Too often executive leaders view diversity work as either a numerical problem (i.e. not enough diversity among the workforce or student population) or a problem of compliance that needs managing. However, to truly integrate the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) throughout public postsecondary institutions, a multifaceted and longitudinal approach is required, as … [Read more...]
Historically Underserved Students: What We Know, What We Still Need to Know
In the twenty-first century, the processes by which students move from high school to college—including college choice, access, readiness, matriculation, and completion—are more important than ever before. Students from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds must negotiate these processes if they wish to thrive in an information-and-service-driven economy. However, not all … [Read more...]
Using Qualitative Methods to Assess Academic Success and Retention Programs for Underrepresented Minority Students
Programs that serve underrepresented minority students have long faced many challenges. Court decisions and state referendums have served as barriers to developing effective programs. The political and legal debates over the years about race-based initiatives have created environments that are more critical and circumspect of programs for Black, Indigenous, and/or racialized … [Read more...]
Leveraging New Media as Social Capital for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Officers
Technology has fundamentally changed our lives by bringing us closer together and connecting us in ways that make the world seem smaller. As higher education diversity professionals step into the foray of social marketing and continue to enhance their presence, it becomes even more important that they understand how to leverage important messages of equity, diversity, and … [Read more...]
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: Five Ways Leaders Can Work Towards Truth and Reconciliation
In the United States, October 10 is Indigenous Peoples’ Day. As an educational leader, I learned about the American Indian Boarding Schools (pdf) and their impact; the Journey to Forgiveness and Healing Moment, and the Ziibiwing Center, where I learned even more about the past and current truths about boarding schools. When I moved to Canada and took on several leadership … [Read more...]