How would you foster and promote an environment of diversity, equity and inclusion in this role?

A commitment to equity and social justice first clicked for me when someone shared the image of
the baseball field with the three panels “equality” “equity” and “justice”. Over the past two years, as I
facilitated trainings and discussions about social justice and inclusion, I have tried finding a different
image because using a sports analogy never feels right, personally. A year ago I found an image using the
Giving Tree, which is my favorite children’s book.

I love this example because of the apples. The left side of the tree is filled with apples and the trunk leans
that way. The person needs fewer materials to build a ladder that would reach all those apples, so more
resources are given to the person on the right to get the few apples growing on that side. When they
reallocate the resources and focus on fixing the tree, the apples evenly grow and both people have equal
access.
As the Training Program Coordinator at Trinity College, I would approach the development and
implementation of programs, workshops, and advocacy through a lens of the justice tree. In my work in
Multifaith Engagement and LGBTQIA+ student services, I learned the importance of collaboration across
campus to develop successful diversity initiatives and create a community rooted in compassion and
justice. My passion for student affairs, and specifically social justice work, is based on the staff I
interacted with during college. I worked with people who equipped students with the knowledge, skills,
and confidence to be the change-makers on campus and in the community. Fostering an environment of
diversity, equity, and inclusion requires creative thinking and the willingness to challenge “the way it has
always been”, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. In this role, I would build intentional
relationships with students, staff, and faculty to better understand what is going well at Trinity College
and where we can do better as a campus community. To promote this goal, I would encourage a mindset
of compassionate accountability. This is the idea that we all come to diversity work with the best
intentions and want to foster self-awareness, growth, and change. I believe that holding each other
compassionately accountable is how we grow both individually and collectively. And when that happens,
we are able to create and sustain a safe and inclusive campus.