Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Updated 2024
I believe that each student should have what they need to ensure they reach their full potential, regardless of any status disparities. I honor the uniqueness of individuals and embrace diverse backgrounds, abilities, orientations, identities, and points of view in order to foster a safe environment of inclusion and to empower students with respect to a multicultural society.
Students should feel challenge and invested in their learning without fear of threat, humiliation, danger, hostility, or disregard. As an educator, it is important for me to constantly learn from and confront my unintentional complicity in accepting and/or perpetuating biases within academic spaces.
To enhance diversity, I strive to lead meaningful interaction and dialogue with diverse topics and subject matter, thus creating a safe environment that encourages expression and conversation rather than alienation, leading to enhanced social and intellectual development for students. This is achieved through diverse course materials, activities, self-reflection, and collaborative expression.
To ensure equity and fairness, I will constantly assess students’ unique challenges and diverse learning backgrounds to provide appropriate support to aid them. This will be achieved through continuous assessment, reflection, and improvement. Within the classroom, utilizing a labor-based grading system ensures that students are not penalized for their previous academic history. It is also imperative to ensure that learning resources and supports are made available to all students to ensure equitable learning.
To improve inclusiveness, I will constantly evaluate and revise my leadership as necessary to ensure that all students’ range of needs are met to allow for successful learning. Any and all learning accommodations will be met with no judgement or resistance. I am committed to learning how personal, cultural, and historical aspects on individual identities can contribute to and enrich learning spaces through encouraged expression.