Diversity and Inclusion from the Annual ASPPH Meeting to the Oscars Ceremony and our Universities
Pictured above left to right: Panelists Dr. Nadine Peacock, Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Illinois at Chicago’s School of Public Health; Dr. Olivia Carter-Pokras, Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Health; Dr. Dean Smith, Dean of LSU’s School of Public Health Sciences Center; Dr. Melody Goodman, Interim Chair and Associate Professor at the New York University College of Global Public Health; along with panel moderator Dr. Cheryl Healton, Dean of the New York University College of Global Public Health.
March 8, 2018
Dear Colleagues and Students:
Greetings from the metropolitan Washington, DC area, where many of us convened this week to participate in the annual meeting of the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH).
At a time when it was reported that the use of terms including diversity, evidence- and science-based were allegedly discouraged at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - our nation’s leading national public health beacon -every opportunity to discuss the need for equity and inclusion is a necessary one.
Not surprisingly, diversity has been a hot topic here at ASPPH and it also took center stage at last Sunday night’s Oscars ceremony too. As Frances McDormand accepted her Academy Award as Best Actress for her role in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, she concluded with two words – inclusion rider – which, according to Merriam Webster, became one the most searched terms of the evening.
According to the Washington Post, “an inclusion rider is a stipulation that the cast and/or the crew in a film reflect real demographics, including a proportionate number of women, minorities, LGBTQ individuals and people with disabilities. Big-name actors who have leverage in negotiations could put this stipulation into their contracts and drastically change representation in film.”
The concept is the brainchild of Stacy Smith, who leads the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, “the leading think tank in the world studying diversity and inclusion in entertainment through original research and sponsored projects. Beyond research, the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative develops targeted, research-based solutions to tackle inequality.” Can you imagine how impactful it might be in many settings if key recruitments agreed to come only if there was an inclusion rider? I like it!
As Chair of the ASPPH Committee on Diversity and Inclusion, I had the opportunity yesterday to moderate a panel focused on Advancing a Diverse Student, Faculty and Staff Pipeline and Moving Toward Inclusive Excellence. GPH Interim Chair and Associate Professor Dr. Melody Goodman was a panelist and she did a masterful job presenting the data analysis from the ASPPH survey of diversity and inclusion at schools and programs of public health she conducted with ASPPH and putting it in historical context . Panelists also included Dr. Dean Smith, Dean of LSU’s School of Public Health Sciences Center; Dr. Olivia Carter-Pokras, Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Health and Dr. Nadine Peacock, Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Illinois at Chicago’s School of Public Health.
Here at GPH, our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Guiding Principles include a commitment to:
- Respect and value differences in race; religion; ethnicity; gender identity; sexual orientation; physical, mental and emotional abilities; and socioeconomic status; embrace diversity of perspectives; experiences; beliefs; and cultural and social mores; and, to treat one another with dignity and respect.
We are also devoted to fostering a climate of diversity, equity, and inclusion by enhancing cultural competency and sensitivity through targeted initiatives and creating a welcoming and safe learning environment, for all members of our community. Read more here:(https://publichealth.nyu.edu/about/diversity)
Diversity, equity and inclusion are critical in all sectors of society and we are working hard at NYU GPH to make them a cornerstone as our young college continues to grow.
Cheryl G. Healton, DrPH
Dean