1. GLED 101: I NDUSTRY A SSIGNMENT By: Imani White

2. I NTERVIEWEE : D R. F AYE B ELGRAVE Virginia Commonwealth University Professor (tenured) Health Psychology (primary), Social Psychology (secondary) Director, Center for Cultural Experiences in Prevention

3. Q UESTION 1: Y OU WORK EXTENSIVELY ON ASPECTS / INFLUENCES OF CULTURE. C AN YOU TELL ME HOW THAT CAME ABOUT ; HOW DID YOU DECIDE YOU WANTED THIS TO BE PART OF YOUR MAIN CAREER FOCUS ? Answer: “As I started to think about why people act how they do, I became aware of how people are impacted by [cultural] attributes. I understand how cultural attributes impact how people behave.”

4. Q UESTION 2: C AN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE C ENTER FOR C ULTURAL E XPERIENCES AND P REVENTION AND HOW IT WAS FIRST DEVELOPED ? Answer: “It was formed in 2000-2001. We were running a lot of programs, and I wanted a mechanism to organize these programs. The goal [of the Center] is to implement these programs through cultural approaches.”

5. Q UESTION 3: W HAT HAS BEEN THE GREATEST CHALLENGE WITH THE C ENTER ? Answer: “Funding. [We need funds] to keep the Center staffed, [particularly] graduate students. Since I’m a faculty member, I don’t have time to devote to the program.”

6. Q UESTION 4: H AVE YOU HAD TO MODIFY THE WAYS YOU WORK ( COMMUNICATION ) TO ACCOMMODATE REPRESENTATIVES FROM OTHER CULTURES ? Answer: “I’ve had to attend the culture of minority populations.”

7. Q UESTION 5: W HAT NEEDS OR REQUESTS DO YOU FIND YOUR CLIENTS OR COLLEAGUES FROM OTHER NATIONAL CULTURES HAVE ? Answer: “You want to do it in a way that [correlates] with [someone’s] cultural norms; there are differences between cultures. [You have to] understand the family. For instance, in Asian cultures that may consist of being humble and modest.”

8. Q UESTION 6: C ONCERNING YOUR RESEARCH, WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST SHOCKING EXPERIENCE OR RESULT THAT HAS COME FROM ONE OF YOUR STUDIES ? Answer: “Nothing has been really shocking, but interesting. When I interviewed [a group of] women, I found similarities with what the women were saying between different cultural groups. Also, I was surprised to see the level of sexual activity among some young women. I interviewed a twelve year old mother once.”

9. Q UESTION 7: W HAT OPPORTUNITIES EXIST FOR PROFESSIONALS IN THIS FIELD CONCERNING WORKING, STUDYING, OR RESEARCHING ABROAD ? Answer: “I would suggest ‘semester at sea.’ It’s an academic program where students are taught on a ship that travels around the world. It’s a wonderful opportunity for undergraduate students to see other cultures and the similarities and differences around the globe. Also, go to study aboard programs to get immersed with culture; try to do a few before you graduate. You get scholarships and financial aid. You have not been educated until you have left this country.”

10. Q UESTION 8: N OW THAT YOU ARE IN THE FIELD, WHAT ARE 3 PIECES OF ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE SOMEONE JUST STARTING OUT ? Answer: “Get with groups of people, become part of a research team, and work with graduate students and faculty. Also, as I said before, international travel.”