Hello!

 

Our names are Melissa Paz-Flores, and Mengze Wu (pronounced “meng-z” or Mandarin pinyin “mèng zé”), and we are truly honored to serve as the 2025 Co-Directors of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the USC Helenes. 

 

The Helenes embody our university’s essence: our passion for service, our commitment to representing the student community, and our dedication to creating an inclusive family. However, our identity as a campus organization also carries weight: as a group that engages directly with USC’s storied history and troubled past, we hold responsibility for addressing the systemic inequities embedded within the spaces we represent.

 

Our organization’s work takes place on unceded Chumash and Gabrielino land and intersects with communities across South Central —communities often overlooked, displaced, and under-resourced due to institutional actions. As Helenes, we aim to be mindful of this responsibility while celebrating the rich cultural and historic diversity of these neighborhoods and the student body we represent.

 

Melissa’s trajectory as a first-generation transfer student and the daughter of Peruvian immigrants has shaped how she approaches equity & inclusion work. Growing up, she witnessed her mother advocate for other immigrant families in her hometown, paving paths for social service opportunities while often encountering opposing forces of power that reinforced institutional barriers. Following in her footsteps, Melissa continues to cultivate that zeal to foster a cohesive sense of belonging in spaces that may not initially warrant diversity or deem it as necessary.

 

Mengze’s bi-cultural Chinese Canadian background shapes her journey in advocacy and work in DEI. Rooted in intersectionality, her foundation in science and gender studies anchors her belief that productive work is only established when one approaches them with anti-racist, anti-sexist, and anti-discriminatory intentions. With the goal of constructing an equitable framework to uplift and amplify the voices of those unheard, she hopes to be of support for the USC and South Central community.

 

Within Helenes, we hope to encourage intentional reflection and action, fostering cultural humility, mutual respect, and advocacy as central pillars of our work. Whether it’s through programming that bridges cultural divides or facilitating difficult but meaningful conversations, our goal is to elevate the diverse perspectives that make us stronger.

 

Our vision for this role is one rooted in action, compassion, and education, with the hope of leaving a legacy where every member feels valued and seen.

 

There’s much to be done to hold ourselves accountable and grow collectively. It’s a privilege to engage in this important work, and we look forward to walking this path alongside all of you.

 

Thank you, and our doors are always open to connect!

 

Warm regards,

Melissa Paz-Flores & Mengze Wu

Co-Directors of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

helenesdei@gmail.com

The Directors of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has curated a Resource List for folks seeking more educational or identity-affirming resources. This document is accessible here.