{"id":5405,"date":"2023-11-01T18:04:55","date_gmt":"2023-11-01T18:04:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/?p=5405"},"modified":"2025-02-04T14:12:03","modified_gmt":"2025-02-04T19:12:03","slug":"wilmus-dei-programs-foster-respect-and-understanding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/2023\/11\/01\/wilmus-dei-programs-foster-respect-and-understanding\/","title":{"rendered":"WilmU\u2019s DEI Programs Foster Respect and Understanding"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kadence-column5405_30183d-a1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);}.kadence-column5405_30183d-a1 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column5405_30183d-a1 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column5405_30183d-a1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column5405_30183d-a1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column5405_30183d-a1 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column5405_30183d-a1 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column5405_30183d-a1{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column5405_30183d-a1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kadence-column5405_30183d-a1 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column5405_30183d-a1 dynamic-main-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p>As Wilmington University\u2019s student affairs resource coordinator and food pantry manager, <strong>Allison Laurant<\/strong> speaks to people \u201con such a personal level\u201d \u2014 international students, LGBTQ+ students, neurodiverse students, food-insecure students and more. That\u2019s why she enrolled in WilmU\u2019s new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion certificate program.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI want to make sure I\u2019m respecting all the people I work with,\u201d Laurant says. \u201cI wake up wanting to be a blessing to our student population, and I feel I can be a blessing to students by understanding them better.\u201d&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 18-credit undergraduate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wilmu.edu\/education\/diversity-equity-inclusion-certificate.aspx\">DEI certificate<\/a> program promotes cultural competency through courses that include Social Justice Advocacy, Multicultural Psychology and Managing Diversity. Available as a standalone credential or as part of a degree, it benefits human resources managers, social and community service managers, and anyone working in a diverse environment.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cI wake up wanting to be a blessing to our student population.\u201d <em>\u2014 Allison Laurant<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBusiness is about relationships, and this program helps people establish and keep relationships that are valuable,\u201d explains <strong>Dr. Katherine Cottle<\/strong>, WilmU\u2019s chair of interdisciplinary studies. \u201cAt the end of the day, we can\u2019t think parochially. We have to think globally, and this program is a part of that.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not only do students learn to work with diverse groups of people, but they also research community needs and create an action plan \u2014 like advocating for better accessibility.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s about human dignity. What can we do to help people feel they\u2019re in a space that\u2019s safe and we\u2019re aware of their needs?\u201d Dr. Cottle says. \u201cIn an increasingly pluralistic society, WilmU is really trying to offer skills that will be immediately useful and transferable.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Dr. Adrienne Bey<\/strong>, the director of Wilmington University\u2019s Center for Teaching Excellence, leads two of the courses. She also organizes diversity, equity and inclusion workshops for WilmU employees and external companies.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe can work with them to develop a curriculum and talk with them about the topics they want to discuss,\u201d describes Dr. Bey, who shows people how to recognize implicit bias and increase their cultural awareness. \u201cIf we can assist individuals and organizations in developing skills to foster an inclusive environment, where employees\/constituents feel included and like they belong, we\u2019re happy to help.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cIn an increasingly pluralistic society, WilmU is really trying to offer skills that will be immediately useful and transferable.\u201d <em>\u2014 Dr. Katherine Cottle<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to the undergraduate DEI certificate, Wilmington University offers a graduate certificate in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wilmu.edu\/education\/equitable-practices-grad-certificate.aspx#:~:text=Wilmington%20University's%2015%2Dcredit%20graduate,approach%20to%20support%20all%20learners.\">Equitable Practices<\/a>.&nbsp;Through courses like Education for Equity and Social Justice, the program teaches participants how to create inclusive, supportive spaces in the classroom or the workplace \u2014 spaces where diversity is valued and respect for others is the norm.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe need to celebrate our differences,\u201d says <strong>Dr. Michele Brewer<\/strong>, a director in the College of Education and Liberal Arts. \u201cKnowing who people are, where they come from and their experiences makes it easier to collaborate with them.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The graduate certificate is a valuable resource for diversity, equity and inclusion specialists and strategic planning partners. It, too, serves as a standalone credential or counts toward a degree.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe world is evolving, and we need to evolve with it,\u201d notes Dr. Brewer, who is \u201cpassionate about this certificate.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the doctoral level, WilmU\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wilmu.edu\/behavioralscience\/dss.aspx\">Prevention Science<\/a> degree program addresses real-world challenges through courses that emphasize cultural sensitivity.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIn the world of prevention, we focus on two areas: changing individual behavior and changing community behavior,\u201d says chairperson <strong>Dr. Shawn Stevens<\/strong>. \u201cWhat are policy modifications to increase DEI? And the other side of that is to decrease bias and institutional racism.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s about \u201cimpacting organizations to start to change attitudes and culture,\u201d Dr. Stevens adds. \u201cThis is a societal issue that affects professional lives and personal lives.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Graduates of the program work for human services, health and educational organizations, federally funded prevention centers, government agencies and nonprofit research centers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAs this program is emerging through Wilmington University, it is becoming more and more impactful based on the continuing research,\u201d says <strong>Dr. Hakim Stovall<\/strong>, a prevention scientist who earned his WilmU doctorate in 2021. \u201cIt\u2019s starting to gain the notoriety that it should be receiving, and I\u2019m a walking advocate of that.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cAs this program is emerging through Wilmington University, it is becoming more and more impactful based on the continuing research.\u201d<br><em>\u2014 Dr. Hakim Stovall<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Back on campus, Laurant took a moment to reflect while preparing for a big event. For her, the message is simple: \u201cIt doesn\u2019t cost you anything to be respectful and kind.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Learn to promote cultural awareness and encourage inclusive environments in your organization through WilmU\u2019s diversity, equity and inclusion certificate or degree programs. We\u2019re ready to serve you.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As Wilmington University\u2019s student affairs resource coordinator and food pantry manager, Allison Laurant speaks to people \u201con such a personal level\u201d \u2014 international students, LGBTQ+&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":5407,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[78,548,549,550,551,552,553,554,14],"class_list":["post-5405","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic-news","tag-college-of-education-liberal-arts","tag-dei","tag-dei-certificate","tag-diversity-and-inclusion","tag-diversity-equity-and-inclusion","tag-equitable-practices","tag-equitable-practices-certificate","tag-prevention-science","tag-wilmington-university"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":2,"label":"ACADEMIC NEWS"}],"post_tag":[{"value":78,"label":"College of Education &amp; 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