Diversity and Inclusion

• Kafui Agbemenu
• Laura Anderson (Co-Chair)
• Jana Blaha
• Hiu Ying (Herby) Cheung-Mayes
• Lynn Emminger
• Amy Hequembourg
• Kathi Hilbert (Administrative Assistant)
• Gerri Kremer (Co-Chair)
• Linda Paine Hughes
• Darryl Somayaji

Diversity grand rounds were initiated in the Fall of 2017. These educational, interactive sessions address issues of diversity and inclusion – especially those relevant for academic health campus community members. Well-known internal and external guest speakers deliver the primary content of the grand rounds, followed by interactive discussion.

Sessions have addressed topics such as multi-generational trauma in American Indians and policy and advocacy for transgender students in both health care and recreation/athletic settings.

The Diversity Grand Rounds series will continue, with the aim of presenting at least one session annually, with invitations extended to academic health campus and other decanal units. The SON School of Dental Medicine diversity officers have met and agreed to collaborate, expand and continue Diversity Grand Rounds.

The Diversity & Inclusion Potluck Series was initiated by the committee in the Spring of 2019. The potlucks take place during open forum, a scheduled time when it is recommended that all faculty and staff keep calendars open. The inaugural session was well attended with more than 25 attendees.

The series aims to address difficult issues related to diversity and inclusion in a user-friendly, non-threatening way while integrating and applying core concepts to decanal unit culture. Each session offers a short media presentation, podcast, piece of art, music, or reading that can be completed within 30 to 40 minutes; the media is shared with the group during the session, requiring no advanced preparation on the part of attendees (with the exception of preparing and bringing a dish to pass).

Prior to the session, the Committee on Diversity and Inclusion  collaboratively prepares discussion questions, assembling an interactive handout to be distributed during the session. Following the presentation, a skilled discussant facilitates meaningful, interactive connections about the content. At present, the decanal unit diversity officer is a licensed psychologist with experience in facilitating courageous conversations which may include occasional conflict.

The session discussion begins with setting ground rules and reminding individuals about the importance of language in communicating respectfully (i.e., attending to one’s own biases, noting when assumptions are being made, using “I” statements rather than “you”/“they” statements if making observations about human behavior or culture, etc.)

The first session addressed American Indian boarding schools in Western New York and the eastern USA. Many attendees were stunned by the fact that they had not been educated about these atrocities. Tears were shed. The final message and “application” conclusion for the inaugural potluck was a shared goal to infuse more trauma-informed approaches into teaching, practice and research.

The simplest processes are able to infuse inclusion and inspire others. A visual diversity and inclusion presence in the decanal unit is vital to our shared mission and vision. Part of the diversity and inclusion showcase includes “Acceptance Practiced Here” signs and pins being offered to faculty and staff to promote LGBTQ awareness. Dean Lewis has also provided the Committee on Diversity and Inclusion with a dedicated showcase that will highlight diversity and inclusion themes and initiatives regularly. Photos, stories, and artifacts are showcased attractively.

Gung-Ho is a popular culture motivational and productivity text that tells the story of Andy Longclaw, an American Indian who transformed a business culture by embracing American Indian teachings and finding meaning in everyday activities. Gung Ho has three central tenets based on spirit animals within American Indian culture. The goose, beaver, and squirrel emphasize camaraderie, shared collaboration/duties and meaningful work, respectively.

The Committee on Diversity and Inclusion aims to continue the Gung Ho initiative by infusing the three tenets of the spirit animals throughout the school. For example, faculty and staff came together in 2018 to create vision boards, representing the squirrel or the ultimate meaning of why they do what they do and for whom. Dean Lewis provided materials for all within the school to create a vision board, and vision boards can now be seen on many faculty and staff office doors and walls.

In 2019-2020, it is the aim of the unit diversity officers to reintroduce Gung Ho and brainstorm with faculty and staff about infusing the way of the goose. Geese are known for their social support and praise of one another. In a previous organization led by the unit diversity officer, a creative compliment and praise system was developed to reward those in the school for both small and large achievements.

In the future, the way of the beaver may be realized by generating creative ways to share workload and maximize efficiency.