November 17, 2024

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

Greetings from your Chief Diversity Officer

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Hello UMW Family,

I hope this message finds you thriving as you navigate the second part of this semester. It is hard to believe that nearly three months on the job have quickly flown by. It has been my pleasure to meet many of you at events to celebrate heritage months, in committee meetings, via email, or just walking around campus. If we have not yet had the chance to meet, please do not worry, there are upcoming opportunities.

One such occasion is through a listening session that I will be holding on Zoom. I invite you to come to this session so that I can learn more about you and your thoughts about how we can make UMW the most equitable and inclusive campus around. While the listening session will not be recorded to allow for open conversation, this will be the first of many future recurring sessions.

Please join me:

April 19 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Advance registration is at https://umw-sso.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Nwrz1lP1SUGJ41n18H0Zcg.

Another opportunity for us to connect will be at a campus-wide training open to the entire UMW community titled “What is Social Justice?” This, too, will take place via Zoom. In this training, we will learn what social justice is and the steps we can take to promote our commitments to social justice, no matter what our role is here at UMW. This training will be recorded and shared with the campus community. Please sign up for this training session:

April 13 from 4 to 5 p.m. 

Advance registration is at https://umw-sso.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-4XNgR2KS9KDKh3u4q_fqQ.

Additionally, I would like to share with you the ways in which I have been spending my time. To gain more insights into some of the DEI work taking place on campus, please take a look at the report I gave at the most recent Board of Visitors meeting. (My report is at the beginning.)

In conclusion, I ask that you continue to be an engaged citizen in our campus, local, and national community. It is unfortunately very easy to find numerous examples of discrimination and hatred that are impacting so many of us as well as our brethren. It takes the actions of all of us to truly change our world. I am so happy to be a part of a community where we ASPIRE to do just that.

I hope to see you soon,

Shavonne Shorter, Ph.D.
Associate Provost for Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer

Shavonne Shorter: Representation Matters

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Shavonne Shorter had big plans for her career.

“Originally I wanted to be Oprah,” said Shorter, whose college advisor suggested she have a Plan B, just in case.

In her new position at UMW, Shavonne Shorter is working to build the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The essence of her job, she said, "just feels like the right thing to do."

In her new position at UMW, Shavonne Shorter is working to build the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The essence of her job, she said, “is just about doing the right thing.”

That alternate route – maybe a little less glitzy but still just as lofty – began to shore up at Frostburg State University, where a fellow Black student delivered an orientation address with such verve, Shorter needed to know what courses she was taking. The answer – communication studies – was like looking into a mirror.

“I saw myself in her,” Shorter said. “That day I found my major.”

She went at it full tilt, earning bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in the area of communication, all of which she brought to her George Washington Hall office early this year. As UMW’s new associate provost for equity and inclusion, and chief diversity officer, she hit the ground running, immersing herself in campus culture, drilling down on strategic goals, and meeting with students, faculty and staff.

“My job is to work with everyone,” said Shorter, who’s committed to strengthening Mary Washington’s ASPIRE values and forming affinity groups. “It’s an all-encompassing role.”

So was the role she played throughout her own education, earning a spot at Frostburg in the McNair Scholars Program, preparing underrepresented students for doctoral studies. “If being a communication major changed my life,” Shorter said, “McNair changed my world.”

The wealth of experience she gained led to a Ph.D. from Purdue University and an associate professorship at Bloomsburg University, where she taught communication and landed the title of special assistant to the president for diversity, equity and inclusion.

“This work,” she said of her career path, “is just about doing the right thing, working toward equity for everyone.”

Q: How does your communication background complement diversity, equity and inclusion?
A: Communication is the building block of life. If you hone it early, you can develop your voice so that nobody else has to speak for you. It allows you to be your authentic self.

Q: What have you learned about UMW students?
A: They’re phenomenal. Their passion for social justice is amazing; it’s on a whole new level. I love working with them.

Q: What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
A: Seeing people accomplish their dreams, whatever that looks like to them. When a student gets an A on an assignment that we worked on that was hard for them. Supporting a professional who gets a promotion. Seeing people happy and fulfilled.

Q: What’s most challenging?
A: Finding the hours you need in a day. There’s so much opportunity and finite time. True change doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time and a collective effort. 

Q: What’s meaningful in your office?
A: My communication books from when I taught at Bloomsburg, my Black Graduate Student Association award from Purdue, my debate timers from my days as coach. It’s important to me to have reminders of where I’ve been, to reflect on the path I’ve taken.

Q: What would people be most surprised to learn about you?
A: I’m a diehard Baltimore Ravens fan. It’s a family tradition. 

Q: Mottos you live by?
A: My great-grandmother said that when you treat people well, it comes back to you. That’s how I want to live my life, helping folks in whatever they’re going through – personally, professionally, spiritually and more.

Learn about ways you can add your voice to the conversation by visiting Greetings from your Chief Diversity Officer in today’s EagleEye.

Mary Washington Names New Chief Diversity Officer

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Shavonne Shorter has been named University of Mary Washington’s new associate provost for equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer. Photo by Dr. Kai Kuang.

Shavonne Shorter has been named University of Mary Washington’s new associate provost for equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer. Photo by Dr. Kai Kuang.

After a nationwide search, Shavonne Shorter has been named associate provost for equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer at University of Mary Washington. She will assume the role in January.

Shorter will serve on both the president’s and provost’s leadership teams, providing guidance as UMW continues striving to achieve its goals with respect to diversity, equity and inclusion. She will be responsible for developing a university-wide Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council, and continuing the work of building a more inclusive Mary Washington. She also will supervise the university’s Office of Disability Resources, Office of Title IX, SafeZone and all diversity education and training programs.

“I am most looking forward to partnering with the members of my new UMW family to continue and extend the rich legacy of diversity, equity and inclusion excellence both on and around campus. This is what immediately drew me to UMW,” Shorter said. “I look forward to the opportunity to conduct a campus-wide listening tour as I get to work for the good of the university.” Read more.

Updates on the Chief Diversity Officer and the future of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion

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Dear Colleagues,

During the closing weeks of the spring semester a workgroup consisting of faculty and staff researched, discussed, and developed recommendations for UMW’s Diversity and Inclusion Plan as part of UMW’s commitment to the One Virginia Inclusive Excellence Framework mandated by HB 1993 and further elucidated through specific responsibilities and guidance for higher education. This workgroup’s efforts included developing a structure for a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council (DEIC); preparing a timeline for the development of a five-year strategic plan for diversity, equity and inclusion; and creating a vision for the future of the Chief Diversity Officer position following Sabrina Johnson’s retirement. The workgroup’s insights, produced under a tight deadline, were excellent and I am grateful for their contribution. Please join me in thanking Chris Foss, Malcolm Holmes, Sabrina Johnson, Jessica Machado, Leslie Martin, Cedric Rucker, Marion Sanford, Debra Schleef, Beth Williams, Sharon Williams, Melissa Yakabouski, and Kimberly Young for their participation.

While our obligations under One Virginia are substantial, our most immediate task is to conduct a national search for our next Chief Diversity Officer (CDO). On this topic, the workgroup noted that different institutions have taken different approaches to this position, however it is typical for the CDO to report to the Provost or the President. Given our strategic objectives and the work that we need to do, our next chief diversity officer will report directly to the Provost. While the CDO will work closely with me and the Cabinet and will be a part of my senior leadership team, I fully expect them to be engaged at the core of our mission, working closely with the Provost, the deans, the Provost’s Academic Affairs Council and our colleges and academic departments.

Given the importance of this position and the competitive market for qualified applicants we will be using a search firm to conduct a national search. We have secured a list of firms that have recent successful experiences conducting searches for DEI professionals and hope to have that process complete soon so that the search may proceed expeditiously.

The search will be co-chaired by Rita Dunston (Registrar) and Anand Rao (Professor of Communication and Chair of the Department of Communication and Digital Studies).

Other members of the search committee will be:

  • Pete Kelly, Dean College of Education
  • Andrew Dolby, Professor of Biology and Past Chair of the University Faculty Council
  • Tyler Frankel, Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Science
  • Chris Foss, Professor of English
  • Chris Garcia, Associate Professor of Business
  • Surupa Gupta, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs and Program Director of Women’s and Gender Studies
  • Leslie Martin, Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for Community Engagement
  • Cedric Rucker, Dean of Student Life
  • Marion Sanford, Director of the James Farmer Multicultural Center
  • Justin Wilkes, Director of the Student Transition Program and Chair of the University Staff Council
  • Beth Williams, Executive Director of Human Resources

The creation of this position description also provides an opportunity to develop the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, its resourcing, and what we need to put in place to set it up for success moving forward. One of the key items highlighted by the workgroup is the imperative to ensure appropriate coverage for important compliance areas with an equally strong and well-supported programmatic component to support DEI education, training, and programming. I expect that we will have an office that is capable of doing this important work in a way that meets our collective aspirations.

As the search process unfolds, we will provide updates as warranted including opportunities for members of the UMW community to participate in the search. If you have any questions or feedback, please share it with me, tpaino@umw.edu.

Troy D. Paino, J.D., Ph.D.

President

 

Mary Talks: “Farmer Legacy: 2020 & Beyond”

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Join us ONLINE for the next Mary Talk of the 2020-21 academic year!

In January 2020, UMW launched Farmer Legacy 2020: A Centennial Celebration and Commitment to Action to recognize what would have been the 100th birthday of Dr. James Farmer, national civil rights icon and Mary Washington College professor from 1985 to 1998. While the pandemic changed the direction of our yearlong commemoration, it did not shake our commitment to honor Dr. Farmer and to realize his vision for a more equitable America. Our next Mary Talk will explore Dr. Farmer’s life and legacy and his ongoing impact at Mary Washington today.

This Talk will be presented by Farmer Legacy co-chairs Dr. Sabrina Johnson (Vice President for Equity and Access) and Dr. Juliette Landphair (Vice President for Student Affairs) along with Jason Ford ’20 (leader of the Black Alumni Affinity Group). They will discuss Dr. Farmer’s impact and UMW’s ongoing commitment to inclusive excellence. We will hear from alumni who recall Dr. Farmer as a remarkable historian and teacher. We will recount our trip with President Troy Paino and others to Capitol Hill to visit the legendary Representative John Lewis, who participated in the Freedom Rides with Dr. Farmer and served as the Farmer Legacy’s honorary Chairperson. We will examine the context of Dr. Farmer’s life and legacy as well as our progress in equity and inclusion efforts at UMW.

Wednesday, December 9
7:30-9:00 p.m.
Online

To watch the Talk online, register here. You then will receive a link to the streaming video, which can be watched live or at a later time. You also will have the opportunity to submit questions to be asked of the speaker at the end of the Talk.

Note: Online viewing is the only option for this Mary Talk, as we are not conducting any in-person events at this time.

We look forward to seeing you online!

25th Anniversary for Day of Silence, Friday, April 24

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The following message is from the Office of Equity and Access.

Friday, April 24th, will mark the 25th Anniversary for Day of Silence*. We are asking the UMW Community to virtually participate in this vital event. We may not be able to create a rainbow of shirts on the grass of Ball Circle, but the UMW community continues to affirm an inclusive and supportive community for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) citizens and allies. We can demonstrate this by letting our voice be heard via #UMWisHOME and we must #breakthesilence.

Here is a toolkit to help make your voice heard on Friday, April 24th, during the Annual Day of Silence:

  • At 12pm, create a virtual “Moment of Silence” by posting our unified image to your individual or UMW affiliated accounts on social media. Please see attached images for Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. You can add any of the following information from GLSEN to your post:

o   Our silence is LOUD!

o   I’m staying silent on GLSEN’s Day of Silence, a national youth movement highlighting the silencing and erasure of LGBTQ people at school.

o   Nearly 4 in 5 LGBTQ students don’t see positive representation in their curriculum, nearly 9 in 10 experience verbal harassment, and almost a third miss school because they feel unsafe or uncomfortable.

  • At 4pm, “Break the Silence!”

o   By answering the prompt, I AM BREAKING THE SILENCE BY…?

  • Submit to PRISM for a re-post:
  • DM PRISM (@umwprism) with your story
  • Email PRISM (umwprism@gmail.com) with your story
  • Your name will not be shared through the repost nor will you be tagged. However, pictures and/or videos are not private if we repost them.
  • Post your response to your social media account, if it is a safe space for you to do so.

o   Follow PRISM (@umwprism) on Instagram to view submitted prompt responses.

In keeping with our values outlined in ASPIRE, join us in celebrating the 25th Annual Day of Silence.

People for the Rights of Individuals of Sexual and Gender Minorities (PRISM)
Center for Prevention and Education
James Farmer Multicultural Center
Office of Title IX
Safe Zone
Talley Center for Counseling Services
Vice President for Equity and Access & Chief Diversity Officer

Information on resources and support can be found on SAFE ZONE’s webpage.

* Day of Silence was first organized by a student at the University of Virginia in 1996 as part of a class project. The following year almost 100 colleges and universities participated, making it a national event. College and university students have driven and participated in many movements throughout history, and the UMW Community is no exception. This includes Day of Silence powered by PRISM, a student-led organization that promotes the values of diversity and acceptance of students of sexual and gender minorities.

In 2000, Day of Silence became an official initiative with GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network).

Farmer Legacy 2020 Co-Chairs Johnson & Landphair Speak with WVTF Radio IQ

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A wreath on the James Farmer bust on UMW’s Campus Walk recognizes Farmer’s 100th birthday and UMW’s Farmer Legacy 2020 celebration. Photo by Tom Rothenberg.

A wreath on the James Farmer bust on UMW’s Campus Walk recognizes Farmer’s 100th birthday and UMW’s Farmer Legacy 2020 celebration. Photo by Tom Rothenberg.

Farmer Legacy 2020 co-chairs Sabrina Johnson, Vice President for Equity and Access and Chief Diversity Officer, and Juliette Landphair, Vice President for Student Affairs, were recently interviewed on WVTF Radio IQ, an NPR affiliate, about civil rights icon and late Mary Washington professor Dr. James L. Farmer Jr. and UMW’s yearlong celebration of his life and legacy that launched in January, on the day after the 100th anniversary of his birth.

Johnson spoke of the impact Farmer had as a professor. “He touched the lives of so many students,” she says.  “It was the most popular class on campus.  It brought in historic numbers.”

Landphair spoke of Farmer’s concern that those who led the civil rights movement would someday be forgotten. “There’s a danger sometimes or a risk when you just reflect and celebrate as if the story is over. We have to hold on and protect and not backslide when it comes to the progress that’s been made.” Read more.

Launch Party Ignites Farmer Legacy 2020 Celebration

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A wreath on the James Farmer bust on UMW’s Campus Walk recognizes Farmer’s 100th birthday and UMW’s Farmer Legacy 2020 celebration. Photo by Tom Rothenberg.

A wreath on the James Farmer bust on UMW’s Campus Walk recognizes Farmer’s 100th birthday and UMW’s Farmer Legacy 2020 celebration. Photo by Tom Rothenberg.

Nearly 500 people turned out yesterday to help UMW kick off Farmer Legacy 2020, a yearlong celebration of Dr. James L. Farmer Jr., the day after what would have been his 100th birthday.

The hourlong launch party packed plenty of emotion, from student accounts of life-changing experiences they’ve gained through UMW – and learning about Farmer’s legacy – to a moving rendition of Happy Birthday by Mary Washington gospel ensemble Voices of Praise.

Held in the UMW University Center’s Chandler Ballroom, the celebration commenced a year of events paying tribute to Farmer, the late Mary Washington history professor who founded the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and made an immeasurable impact on the civil rights movement as a member of the Big Six. Fredericksburg residents, Board of Visitor members and colleagues in higher education joined UMW students, faculty and staff in recognizing Farmer and his contributions, and vowing to follow in his footsteps by dedicating themselves to civic action and inclusion.

Honorary celebration chair, Congressman John Lewis of Georgia, the last surviving member of the Big Six, had to cancel plans to attend yesterday’s launch due to a recent cancer diagnosis. Attendees signed a card for him. Read more.

James Farmer Multicultural Center Turns 30

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In 2020, UMW will celebrate the centennial birthday of the late civil rights pioneer and Mary Washington history professor Dr. James L. Farmer Jr. – who died in 1999 – as well as the 30th anniversary of the James Farmer Multicultural Center. Photo by Lou Cordero.

In 2020, UMW will celebrate the centennial birthday of the late civil rights pioneer and Mary Washington history professor Dr. James L. Farmer Jr. – who died in 1999 – as well as the 30th anniversary of the James Farmer Multicultural Center. Photo by Lou Cordero.

Junior Courtney Flowers was writing a high school paper when she stumbled upon a name she didn’t recognize.

“It was James Farmer,” said the Los Angeles native, who spent that day on a UMW website, researching the late civil rights pioneer and Mary Washington history professor. “What ultimately drew me here was the James Farmer Multicultural Center.”

In 2020, the University will celebrate the centennial birthday of Dr. James L. Farmer Jr. – who died in 1999 – as well as the 30th anniversary of the James Farmer Multicultural Center (JFMC). Created in response to an uptick in enrollment of students of color and a rash of racially biased incidents that ensued, the Center aimed to promote harmony between all groups. It fulfills Farmer’s legacy, educating the UMW community through engaging – and often life-changing – programs, from the spring Multicultural Fair to the fall Social Justice Trip. JFMC also supports 22 campus organizations and offers a welcoming haven for underrepresented students. Read more.

Freedom Rides Tour a ‘Life-Changing’ Experience

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Last weekend, a group of 21 area residents joined 46 Mary Washington students, as well as UMW faculty and administrators, to trace the route of the 1961 Freedom Rides, the historic protest to desegregate interstate travel, organized by the late civil rights icon and Mary Washington history professor Dr. James L. Farmer Jr. and the organization he co-founded, Congress for Racial Equality. Photo by Lynda Allen.

Last weekend, a group of 21 area residents joined 46 Mary Washington students, as well as UMW faculty and administrators, to trace the route of the 1961 Freedom Rides, the historic protest to desegregate interstate travel, organized by the late civil rights icon and Mary Washington history professor Dr. James L. Farmer Jr. and the organization he co-founded, Congress for Racial Equality. Photo by Lynda Allen.

Stafford resident Frank White joined the Air Force in 1957, three days after finishing high school. Stationed in Texas, he traveled by Greyhound bus to visit his family in Virginia. For days and nights, he remained dressed in his uniform, sitting quietly in the back as the bus barreled through the deep South.

“Don’t make waves, don’t draw attention to yourself,” the young airman was warned by his African American superiors.

Mr. White remembered those travels as he sat at the front of the bus last weekend, one of 21 area residents who joined 46 UMW students, as well as faculty and administrators, to trace the route of the 1961 Freedom Rides during fall break. This social justice experience celebrates Dr. James L. Farmer Jr., the late civil rights pioneer and Mary Washington history professor who orchestrated the historic protest to desegregate interstate travel.

After the success of last year’s civil rights trip, James Farmer Multicultural Center (JFMC) Director Marion Sanford and Assistant Director Chris Williams wondered what they could do to make this one even more meaningful. With the 100th anniversary of Dr. Farmer’s birth approaching and the University announcing a centennial celebration in his honor, they decided to dedicate this year’s experience to his signature movement and lifelong commitment to social justice. Read more.