On April 16, 2013, I was one of several panelists, along with Andrew Adams, III, JD and Damon A. Williams, PhD, for an event celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives (OAMI) at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. The theme was “Reflections on Diversity and Excellence – OAMI Through the Years”. The … [Read more...]
Women and Leadership – Doing it Her Way
March is Women’s History Month, and it is a designated time to reflect on the accomplishments of women as leaders, and how much farther we have to go. On Ryerson University’s campus we celebrated Viola Desmond Day and International Women’s Day. Both celebrations underscored how women leaders are essential to advancing the status of women in North America. Julia … [Read more...]
Cultural Diversity Is Good for Business – Continuing the Conversation
Earlier this month I had the opportunity to read a Huffington Post article entitled Cultural Diversity Is Good for Business by Tim Hockey, President and CEO, TD Canadian Trust. I definitely agree with his general premise and the 5 key points that he made about how to achieve diversity within an organization: 1) Be authentic, 2) Get your house in order, 3) Invest in the … [Read more...]
Black History Month: A U.S. or Canadian Experience?
On February 4, I attended an event celebrating Black History Month (BHM) in Canada held at the Four Seasons Centre for Performing Arts. It was the 2013 Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) Black History Month Student Essay Competition Reception. RBC asked high school students applying to Canadian colleges or universities to tell their stories of how Black Canadians have … [Read more...]
What Is a Chief Diversity Officer (CDO)?
In 2012, I was named the inaugural Assistant Vice President/Vice Provost of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) for Ryerson University, which is located in Toronto, Ontario. As such, my mandate is to provide leadership, advocacy, and coordination for the institution such that all members of our Ryerson community have the opportunity to learn, work, and live in an … [Read more...]