University’s Path to Antiracism

“Our committee works alongside the Office of Diversity Equity and Inclusion,” said Dr. Morris. “We are working with them to support other initiatives that promote a sense of belonging. An example of this is the development of the Special Interest Groups (SIGs). These are individual support groups to allow persons with common interests to have the opportunity to come together to encourage, support, and engage with one another. Some of the SIGs that are being developed are a parenting group; a Diversity Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Group; a Faculty Group; an LGBTQ Student Group; and a Student of Color or BIPOC Student Group. These groups will help us build a stronger sense of community at Frontier.”

In addition, the Diversity and Inclusion Committee plans to use self-reflection as its members participate in a fourmonth antiracist training facilitated by the developers of the “Antiracist Table”, a podcast, and an online community group.

“It is the hope of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee to help support our university’s goal to become an antiracist institution one step at a time,” Dr. Morris said. “What took decades to build will take a lifetime of work and commitment to dismantle.”

“What took decades to build will take a lifetime of work and commitment to dismantle.”

-- Charlotte Morris

The Board of Directors Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee Oversees University’s Path to Antiracism

In January 2021, the Frontier Nursing University Board of Directors created a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee. The DEI Committee is responsible for working with the Board of Directors and the administration in eradicating systemic racism, bias of any kind, and ensuring that Frontier strives to be an antiracist university. The Committee performs this task by overseeing the University’s policies, initiatives, and strategic goals related to DEI and guides the Board of Directors’ own DEI own work.

The DEI Committee includes FNU Board members Dr. Jean Johnson (committee chair), Ph.D., RN, FAAN; Dr. Peter Schwartz, MD; Dr. Maria Small, MD, MPH; Dr. Nancy Fugate Woods, Ph.D., RN, FAAN; and Dr. May Wykle, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, FGSA, along with FNU President Dr. Susan Stone and Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer Dr. Geraldine Young. The committee holds quarterly meetings and reports to the Board of Directors on a quarterly basis. “The Board of Directors DEI Committee is fully committed to making Frontier Nursing University an antiracist institution and an example for others to follow,” said Committee Chair Dr. Jean Johnson. “We are proud of the work that Frontier has done and continues to do in order to emphasize diversity, equity, and inclusion among

“The Board of Directors DEI Committee is fully committed to making Frontier Nursing University an antiracist institution and an example for others to follow.”

-- Dr. Jean Johnson

all components of the FNU community. We have made tremendous progress, but we recognize that there is more work to be done and that the Board of Directors must take an enhanced leadership role via the vital work of this committee. The Committee is off to a great start and we are excited to see and share our progress in the coming months.”

Among the first items of business have been drafting a formal document outlining the responsibilities of the committee, reviewing the Mary Breckinridge Task Force report, discussing the University’s goals of increasing faculty diversity, and recommending increased scholarship funding for students of color. Dr. Young provides quarterly updates on the University’s Office of DEI initiatives, including a review of the Diversity Impact Conference, diversity policies and training, grant-funded projects, and recruitment and retention efforts and results.