吃瓜爆料

Q. What is your background and experience?

My interest in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work, specifically thinking about it in higher education, began as a student leader in undergrad, working in multicultural student affairs. I was an education major, and I was thinking a lot about DEI in the classroom, particularly about student identities and how we allow for the whole student to exist in an academic space. In graduate school, I focused on the sociology of education and educational policy, still thinking about DEI in the classroom.  

I came to Skidmore in 2005 in the Office of Residential Life as a hall director, overseeing residence halls and resident assistants. In 2007, I became director of what is now the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion (OSDI), and in 2015, I was promoted again to the associate dean role in student affairs for Campus Life and Engagement, overseeing the offices of Community Service, Student Diversity Programs, Leadership Activities, and Religious and Spiritual Life.

I鈥檝e dedicated my career to creating inclusive campus spaces, whether it鈥檚 through literal spaces or policy and practice. Making sure folks on this campus are seen and valued and supported for thriving in excellence in their education 鈥� I think it鈥檚 a critical part of the institution. 

Q: What do you do in your new role as director of the Wyckoff Center?

As director of the Wyckoff Center, which is out of the Office of Institutional Diversity and the President鈥檚 Office, I support all areas of the College and certainly primarily support students.

First and foremost, I manage the day-to-day operations of this beautiful space. So that鈥檚 managing the facilities, the reservations of it, and the programming. Right now, my focus is around visibility, transparency, and access 鈥� how people can find out what the space is, who it鈥檚 for, and what opportunities for collaboration exist.

I really want to partner with offices, departments, programs, and academic and student affairs to think about programming possibilities. There鈥檚 certainly energy already around what folks want to do in the space, and I鈥檓 looking forward to that. 

I also help to coordinate the annual In It program 鈥� the suite of diversity and inclusion programs that are about raising cultural fluency and strengthening community, particularly around DEI. In It 9 will be taking place Sept. 20-25 this fall. I鈥檒l also oversee Lovefest; next year will be the third year we鈥檝e hosted Lovefest, which is usually on Valentine鈥檚 Day and is really focused on inclusion, healing, and support. It鈥檚 a wonderful, collaborative event on campus that鈥檚 quickly becoming a tradition. 

I will also assist with the Racial Justice Initiative out of the President鈥檚 Office, which is about really supporting efforts and initiatives that address racial inequalities, and I work with Joshua Woodfork, the VP for strategic planning and institutional diversity, to think about campus-wide efforts around DEI and policy, practice, and procedures. I will also work through different committees.

Q: Why this role and why Skidmore? 

I have such a strong connection to the institution, going back to 2005. I know so many of the challenges and opportunities, I have such a connection to so many students 鈥� there are hundreds of alums who I鈥檝e worked with who were either student leaders in clubs or my student assistants, or I taught in classes. And I always wished I had gone to a liberal arts school as an undergrad, so here I get to work at a liberal arts school, and that鈥檚 such a gift.

When the opportunity to be director of the Wyckoff Center came up, it felt really right because I鈥檝e been part of conversations about the creation of a social justice space on campus that centers DEI since 2012. And then, when the idea was put into motion in 2017 and 2018, I worked closely with so many members of the community to host focus groups and conversations about what the space could be.

"I have a really strong connection to wanting to see this space live into what we had hoped. And I鈥檓 just really honored to help create it as a space for connecting people and members of the community around DEI."

Q: Why is this work so meaningful to you?

I think it鈥檚 so meaningful because it鈥檚 rooted in my personal journey and experiences working with so many students and faculty and staff in my different roles. 
  
I鈥檝e worked with students and supported colleagues and their work, seeing the need for opportunities, support, affinity for folks, specifically with marginalized and underrepresented identities. I鈥檓 grateful that institutions have spaces specifically dedicated for that, or positions. Formerly, when I worked in Student Diversity Programs serving as an advisor to student clubs, I supported so many students in that work through challenges and successes, both academically and in their personal lives, so I think this is a continuation of that. 

Q: What do you envision for the Wyckoff Center?

My vision is to co-create a vibrant space on campus for students, faculty, staff, alumni 鈥� the reach is pretty wide for the Skidmore community. I always think primarily about students, but this is pan-institutional. We鈥檙e co-creating the space where conversations and programs and events that really center DEI and belonging can take place. 
  
I鈥檓 thoughtful about my vision because it鈥檚 not just mine 鈥� it has to belong to the community. It has to be collaborative. I鈥檒l be working with student assistants, different offices, departments, and programs and thinking through many ideas.

Q: What鈥檚 a fun fact about yourself?

I have chickens and they鈥檙e a form of therapy for me. I find that their antics and their curiosity and silliness is very entertaining, and it鈥檚 almost meditative to be around my chickens. I love them dearly.

I also have a dog 鈥� her name is Jude, and she鈥檚 a retired therapy dog. She worked in the Wellness Center on campus for about five years, so she also has a strong Skidmore connection; she even has her own Skidmore ID. Jude is a rescue Lhasa Apso-Dachshund mix and she鈥檚 the sweetest thing and has supported many a student, and even some staff and faculty colleagues, through stressful times of the semester. She worked even through the pandemic doing virtual therapy dog hours.

So yes, I like animals. Chickens and my Jude keep me grounded and give me some space to decompress.

Q: What does 鈥楥reative Thought Matters鈥� mean to you?

I think my answer to this question is ever evolving. Within the frame of DEI, I think inclusive solutions require creative thought, and to me it鈥檚 about letting go of the way things have always been and thinking about the way things can be. I think that applies to all the work we do, whether it鈥檚 in the classroom or outside the classroom, on campus or when we move beyond. 
  
We have to remember that we鈥檙e navigating systems and structures and institutions that didn鈥檛 historically center equity and inclusion in the work and in the mission, so I think we have to imagine and think of new strategies to move toward inclusion and belonging. 
  
I think about it all the time. I think we need creative thought especially for DEI, but also to make the world better.