91制片厂

Nadine Petty is 91制片厂鈥檚 new chief diversity officer and associate vice president for community, equity and diversity. She comes to us from the University of Iowa where she was the executive director of the Center for Diversity and Enrichment. Here she shares her thoughts on her new role with 91制片厂 Today.

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What do you anticipate your first steps to be?听

Context and information are important, so I am currently delving into reports,听synthesizing听data听and meeting with campus community members to learn more about the current state of 91制片厂 regarding diversity and inclusion. It's critical to know the DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion)听highlights and gaps and to figure out existing pressure points. Collectively, this will inform future steps.听

You implemented programming at the University of Iowa for underrepresented students 鈥� can you tell me about that?听听

Some examples include:听1) partnership with the Office of Graduate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (OGDEI) to establish a fund for grad student support, 2) partnership with (OGDEI) on "Grad School Jam Session" which involved a panel of graduate students from marginalized identities speaking candidly to undergraduate students with similar identities about the grad school process/experience from a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People Of Color) and LGBTQ+ lens, 3) partnership with Educational Testing Consultants to offer free online GRE prep courses and course materials to low-income students, 4) facilitated a guest lecturer/performer on Afro-Cuban jazz for Black History Month, 5) partnership with Division of Student Life to celebrate the one year anniversary of student advocacy/student leadership around DEI concerns on campus (cultural food, music,听appreciations, etc.), 6) revised existing requirements of a racial/ethnic minority and first generation scholarship program to address issues of scholarship retention, equity听and community connection.听

Are those programs that would benefit the 91制片厂 community?听

Perhaps. I have not been in my role long enough to tell, although I suspect a diversity scholarship for students (not specific to protected classes) might be a useful means of diversifying the student population.听听

In announcing your hiring, you said 91制片厂 鈥渓eadership appears ready and eager鈥� to do the work needed to move diversity initiatives forward 鈥� can you speak to what that work would look like in tangible terms?听鈥�

The President's听Leadership听Council met on Wednesday, Aug. 12 in an all-day retreat where we began to develop strategic initiatives to address main areas of campus DEI concerns.

I read that the Black population at UI is about 3 percent, with an Asian population of 4.5 percent. At 91制片厂 those numbers are about 1 percent and 2.5, respectively. Addressing racism on a campus that is predominately white comes with its own set of challenges; can you talk about those?听鈥�

I would say addressing racism on any campus comes with its own set of challenges. Campuses with higher percentages of BIPOC students are not free from racism and often have higher instances of it. The difference is that on these campuses, students who are harmed by racism have a听community听where they can seek support, comfort听and understanding. At a PWI (predominantly white institution),听community听building is听incredibly听important, but much harder to do.

Also, there is the difficulty of convincing constituents that resources and human capital should be allocated to initiatives that seemingly affect a small percentage of people, but DEI affects everyone. It鈥檚 essential to our educational mission.听

Excluding task forces, committees and such, what can 91制片厂 actively do to promote diversity?听鈥�

Recruiting talented faculty,听students听and听staff of color and ensuring there is a climate of support and an inclusive听infrastructure听are key.听Universities do a better job of attracting diversity than they do retaining it, so building a climate that sustains听diverse听identities is important. The work begins with each of us as individuals. As members of the 91制片厂 community, we have to听ask ourselves hard questions, be open to growth and development,and be willing to sit in discomfort during the process.听

What do you see as your best asset?听

I am strategic and action oriented. I鈥檓 also empathetic and come to 91制片厂 with a full bucket of grit.听

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