@naspajill

Senior Director for Research, Policy, and Civic Engagement

[@naspajill @naspajill]

@DrPamLuster @alexa_wesley1 @CollegeFutures @MichaelHGavin @DeltaCollege @Iamkeithcurry @DrTammeil @equityavengers Thank you, our hosts, for the work you do, and for everyone who joined us tonight! #EquityChat

[@naspajill @naspajill]

@Iamkeithcurry @alexa_wesley1 @DrPamLuster @DrTammeil @CollegeFutures (2/2) But truthfully, I sustain myself by learning. I thrive on better understanding the world around me. If I ever stop seeking to understand the experiences of others, and examining my unearned privilege and fighting alongside others for change, then I have failed. #EquityChat

[@naspajill @naspajill]

@Iamkeithcurry @alexa_wesley1 @DrPamLuster @DrTammeil @CollegeFutures (1/2) I have two very cute dogs with whom I have entire conversations. And I take out my frustrations and bad days on my rower.

[@naspajill @naspajill]

@DrTammeil @alexa_wesley1 @DrPamLuster @Iamkeithcurry @CollegeFutures (2/2) My vision for the future is an entirely revolutionized system of education that is built around the needs, goals, and experiences of ALL students, not just white students. You know, just a minor request. #EquityChat

[@naspajill @naspajill]

@DrTammeil @alexa_wesley1 @DrPamLuster @Iamkeithcurry @CollegeFutures (1/2) The students that we met throughout this project are what give me hope. They are passionate and in spite of every challenge that is thrown their way (which are increasing in this political climate, sadly), they keep demanding change.

[@naspajill @naspajill]

@DrPamLuster @alexa_wesley1 @DrTammeil @Iamkeithcurry @CollegeFutures (4/4) Books are my friends, but I can’t say I am pushing for social change meaningfully by just sitting home reading with my dogs. #EquityChat

[@naspajill @naspajill]

@DrPamLuster @alexa_wesley1 @DrTammeil @Iamkeithcurry @CollegeFutures (3/4) I also just really like to engage with real people, so I learn a lot by doing and volunteering with different groups in my community that are impacted by a range of equity issues.

[@naspajill @naspajill]

@DrPamLuster @alexa_wesley1 @DrTammeil @Iamkeithcurry @CollegeFutures (2/4) I also have a stack of books on a range of equity topics which I don’t read with any sort of logical progression. I pick up one and read a chapter or two and then switch to another book so that I am always ingesting on a range of topics.

[@naspajill @naspajill]

@DrPamLuster @alexa_wesley1 @DrTammeil @Iamkeithcurry @CollegeFutures (1/4) I am forever listening to podcasts and constantly seeking recommendations for podcasts on topics about which I want to know more (please suggest some here!).

[@naspajill @naspajill]

@DrTammeil @alexa_wesley1 @DrPamLuster @Iamkeithcurry @CollegeFutures So true. Students see through the hiring numbers if they see that professors who don't look like them are burdened with additional (unpaid) support labor and not being tenured.

[@naspajill @naspajill]

@Iamkeithcurry @alexa_wesley1 @DrPamLuster @DrTammeil @CollegeFutures (3/3) They want leaders to hold themselves accountable for making change. They want to be able to regularly engage leaders and get regular updates from them about progress but also be able to reach leaders to share with them about how they experience the campus. #EquityChat

[@naspajill @naspajill]

@Iamkeithcurry @alexa_wesley1 @DrPamLuster @DrTammeil @CollegeFutures (2/3) They could clearly identify one-time or performative efforts like town halls or meetings with senior leaders that didn’t result in anything. They highlighted task forces that took so long to take action that most students involved would have graduated.

[@naspajill @naspajill]

@Iamkeithcurry @alexa_wesley1 @DrPamLuster @DrTammeil @CollegeFutures (1/3) I think we heard from students that they wanted more transparency, more access to leaders, more accountability for those who are causing harm, and more meaningful engagement by leaders.

[@naspajill @naspajill]

@DrTammeil @alexa_wesley1 @DrPamLuster @Iamkeithcurry @CollegeFutures (2/4) But students were really focused in on how students, faculty and staff from marginalized communities experience day-to-day campus life. They wanted to talk about retention of those students, faculty, and staff.

[@naspajill @naspajill]

@DrTammeil @alexa_wesley1 @DrPamLuster @Iamkeithcurry @CollegeFutures (1/4) I think this work is getting harder, especially in some states where diversity statements are being prohibited as part of the hiring process. But I think that administrators pointed to hiring and recruitment of faculty and staff as areas of improvement.

[@naspajill @naspajill]

@DrPamLuster @alexa_wesley1 @DrTammeil @Iamkeithcurry @CollegeFutures (3/3) So our research was designed to get at where those disconnects are happening and give administrators some additional ways to think about improving campus racial climate while involving students in those efforts in a meaningful way. #EquityChat

[@naspajill @naspajill]

@DrPamLuster @alexa_wesley1 @DrTammeil @Iamkeithcurry @CollegeFutures (2/3) But according to the students we spoke to, sometimes campuses get stuck there. And they forget about engaging with students directly to better understand how their lived experiences are contributing to the climate they experience at the institution.

[@naspajill @naspajill]

@DrPamLuster @alexa_wesley1 @DrTammeil @Iamkeithcurry @CollegeFutures (1/3) I think that many institutions tend to look at numbers in terms of how well they are advancing racial equity. And numbers are important - representation of marginalized populations across the institution, among students, faculty, and staff.

[@naspajill @naspajill]

@Iamkeithcurry @alexa_wesley1 @DrPamLuster @DrTammeil @CollegeFutures (4/4) This student said “I don’t have time for your racism right now, I have a test in my next class.” It made me sad just how much these daily interactions drain students; yet they are out there fighting to change long-standing systems and processes across the institution.