Philosophy on Diversity & Inclusion
“If you really want to make a friend, go to someone's house and eat with [them]... the people who give you their food give you their heart.”
— Cesar Chavez

“Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time."
-Ruth Bader Ginsburg
(Dr. Ezell with Paul Chavez, President and Chairman of the Cesar Chavez Foundation)

Over the last 15 years, a sequence of experiences contributes to the cultivation of my personal philosophy on diversity, equity, and inclusion. My public service experience as a governmental adviser, roles in non-profit management to my time in higher education speaks to my experience and personal journey to promote diversity and inclusion in numerous forums in the U.S. and abroad.
Matters of diversity and inclusion are of deep importance to me. My philosophy on diversity is not merely limited to difference and similarities between ethnic groups. In my opinion, diversity is vast in that it sheds light on differences between gender, socioeconomic status, political and religious attitudes, and social identities. While differences exist, diversity offers a path to embrace common ground and rich engagement.
Throughout my journey, I have learned the value of recognizing, embracing, and actively working to foster a collegial community that supports federal statues as Titles VII and IX that ensure equity within the workplace. My educational training in Higher Education Law and Administration at Northeastern University offers a solid foundation on key federal statues and expectations to ensure campus-wide safety and reporting. This educational requires that I serve as an objective agent in analyzing and delivering sensitive information to vulnerable populations. For this reason, I believe I have a personal and professional responsibility to prepare fellow colleagues, faculty, students, and staff with the requisite tools to convey cultural competence to ensure respect and dignity is exercised towards others on campus.
