Dr. Talia Carroll, vice president for diversity and inclusion, is hosting a series of Zoom sessions this month to explain the role the new Diversity and Inclusion Office has on campus.
Carroll said students going to the sessions should expect details and information on the Diversity and Inclusion office.
“I will likely be sharing some information about the office, what our vision and mission and values are, programing and a couple of initiatives that I haven’t shared out loud yet,” Carroll said.
Carroll said an unannounced initiative is currently under development and will be a new process for students to communicate with others across campus.
Carroll said each of the three sessions will be covering the same information but will have limited capacity.
“I do encourage folks to come. The sessions aren’t going to be too big because I do want folks to feel like they can engage and we can have a very informal conversation,” Carroll said.
Carroll said students filling out the RSVP were asked to submit any questions or reflections they would like covered at the meeting.
Carroll said she has been looking forward to hosting sessions with the community since she was hired, but she wanted to hold off until students were adjusted to the new learning format.
“They’ve been on my to-do list and my plan for a very long time, but I wanted to be strategic and thoughtful about everyone getting really adjusted to the semester before offering these times,” Carroll said.
Carroll said the Zoom meetings, each lasting 45 minutes, are an open space for students to share their experiences with the campus’s attitude toward diversity and inclusion and gain a better understanding of the efforts of Carroll’s office.
“I really want it to be an opportunity for students to share what their experiences have been,” Carroll said. “Anything they love or don’t love so much that they would like me to be aware of.”
Carroll said she wants the sessions to be an informal time, where students can ask questions and get to know her.
“And this won’t be the last time I offer these sorts of sessions. It’s my hope to offer at least two or three every semester,” Carroll said.
Charlie Turner, music theater junior, said he is looking forward to the expansion of conversation around diversity and inclusion. He said the steps taken around the university will lead to effective change within his program and programs around the rest of the university.
“I hope this leads to more diversity in the music school and the university as a whole,” Turner said.
“I’m really looking forward to getting to meet students I haven’t had a chance to meet yet. I am really thankful in advance for that time,” Carroll said.
The Zoom meetings were at noon on Sept. 7, 5 p.m. on Sept. 9, and 4 p.m. on Sept. 15. Carroll said students can follow diversity and inclusion updates on their Instagram and Facebook pages.
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