Understanding why we lack equity requires a knowledge of the stereotypes and actions that underlie structural racism and classism. Our history of slavery, segregation, disenfranchisement law, prejudice, Native American reservations and boarding schools, immigration and naturalization law, and internment camps continues to inflict great harm by excluding, disengaging, and delegitimizing women, people of color, LGBTQ people, immigrants, and others who aren’t perceived as having value and aren’t welcomed at the table, in the boardroom, or in other places that decisions are made.
So how do I react? How do I think that individuals and institutions should respond to the lack of equity and inclusion? We must recognize that people have been excluded, know that they are valuable, and make sure they are included at the table, in the boardroom, and in all places that decisions are made. As a technologist, I believe that technology must engage and enfranchise diverse voices and perspectives from the get-go. Inclusion fosters creativity, innovation, productivity, resilience, and excellence. It is an institutional and moral imperative that those served by an organization be included in its leadership, policies, and practices. Only by working together can we build a future that engages everyone for the benefit of all.
In my role as an academic leader, I have a responsibility to act. I commit myself to the success of my organization by incorporating diverse groups of stakeholders to design, create, and support our systems, and building partnerships that foster equity and inclusion. We must also train ourselves to recognize the implicit bias in the systems we create. At one point, technology was perceived as a leveler that would ignore culture, religion, race, and experience to produce outcomes that were free of bias and benefitted everyone. This was wrong. In addition to being untrue – research has found a lot of bias in technology – our experiences are central to who we are. If they aren’t included, they can’t benefit us. We need to stop pretending our current systems are free of bias, and design and deploy systems that include the ideas and contributions of all our stakeholders if we are to have an atmosphere of equity, collaboration, and mutual respect.
I am committed to participating, networking, and learning. I have dedicated my time and resources to diversity, equity, and inclusion through the participation in professional organizations, academic coursework, issue focused book clubs, volunteering for LGBTQ+ causes, participating in online discussion groups, being a voice who reaches out to my representatives, and participating in EDI activities in the workplace whenever possible.
Colleges and universities are uniquely positioned to be leaders in the effort to create a more inclusive and equitable society. Through our work and the work of the students we impact, there exists an opportunity to engage in the creation and innovation of information technology systems, procedures, and policy that will shape the future.
I am excited to be part system commitment to investing in, and ensuring access to equitable, diverse, and inclusive learning, student living, and work environments. Our students are assets. We affirm their identities and lived experiences and provide spaces that are emotionally safe and reflect who students are. We are recognized and valued as thought-leaders on equity and inclusion and feel empowered to lead as experts in the field. Again, inclusion fosters creativity, innovation, productivity, resilience, and excellence. I also know there is work to do and am committed to developing myself as an individual and working with others to foster inclusivity in all of my endeavors.