ABSTRACT
The Opening Doors (OD) program was implemented for the first time at a state university in the Northwest during the summer session of 1992. The overall goal of the program was to encourage students from traditionally underrepresented groups to participate in and pursue graduate study in teacher education. The program consisted of three types of events: academic, social, and special events. The academic agenda for first week set the stage for the OD experience, putting into motion a full range of types of activities encountered in a graduate school experience. The first assignment designed to focus on issues of self and identity invited students to create autobiography presentation to share with the group. Time for social interaction outside the classroom setting was consciously built into OD program schedule. As the professor with the expertise on multicultural issues on campus, Celeste was often called on by professors to present, respond to, or coordinate activities concerning multicultural issues for their courses.
