In 2006, the Inclusion and Diversity Council (ID Council) was formed at Nova Southeastern University as part of an initiative to “Do Something Different.” The group’s primary objective was to invite a campus-wide change in behavior related to diversity matters.

Today, the council, which consists of volunteer members from administration, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the community, works to advance the mission of NSU by helping to facilitate the infusion of inclusive consciousness and behavior within NSU and beyond. When the call went out recently to council members inviting them to participate in a forum to discuss the racial justice issues that have been brought to the forefront in the past few weeks, over 90 people joined the Zoom conversation.

Robin Cooper, Ph.D., Assistant Dean for Research and Strategic Initiatives and Associate Professor of Conflict Resolution and Ethnic Studies in the NSU College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS) serves as co-chair of the council, alongside CAHSS Dean Honggang Yang, Ph.D. After George Floyd’s death, which Dr. Cooper says felt like a breaking point for many, she wanted to gather the council to allow members to express how they were feeling in a safe environment, and to discuss how NSU as a community could respond to the national outcry for social justice change. The turnout included deans, administrators, faculty members, students, and alumni representing multiple colleges around the university.

“I was so heartened by the number of people who attended that session and how open and honest they were,” said Dr. Cooper.

The minutes from the meeting were shared with all members of the council and also with President Hanbury. That feedback, in addition to feedback that he received from other campus groups, informed Dr. Hanbury’s statement about racial injustice.

Since the initial discussion among the ID Council, additional conversations and events have taken place within CAHSS. The recently-established CAHSS Black Faculty and Staff organization held a meeting. In addition, the CAHSS Student Government Association organized a one-day conference with the theme, “Healing the Divide: A Talk on African Americans and Race Relations.” The event included several speakers, the majority of whom were graduate students from CAHSS. Powerful conversations resulted, along with a desire to continue presenting similar workshops and forums.

A series of department-based conversations have also taken place throughout CAHSS. For example, the Department of Family Therapy held a department-wide Zoom meeting to offer students and faculty an opportunity to express their pain, anger, and grief. Students have requested ongoing and targeted conversations to keep the lines of communication open.

CAHSS students and faculty have also been asked to facilitate meetings and discussions in other areas of the university. Upcoming presentations include topics such as how White people can have conversations about racism, and how to use conflict resolution techniques when facing difficult conversations.

“We’ve had tremendous positive response,” said Dr. Cooper. “Just letting our community know that people care, that NSU cares. That we aren’t oblivious to the suffering that students and faculty —especially our Black students and faculty—are experiencing.”

The ID Council is a group of community members with a passion for social justice, she added, and they would love to do more. Opportunities for the future include funding a faculty position dedicated to this work, or creating scholarships for dissertation research around diversity and inclusion. “There are many ways to have a positive impact,” said Dr. Cooper.

“Diversity is one of our core values. We are a majority-minority institution. We have the opportunity and the need to do better in living out that core value,” she added. “But I am encouraged by the level of response and engagement and desire to do better and continue to show that it genuinely is a core value.”

For more information about how you or your organization can help support the ID Council, please contact:

Dr. Robin Cooper

Assistant Dean for Research and Strategic Initiatives

Associate Professor of Conflict Resolution and Ethnic Studies

robicoop@nova.edu

(954) 262-3048