Inaugural Inclusive Excellence and Belonging Symposium: a week of transformative learning
Photo credit: Christina Boston. Group participation at Symposium workshop.
By Diandre Glover Thomas
The week of August 26–30, 2024, marked a significant milestone for our university and community with the successful completion of the inaugural Inclusive Excellence and Belonging Symposium. Organized by Marian Vasser, assistant vice president for inclusive excellence and belonging, and a dedicated committee, the symposium aimed to foster a deeper understanding of inclusive excellence. Through over 20 free educational sessions, this groundbreaking event brought together students, faculty, staff, and community members to reflect on research, best practices, and innovative ideas to advance an inclusive culture.
The symposium was held across multiple locations, including the Belknap and Health Sciences campuses, the Muhammad Ali Center, and virtual platforms. Each session focused on topics that foster an inclusive and welcoming environment, with discussions on racial inclusion, trauma-informed education, and inclusive leadership. The week included a powerful keynote presentation by Geoffrey Canada, president of The Harlem Children’s Zone, at the President's Forum on Inclusive Excellence on August 28th. Symposium participants, including faculty, students, and staff, walked away equipped with new strategies and resources to create inclusive spaces, enhance their academic practices, and lead change in their areas of influence.
Phot credit: UofL Marian Vasser speaking at President's Forum. Lee Gill in the background.
During the President's Forum on Inclusive Excellence, Marian Vasser highlighted two key initiatives aimed at advancing the university's inclusive excellence efforts. Vasser announced the participants who had successfully completed the Inclusive Excellence and Belonging Certificate program, as well as the University staff who had finished training to become Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) Qualified Administrators. These initiatives, introduced by the Office of Diversity Education and Inclusive Excellence, are designed to sustain the momentum of inclusive excellence work by equipping participants with the necessary tools to foster inclusive environments and further their development in creating equitable spaces.
IEB Certificate
The Inclusive Excellence and Belonging Certificate is designed to equip participants with knowledge, skills, and awareness needed to foster inclusive environments where people of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences feel empowered to reach their highest potential. Participants will engage in activities and lessons that delve into the concepts of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, including the historical and social contexts that shape these issues. The following participants completed over 11 workshops, as well as an experiential learning activity:
- Jennifer Bobo, Kent School of Social Work
- Priscilla Calvo Castillo, Housing and the Resident Experience
- Valerie Clay, JB Speed School
- Katherine Cox, Student
- Christina Howard, General Counsel
- Makayla Jones, Housing and the Resident Experience
- D.A. Malik, Surgery - Oncology
- Katelyn McMahon, Criminal Justice
- Natalie Oliner, JB Speed School
- Erin Robinson, Criminal Justice
- Melissa Schreck, School of Public Health & Information Science
- Allysse Stokes, Kent School of Social Work
- Whitney Sweeney-Martin, Provost Office – Faculty Affairs
IDI Qualified Administrators
The IDI is a developmental assessment of intercultural competence which empowers individuals and groups to increase their effectiveness in how they engage cultural differences. This focus on development can be used to facilitate cooperative conversations and actions directed toward growth rather than judgment and resistance. The following cohort of 22 campus partners (students, staff, and faculty) were trained as qualified administrators and will assist with debriefing participant assessments:
- Asma Addarrat, Development
- JaBani Bennett, Women’s Center
- Ryan Simpson, HSC Health Equity and Engagement
- Shirin Bolhari, Procurement Systems
- Mary Chiavaroli, A&S
- Fannie Cox, Libraries
- Yolanda Demaree, A&S
- Kiana Fields, HSC Health Equity and Engagement
- Trinidad Jackson, Public Health
- Monica Negron, Hispanic, Latinx & Indigenous Initiatives
- Latisha Reynolds, Libraries
- Ishwanzya Rivers, UofL Health
- Nakia Strickland, Alumni Relations
- Thomas Teague, College of Education and Human Development
- Byron Terry, Belknap LGBT Center
- Marian R. Vasser, Institutional Equity
- Annie Wadley, College of Business
- Sherri Wallace, A&S
- Aaron Weathers, HSC LGBT Center
- Deme Wharton, A&S - Anne Braden Institute
- Brianna Williams, Student Senator
- Krista Young, Academic Planning and Accountability
The inaugural Inclusive Excellence and Belonging Symposium provided invaluable learning experiences, offering participants a deeper understanding of how to integrate inclusive excellence into their daily practices. Through interactive sessions and thoughtful discussions, attendees gained practical tools for fostering inclusive environments, addressing racial and social inequalities, and promoting a sense of belonging within academic and community settings. The week’s events empowered faculty, staff, and students to take actionable steps towards creating a more equitable future, leaving participants with a renewed commitment to advancing these principles in their own work and communities.