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DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
In 2020, Dana Griffin, Ph.D., an associate professor, began a 3-year term as the School’s inaugural dean’s fellow for diversity, equity, and inclusion. In her first year, Griffin listened and collected data with the intention of developing and implementing a strategic plan and additional programming. In 2020-21 and in 2021-22, Griffin engaged faculty, staff, and students across the School and developed responsive, highimpact programs and trainings in an effort to help to bolster a community committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Fostering a diverse and inclusive community
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The 2021-22 academic year was a great one for diversity, equity, and inclusion at the School, said Dana Griffin, Ph.D., dean’s fellow for diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“I was able to see the 2020-21 training sessions and recurring newsletters presented to the UNC School of Education community pay off,” Griffin said.
In 2021-22, Griffin saw increased engagement from faculty, staff, and students with issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. She also said more School of Education community members reached out to her, bringing necessary attention to new needs and highlighting new opportunities. In comparison with last year, Griffin also saw more faculty, staff, and students utilizing the individual meetings and consultations she offers. These meetings raised important issues and provided thoughtful discussions to address them.
Griffin noted another area of growth she saw in the previous year: Faculty members continue to review and refine their syllabi to ensure content is inclusive and accessible to all students.
The School continued to host a DEI book club that helps to connect its community members, and Griffin continues to send a recurring DEI email newsletter that shares campus-wide events and opportunities, connecting the School to on-campus peers.
In 2022-23, Griffin said she plans to continue all of the work done thus far and hopes to host even more community events, including monthly panels, movie and documentary nights with accompanying discussions, and affinity groups for students.
In the 2022-23 academic year, the UNC School of Education and the UNC School of Information and Library Science will hire a Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging.
The person selected for the role will be a full-time staff member charged with leading the diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging efforts of both schools. They will help the School of Education and School of Library and Information Science realize their vision of inclusive excellence, organizations where diverse and talented people — faculty, staff, and students — want to come, stay, and do their best work.
The director of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging will serve as a member of each school’s leadership team — initiating, leading, and sustaining efforts to expand diversity, bolster belonging, and promote the highest standards for inclusive excellence among faculty, staff, and students.
“With Dean’s Fellow for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Dana Griffin nearing the end of her 3-year term in the role, we have a responsibility to build upon her excellent work,” said Dean Fouad Abd-El-Khalick. “We are hopeful this new full-time staff member, solely focused on this critical work, will advance our School, the School of Information and Library Science, and the UNC campus in important, lasting ways.”
