I started my last message with "Happy New Year." This time, I wish you Happy New Semester! Starting the spring semester with a blast of winter weather, it is great to see our students returning as classes get underway.
Today also marks the start of Black History Month, which originally was intended to draw attention to fact that Black people have been underrepresented in the books and conversations that shaped the study of American history. The commemoration highlights a matter of high priority for the College; namely, to advance diversity, equity and inclusion across Mendoza as part of our imperative to Grow the Good in Business™: to educate servant leaders who contribute to human flourishing, cooperate in solidarity and compete through growing toward the best version of themselves with the help of God and others.
Acting in this spirit as educators — individually and in our roles at the College — this means shaping the educational experience at Mendoza such that diverse voices, experiences and backgrounds are valued, respected and nurtured. This includes ensuring that the material we teach, the classroom discussions we lead and the larger student experience reflect the voices and meets the needs of the diverse individuals who make up our community and the world.
Many of you have contributed a great deal of hard work and caring to initiatives to advance diversity, equity and inclusion at the College and University level. I highlight just a few of these, starting with some new efforts by the University and then giving some examples at Mendoza:
- Initiative on Race and Resilience: Launched by the University in January 2021, this new interdisciplinary program promotes multiracial collaboration, qualitative and quantitative methodologies, and inclusive pedagogy.
- Advisory Committees for Student Climate: This University effort is composed of undergraduate and graduate student representatives, administrators and faculty for the purpose of offering input to the vice president for Student Affairs about the Notre Dame campus climate for students, especially related to topics around diversity and inclusion.
- Specialized Master Programs Council Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee: The newly formed Mendoza committee focuses on advancing DE&I through curriculum/education (speakers, faculty connections) and support (weekly coffee chats among students on current events).
- MBA DE&I Student Task Force: Convened in 2020, the task force was charged with taking a broad and in-depth look at policies, programs and initiatives that shape student life and academics at Mendoza. Its recommendations continue to inform the decisions of leadership in regard to enhancing diversity, from recruitment to classroom culture.
- Building Bridges Mentorship Program: More than 25 Mendoza faculty members regularly volunteer for this Notre Dame program, which pairs minority students with a faculty mentor to provide career counseling and support. For additional information, contact Arnel Bulaoro at abulaoro@nd.edu.
- Leading for Justice and Inclusion: This new MBA course taught by Chris Adkins helps students develop both the mindset and toolkit for leading justly and inclusively in their future roles as business leaders.
- Mendoza Staff Diversity Council: The Council’s purpose is to create and sustain an inclusive culture for all Mendoza staff by fostering an environment of dignity, respect and fairness that is grounded in our Catholic mission. These efforts will be facilitated through the College’s ongoing and continuing efforts to attract, retain and promote staff from all backgrounds, perspectives and abilities.
Building a more diverse, equitable and inclusive community is a work in progress. I’m thankful to the many of you who are putting in the hard work it takes to bring about change, as well as to those who have shown great courage and thoughtfulness in speaking up and pointing out where we can do better.
As Pope Francis said, “The most effective antidote to every form of violence is education about discovering and accepting difference as richness and fertileness.”
In Notre Dame,
Martijn