ESP Biography



WILLIAM DIEP, First-Year History Student at Columbia University



Major: History

College/Employer: Columbia University

Year of Graduation: 2025

Picture of William Diep

Brief Biographical Sketch:

Hi! My name is William Diep (he/him/his) and I am a first-year student at Columbia University studying history with a potential concentration in educational studies. I am also an advocate for educational, racial, and youth justice. In March 2020, I started Virus: Racism, a youth-led campaign aiming to raise awareness of the discrimination against the Asian-American community due to COVID-19. In August 2020, I published my first book, called Words of One: The Poetry, Prose, and Photography from an Activist Living in New York City, to provide several works that detail my experiences as an advocate born and raised in New York City. In my free time, I like to write poetry, explore the city with friends, watch horror movies, and try new foods.



Past Classes

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X1010: Intro to Intersectionality: How to Recognize Both Oppression and Privilege in Splash Fall 2021 (Nov. 14, 2021)
In 1989, now-Columbia Law School Professor Kimberle Crenshaw changed our approach to social justice by coining the term "intersectionality", which refers to how our different identities overlap and form levels of both oppression and privilege. From race to sexuality to immigration status, there are many identities you carry that sometimes, you don't even recognize influence your every action. In this course, we will dive deep into the term "intersectionality" and at the end, you will be provided with the tools necessary to inclusively create an impact in your community.