Written by: Crystal T Dixon
Serving humanity should be one of the most highly sought-after opportunities in life. Wake Forest University has recognized the value of leadership and character and has thoughtfully centered our motto around serving humanity.
“Wake Forest University’s commitment to academic excellence; embrace of a relational and inclusive campus community; and partnerships in Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Washington, D.C. and around the world are all in service of our motto: Pro Humanitate. Translated as “For Humanity,” Pro Humanitate calls upon the entire University community to engage in the fundamental questions about what it means to be human. It invites us to use our ideas, knowledge, talents and compassion on behalf of humanity in all its difference and diversity — in short, to be catalysts for good.” -Wake Forest University
Individuals who serve humanity are integral to ensuring that we have a functional and healthy society. While various service roles in academia are often misconstrued and viewed as an obligation, (e.g., DEI, student success, etc...) humanitarian roles are the backbone of organizational success. Workplace happiness is integral to meeting the bottom line and most strategic plans. I invite you to explore a paradigm shift in how you may view service that centers equity. Building a healthy workplace climate is a fantastic opportunity to serve humanity.
As teachers and scholars, we often hold a small number of goals in mind. Perhaps we have been working toward that next big research grant. Or leading a prestigious national trial. Maybe we spend many hours crafting and re-crafting our courses to try to make an impact in the classroom. But many of us miss out on spending purposeful time on DEI initiatives, despite the powerful and widespread impact that factors like an inclusive climate has on faculty, staff, and students. Departmental climate is a core component of the RIDE framework for good reason. Where culture describes the values, norms, and actions of a department, climate reflects how those in the department feel about the culture. An inclusive climate reflects the energy behind DEI initiatives and affects recruitment and retention of students, staff, and faculty, whether students from diverse backgrounds feel represented, and the extent to which student are prepared to enter a diverse workforce.
As the semester nears its end, many of us are experiencing a bit of senioritis and are craving that summer recharge. Perhaps the renewal we need comes in the form of recognizing how fortunate we are to have the opportunity to make the world a better place through our research, teaching, and service. A candid email exchange on the topic of opportunity (and senioritis) led our fellow colleague, Megan Bennett Irby, to reflect:
“We’ve been given the gift of opportunity and with it, the unparalleled privilege of a platform…where, at a minimum, we are actively shaping the thoughts, perspectives, and priorities of the future generation of leaders within our classrooms. I hope we never fail to recognize the magnitude of our influence. In thinking about my own life, I took-to-heart a great deal of seemingly benign interactions with my professors, and those little things inform who I am in more profound ways than I ever really expected.”
This can also be applied to how we view our contributions to a healthy climate in our workspace. A few questions to reflect on may include:
We should explore a paradigm shift in how we view inclusive excellence. This service is an opportunity to serve humanity in a purpose-driven way. Yes, there will be challenges, pushbacks, and discomfort; but a better world can only become a reality once we push past the pain and experience personal growth. The mantra, “feel the burn,” is often lauded by health enthusiasts as they excitedly push toward their own health goals. This, too, should be applied to inclusive excellence work. Another added benefit is that inclusive excellence is an opportunity to promote mental wellbeing and hold space for opportunities to celebrate, support, and uplift one another. At the core of inclusive excellence is public health in that it has been proven to eliminate health disparities, improve mental health, and extend life expectancy for all.
Engaging in thought-provoking opportunities to challenge ideologies, biases, and perspective is healthy for personal thoughts. As academicians, we promote this as an effective pedagogical practice. We invite our students to grapple with challenging topics that will equip them to master critical and creative thinking, problem-solving, and synthesizing – all skills needed to reach their academic potential in college and to successfully maneuver the real world. We, too, should apply this same approach when engaging in inclusive work.
In Solidarity.