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PATHWAY OF PROGRESS: An Update on the Diversity Advocate Certification Program
| BY BETSY MANS
In fall of 2019, Willette A. Capers joined campus as the director for diversity, equity and inclusion. Since then, she was promoted to assistant dean and has been blazing trails and fostering change throughout the community. The Diversity Advocate Certification Program launched, providing courses of varying subject matter to further educate faculty, staff and students about diversity, equity and inclusion.
“The first year we held it,” Capers commented, “we had 30 participants, but this last year we had 86! People who attended were pioneers in realizing the importance of the change we want to see on campus.”
Attendees complete courses as their schedules allow and are certified graduates after completion.
Wendy Mamer, assistant director of admission, was one of the program’s first graduates.
“Graduating with the first group was really fun and special,” she said. “My background is Guatemalan. I come from a white community and was adopted by white parents. The program had a profound impact on my life, especially being a person of color in a white community. I can’t thank Willette enough for this program. It made me feel like I found a part of myself.” ALWAYS LEARNING
Pamela Miller, chief of staff, received her certification early in the program’s history as well.
“I’ve been a diversity advocate for a long time, but have so much more to learn. The intersectionality course was my favorite because it helped us realize how we are all connected in ways we didn’t realize.
“One exercise involved introducing myself without using my name, job, interests or where I was from,” Miller continued. “Those are things that describe me. The struggle you then feel is what someone who is of a different background may feel and doesn’t think they can share everything about themselves without penalty.”
Augustana’s core values guide decisions made every day. They include: Christian, liberal arts, excellence, community and service.
“In celebrating our Christian heritage,” Miller said, “we are called to be open and understanding about all humanity, faiths, backgrounds and walks of life. This curriculum is designed to move our university forward in diversity, equity and inclusion.”
The program provides an open and welcoming environment of learning for anyone who wishes to attend. “PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED WERE PIONEERS IN REALIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CHANGE WE WANT TO SEE ON CAMPUS.”
- Willette A. Capers, Assistant Dean of Students
This past fall, Capers was awarded the Innovative Program Award from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) for her work on the Diversity Advocate Certification Program.
“People have been asking to expand the program,” Capers smiled, “and outside agencies and organizations want to be part of it. This is just the appetizer; you need to get the main course.”
LOOKING IN THE MIRROR
Josh Barrows ‘19 is a graduate assistant for track and field pursuing his master’s degree in sports administration and leadership.
As a graduate of the program and member of the diversity and inclusion committee within athletics, he encourages others to “take it seriously. Challenge yourself. Hold a mirror up and look at yourself. Most of us are not as inclusive as we would like to be. This program helps us break trends and actions we’ve had for so long and don’t even realize it.”
Through this type of growth, more room is “created at the table,” Mamer voiced. “Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) don’t need more help or to become more educated. They are fully capable. It’s like an analogy Willette shared about creating inclusive spaces. BIPOC don’t need to be taught how to dance; they just need an invitation to it.”
LOVE THY NEIGHBOR
Institutions in the Network of ELCA Colleges and Universities (NECU) share the common belief that “we are called and empowered to serve the neighbor so that all may flourish,” as highlighted in “Rooted and Open.”
“We ‘Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve,’” Barrows remembered.
“For example, we have excellent hospital partnerships with students working there and the hospitals benefiting from extra hands. It makes both programs flourish. We all interact with people different than ourselves every day. This program equips us to know them better and to love our neighbors.”
Miller’s sentiments echoed Barrows: “It’s important for students leaving Augustana to engage humanity because they will be working alongside people different from them. For example, if they are leading an organization with diverse backgrounds and aren’t comfortable with that, they will struggle.”
From student affinity groups, like the Asian Student Association to the Augustana International Club and the Gender and Sexuality Alliance, arms are open to embrace others and celebrate our differences.
“My goal for the future is looking at recruiting more students and staff that are systemically non-dominant. We are figuring out ways to partner with historically Black colleges and universities that offer Ph.D.s and majors that we have here at Augustana,” Capers shared.
GROWTH FROM UNIQUE WALKS OF LIFE
When asked what are some of the biggest challenges in working toward inclusive thinking, Capers shared profound but achievable insight.
“People think they already know everything or don’t educate themselves. Everyone has Google! Look things up!”
Reflecting, Capers reasoned, “Don’t you want to be able to grow as a human being from your interactions with people from different walks of life? We are all unique and need to respect that fact, because I want people to do the same thing for me.”
“Books teach math and science,” Barrows said, “and you can read that at home. College is the other stuff beyond the classroom. A faith-based liberal arts university that is ‘Rooted and Open’ takes a good step in developing diversity with this program.” n
To read “Rooted and Open”, visit augie.edu/rooted.
