AND BOLD’

Gordon has asked leadership to consider the composition of faculty and staff in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, type of work and discipline. She says, for example, “unless there are people of color in the room, the perspective will not be represented by other groups.”

As the head of Atlanta Habitat for Humanity, she sees the impact of housing stability on marginalized families. “That changes the trajectory of not only their lives but also their kids,” she says, adding that children in families aided by the organization are more likely to graduate high school and go to college.

“Part of it is that when other people can see someone accomplish something they think is not within their bandwidth, that creates synergy,” Gordon adds.

Drawing From Experience

Felipe Estefan ’10 has encountered no shortage of people whose hearts are in the right place when it comes to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Yet, they’re often lacking the training and tools to bring those principles to practice and bring change, he says. In his capacity on the Maxwell Advisory Board, Estefan seeks to help bridge that gap.

He is guided by his unique perspective. As an international student from Bogotá, Colombia, studying at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Upstate New York, Estefan felt privileged. And yet, he was also a minority, not only in ethnicity but also because of his sexuality.