The series is sparking meaningful conversation and deepening the university community’s understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing higher education.
Panelists talked about building belonging in higher education while discussing how to navigate federal policy changes focused on diversity, equity and inclusion. Stratton spoke with Valerie Johnson, associate provost for diversity, equity and inclusion, and Dania Matos, vice president for diversity, inclusion and belonging. DePaul President Rob Manuel served as moderator.
Manuel emphasized the importance of having continued conversation and offered his appreciation for the DePaul community.
“DePaul is trying to be nuanced in a very binary world,” Manuel said. “It’s incredibly difficult when the world revolves around 30-second soundbites - yes or no, right or wrong, black or white - to have the kind of dialogue and conversations that we are having in these sessions. I’m grateful that you’re here to learn and be part of it.”
Stratton, a 1992 graduate of DePaul’s College of Law, urged those gathered to focus on community in times of uncertainty. “I wish I could tell you what’s going to happen, but there are a lot of unknowns in this moment, and that is, in fact, the hard part. So, for now, do what you've been doing, maintain your mission, understand why it's important. We'll get through this together,” she said.
Johnson connected the current moment with the history of St. Vincent de Paul, who was called to serve the poor while others ignored them. “Many of us at DePaul come from marginalized groups who have gone from a place of exclusion to inclusion during our lives. That fight for inclusion is reminiscent to me of what St. Vincent de Paul was about, which is recognizing the dignity of all people,” Johnson said.
Matos, who joined DePaul Feb. 1 from the University of California, Berkeley, echoed how community played a role in her development growing up and throughout her career. “I always say I'm not here because I got lucky,” she said. “I'm here because of the communities I built. I'm here because of the people that poured their heart into me, and I have the honor and privilege of doing that every day as part of DePaul’s Catholic, Vincentian mission of building community and pouring everything we have into others.”
Following the panel, the Dialogue Collaborative guided faculty and staff to engage in dialogue in small groups. Faculty and staff shared their concerns and identified strategies and resources for building belonging at DePaul. Feedback from these sessions is being gathered, synthesized, and shared with university leadership, as well as back out to the university community.
The next session in the President’s Dialogue Series for faculty and staff will cover mental health and be held April 16 on the Lincoln Park Campus. More information about the next session will be shared with faculty and staff in the coming weeks.
Russell Dorn is a senior manager of media relations in University Communications.