A Message to the College of Business Community
Dear College of Business Community,
Since the Diversity, Racial Equity, and Inclusion (DREI) office was founded in the College of Business after George Floyd’s murder, multiple other unarmed Black men have been killed by police, including Tyre Nichols. Like that of George Floyd, the videotaped assault of Mr. Nichols that led to his death is now circulating widely, again shaking our collective conscience.
We grieve the heart-breaking, inhumane attack that led to the death of Mr. Nichols, and are grateful that the police, also Black men, were rapidly fired and charged. While that is progress, we are once again soberly reminded that there continues to be a pressing, strong need for racial equity efforts. These efforts must reach people across racial and ethnic backgrounds, including historically marginalized groups, as all of us are subject to and must resist the same messages about who and what are valued in society.
In the College of Business, we continue to work for racial equity, including the ability to drive, walk, or shop without fear of harm because of one’s race or ethnicity. In pursuit of this mission, we have established a 9-hour Managing Diversity in Organizations certificate that students may earn as part of their degree, which includes research-based classes that discuss topics such as discrimination, implicit bias, racism, internalized racism, and stereotyping that affect individuals and organizations, including police forces, schools, and hospitals, among many others. We believe that diversity education will equip students to learn to value individuals of all backgrounds and to recognize our common humanity. We encourage students to earn the certificate or take one of the relevant classes as part of their educational experience. We encourage faculty and staff to engage in some of the diversity-related programming sponsored by the college and university.
Please join us on the journey toward a more equitable society.
Harry M. Dombroski, Dean and Dr. Myrtle Bell, Associate Dean for Diversity, Racial Equity, and Inclusion