By Cassidey Kavathas, News Editor
The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion commission is a campus-wide initiative to create a more culturally conscious campus. Since 2018, the diversity task force inside of the Jandoli School of Communication has adopted this initiative. The task force includes Dr. Kimberly DeSimone as diversity advocate, Assistant Professor Heather Harris, Dr. Pauline Hoffmann, and Dr. Chris Mackowski.
“The focus of the Jandoli DEI plan is instituting observable and measurable strategies and tactics to enhance and standardize diversity, equity and inclusion in ways that can be assessed and measured quantitatively to ensure we are reaching every student,’ said DeSimone.
The Jandoli school is the only school on campus with a designated committee and diversity advocate role. DeSimone expressed how important this is for creating accountability and expectations for action.
“We can’t just talk the talk; we must walk the walk,” said DeSimone. “Often, we see a bumper sticker approach to DEI initiatives – that is, gestures that don’t really move the needle in terms of changing the culture or creating change.”
The Jandoli DEI plan includes creating and supporting activities, events and communications which exemplify diversity, equity and inclusivity, as well as spearheading campus-wide DEI initiatives that build upon the success of the ongoing faculty and student initiatives.
“We wanted to ensure we are reaching every student, versus preaching to the choir. One of the best ways to do this is to ensure DEI is a focus in our curriculum,” said DeSimone.
Faculty at the Jandoli school reached the goal of 70% of their core courses having an assessed and graded DEI component in 2020. Faculty have access to an abundance of DEI resources, including a digital repository, to enhance their teaching.
DEI has become engraved into every part of the Jandoli school. Faculty and staff attend at least one training session per semester. In January, they had an outside expert do unconscious awareness training. The hiring process integrated with DEI initiatives.
Aaron Chimbel, dean of the Jandoli School of Communication, is committed to integrating DEI into faculty hiring practices.
“He [Chimbel] has mandated that the diversity advocate serves on all faculty search committees for the Jandoli School to ensure DEI best practices are integrated at each stage of the hiring process,” said DeSimone.
On top of institutional DEI involvements, the school’s committee is continually auditing the Jandoli school’s physical and digital environment.
Heather Harris created a plan to adapt the building and online aesthetic to continue to foster awareness and acceptance of diversity and inclusion.
“One of the goals we had was to create a feeling of belonging and cultural richness and diversity throughout the Murphy building,” said DeSimone.
Harris, with the help of graduate students, has created multiple posters to decorate the halls of the John J. Murphy Professional Building. The posters include inspiring leaders representing diverse groups and achievements. The DEI goals infographic is also posted throughout Murphy and in every classroom.
“Moving forward we need to ensure that we are staying the course,” said DeSimone. “We are never “done” with diversity, equity and inclusion. We need to continue with our current efforts; constantly monitoring and adapting our hiring practices, curriculum and the overall physical environment.”
The Jandoli school committee feels that they still have more work to do. They are collaborating with other schools on campus who’ve seen what is being done in Murphy and want to do similar things in their schools. They will continue to follow their DEI plan to create and support activities, events and communications which exemplify diversity, equity and inclusivity.
“We will continue to spearhead campus-wide and beyond DEI initiatives, building upon the success of the ongoing Jandoli faculty and student initiatives,” said DeSimone.
kavathcj20@bonaventure.edu
