Fellowship on diversity begins
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion is holding a three-day program beginning Monday, May 20, to help faculty develop methods to address issues of diversity that often arise in educational settings.
The Inclusive Excellence Faculty Fellows program will examine ways to include instructional practices and other strategies that will enhance students’ intercultural competence.
“This is partially in response to faculty members asking for guidance in handling diversity issues,” said Sylvia Spears, vice president of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. “With this program, we hope to provide faculty the skills and resources to take advantages of the many teachable moments that can organically occur in the classroom that facilitate critical learning and cultural development.”
Nineteen faculty members from a wide variety of departments are participating, including Writing, Literature and Publishing; Journalism; Visual and Media Arts; and Communication Studies.
The program will include presentations, small and large group discussions, reflection exercises, a student panel, and hands-on course enhancement activities.
Spears said earlier in her career she took part in a similar training session and called it, “one of the most meaningful things I’ve participated in.”
“We had a math professor learning how to intertwine diversity and inclusion into his lesson plans,” she said. “This is a first for Emerson. I’m excited that faculty will work to develop inclusive pedagogical practices that will create more inclusive classrooms and facilitate cultural development of students.”
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