Inclusive by Intention

From the number of programs, virtual events, and communications on the flagship campus related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, it’s surprising to learn that the Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI) at UMass, headed by Interim Vice Chancellor for Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer Nefertiti Walker, has a staff of only four. Walker’s superpower is not the ability to be in many places at once—it’s actually her ability to create and support an interdisciplinary network of people who are responsible for inclusion across campus.

The university’s profile as a destination of choice for talented students from across the country and around the world means the campus draws people of all stripes, hues, and creeds. Supporting this very diverse population is a key part of the OEI’s mission. As Walker says, “We have to ensure that the campus feels like a place where everyone belongs.”

She explains, “No one knows a particular department or micro-culture better than those people living in it, so we try to empower our partners campuswide and connect them with resources.” The office has launched dozens of events and programs with partners in every corner of campus. “We think of ourselves as the connecting point of a matrix of people doing diversity, equity, and inclusion work,” says Walker.

Campus community members apply their own initiative to the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion with the support of Campus Climate Improvement grants. These small project-based grants, ranging from $250 to $2,500, support a variety of creative ways to engage the campus community in conversations about difference and enrich the cultural life of the campus. Since its inception in 2017, the program has supported nearly 60 projects, including a Food Justice Symposium that educated students about food insecurity and increased access to nutritious food, an Asian American Film Festival that brought filmmakers to campus, and a collaboration that produced 3D models to assist blind and low-vision students in STEM fields.

Another example is the OEI’s partnership with the Office of the Provost for faculty recruitment. STRIDE (Strategies and Tactics for Recruiting to Improve Diversity and Excellence) workshops bring research-driven best practices to faculty who are on search committees to help them run effective searches and find diverse pools of qualified candidates. In the past two and a half years, more than a quarter of the university’s faculty members have been trained.

The office continues to innovate in response to campus needs—the Learning Community book groups are now in their third year, a Student Advisory Board was created this fall, and a newsletter and podcast are freshly launched. All of these programs and more help put into action the university’s stated value of “freedom of expression and dialogue among diverse groups in a community defined by mutual respect.” Walker acknowledges that it’s a complex task. “As a society, we’re constantly evolving. … The idea of inclusive excellence is something that will always be constantly evolving and we will continue to evolve our work toward it.”

Walker’s enthusiasm for her work is fueled by “the immense energy on our campus from students, faculty, and staff who are absolutely engaged in developing an inclusive environment rooted in social justice and anti-racism. Of course, we have lots of work to do—but, many people are on board.” She also notes, “Will people stumble? Absolutely. People struggle with the best way to be inclusive and lead from a place of social justice. And they will struggle with understanding how to deconstruct systemic racism and what it means to engage from a place of anti-racism.” But, she says, “I think the fact that people are so engaged and wanting to learn is cause for great optimism.”