By Lesley-Ann Giddings, PhD and Christine Salomon, PhD
July 11, 2025 | This article appears in Volume 61, Issue 1
On Thursday, April 24, 2024 the ASP Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee invited Terrance Harris (Director of DEI, College of Engineering, Drexel University), Jason J. Dorsette (Executive Director and Chief Diversity Officer, Linn Benton Community College) and Dr. Amanda Marie James (Chief Diversity Officer, Associate Dean - Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement, Emory University) to give a webinar on “DEI Careers and Current Events in Higher Education.” The panel discussion focused on career trajectories in DEI across various academic institutions, including community colleges and large research institutions, as well as how we can advocate for creating community and belonging in our workspaces.
The panel suggested that we educate ourselves about DEI principles and language; be creative in how we address, recruit, and support diverse communities; and continue to celebrate others and create community.
Dr. Elizabeth Kaweesa, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and Susan Egbert, a PharmD graduate student at the University of Manitoba, moderated the interactive 60-minute discussion. The presentation began with panelists sharing their career paths and was followed by a discussion about how to be DEI advocates by everyone being their authentic selves, thereby allowing others to be themselves. Diverse perspectives help create innovative and creative solutions. Lastly, challenges in DEI were also discussed including what we can do to support ourselves and others at our respective institutions. The panel suggested that we educate ourselves about DEI principles and language; be creative in how we address, recruit, and support diverse communities; and continue to celebrate others and create community.
The recording is freely available for ASP members under the events tab once logged into the ASP website. Please watch the webinar for more details and thank you to all who participated. 