ACE hosted its first virtual summit, “Race and Crisis at a
Crossroads,” June 22 in partnership with American University, bringing together
over 100 higher education professionals
to explore findings from a new ACE report and what institutions can do going
forward.
The conversation was particularly timely as the country
continues to be rocked by the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd and
subsequent calls for racial justice. As American University President Sylvia
Burwell said in her opening remarks, “As leaders of educational institutions
across this country, I think we all know that our missions provide us with an
opportunity and obligation to take up this challenge—racism, criminal justice
reform. That’s why events like today’s event are so important. They can help us
all learn to better understand the role of leadership in supporting the campus
community in the midst of ongoing racial trauma. Your commitment to turn these
insights into action is not just what we as universities need, but also what
our nation needs.”
The first panel presented findings from “Leading
After a Racial Crisis: Weaving a Campus Tapestry of Diversity and Inclusion,”
ACE’s recently released second report on the 2015 racial crisis at the
University of Missouri–Columbia, also known as Mizzou. Report co-authors
Adrianna Kezar and Sharon Fries-Britt spoke about the rare opportunity to
examine a racial crisis and recovery in real time, while Mun Y. Choi, president
of the University of Missouri System and interim chancellor of the University
of Missouri–Columbia, spoke about the vulnerability it took to be so public
about the incident, but how the work of the reports has helped improve the
university. “I’m glad we did it,” he said, “The discomfort that we feel as
university leaders is nothing compared to the discomfort that our students and
faculty members of color felt. Only through the process of opening up will we
find ways to improve.”
Kezar also talked about the importance of examining context
that leads up to and may give warning of bubbling racial unrest, looking at it
from the institutional, local, state, and national levels. Fries-Britt examined
how Mizzou raised its capacity to address issues of racial injustice after the
incident by bringing in new leaders, getting the students and community
involved, and providing funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
Following the panel, participants were divided into breakout
groups and provided with guiding questions. This gave them time to reflect on
the session, reframe key takeaways in their own words, and apply what they
learned to the specific contexts of their own institutions.
The second panel focused on navigating diversity, equity,
and inclusion going forward. Fanta Aw, vice president of Campus Life and
Inclusive Excellence at American University, expressed that campuses must go
beyond merely creating a task force and report after a crisis. They must take
actions that build trust and sustain it, which involves connecting with people
who have credibility in the affected community and making sure to communicate
with authenticity. She also talked about the importance of language, of not
using “diversity and inclusion” as a euphemism for issues specific to race. NaTashua
Davis, interim vice chancellor of the Division of Inclusion, Diversity &
Equity, and executive director of access and leadership development at Mizzou,
pointed out that institutions must begin preparing now for what looks like will
be a divisive election season this fall. Two other major takeaways were that
every single person in the campus community has to take personal responsibility
for educating themselves and speaking up and that students need to be taught
racial fluency just as they are taught math and writing before they go out into
the world as colleagues, citizens, and leaders.
After that, participants returned to their breakout groups
for another short discussion about what actions they will take as a result of
attending the summit before being called back together for final remarks.
This summit was generously supported by EAB, a member of the ACE Thought Leaders Circle. A
recording of the panelist sessions is available on ACE Engage®, ACE’s
online community and learning platform. Create a complimentary account to view the recording and join
the Race
and Equity discussion group to continue the vital conversations about race and equity in
higher education. Please also keep an eye out for information
from ACE about an in-person event at American University, in partnership with Sodexo connected to this summit,
once health and safety conditions allow.