunity to name the new STEM building at ARC was deeply personal. Reflecting on her career and the pivotal moment when the college reached out to her, she shared how her career and dedication to increasing diversity in the STEM field led to support for a new campus building—one designed to inspire future generations of students.

Having her name on a building wasn’t on Diane Bryant’s radar. "It never crossed my mind," she said, recalling the surprise of being contacted by ARC’s president and the Chancellor of the Los Rios Community College District. The two shared their vision for a new building dedicated to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education and asked for her involvement to bring the project to life.

Bryant, an electrical engineer who rose to the highest ranks at companies such as Intel and Google, said her decision to be involved was rooted in a long-standing commitment to diversifying STEM fields, a mission she has championed throughout her career.

"I feel incredibly blessed to have entered the tech industry, as it was a time of disruption and innovation. The opportunities were endless," she explained. However, she also observed a significant problem: the lack of women and people of color in her field. “It wasn’t just lonely; it was depressing to see so many people excluded from such vast intellectual and financial opportunities," she said.

She noted that besides limiting the potential of individuals, the absence of a diverse workforce also hindered the industry's overall growth.

During Bryant’s time as an ARC student in the early 1980s, the campus was far from the vibrant, welcoming space it is today. “My 18-year-old self would be impressed,” she admitted, acknowledging how far the college has come in cultivating an environment where students feel a true sense of belonging.

“I wish everyone understood just how vital American River College is in advancing a diverse and non-traditional student population, especially when compared to typical university demographics. The statistics are both striking and impressive.”

Nearly half of ARC students are adult learners over the age of 25, with 50% considered low-income or below the poverty line. The colleges are more racially diverse than the communities they serve, and more than a quarter of students are the first in their family to attend college. Single parents, veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals working to transform their lives through education also find a uniquely accepting home on the ARC campus.

One piece of advice from Bryant could serve as a guiding principle for their future success: "Embrace grit."

“Grit is the power of passion and perseverance in achieving your long-term goals,” she explained. “It’s the stamina to stick with the future you envision and the determination to work hard to make that future a reality.”

For Bryant, grit wasn’t just an abstract concept but a necessity. Growing up in a challenging environment, she faced obstacles that could have easily derailed her dreams. 

"My childhood, like that of many at ARC, was filled with challenges," she shared. "But the one thing I knew was that I was going to have a different future. I was going to work hard, and I wasn’t going to let circumstances hold me back."

Graduating from ARC was a monumental step toward achieving that dream. For this alum, it was more than just receiving a diploma; it was the first giant leap toward financial security and personal independence. "My ARC graduation marked the beginning of my long-term journey," they said. “It was the foundation that set me on a path to realizing my goals.”

One unique aspect of the building is the decision to have a woman's name attached to it. This wasn’t just a gesture of recognition but a deliberate choice to send a powerful message: success in STEM is accessible to all, regardless of gender or background. "My hope is that having a woman’s name on the building, right before the word STEM, will serve as a permanent reminder that success in these fields is within reach for everyone,” she explained. “We all have the right to participate and succeed.”