As Methodist University dives into its 67th year of existence, important topics are brought to the spotlight. Today, they were diversity, equity, and inclusion.
As Methodist University dives into its 67th year of existence, important topics are brought to the spotlight. Today, they were diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Hundreds of students, faculty, and staff filled Huff Concert Hall on Friday morning for the University’s Fall Convocation – an annual event that welcomes students while promoting the endeavors of the University.
“We are called by our Methodist University mission to explore virtue, truth, love, and justice,” said MU Provost Dr. Suzanne Blum Malley. “As we’re working towards making our campus a place of belonging and inclusivity, we’re also working towards understanding ourselves and the people around us. In that vein, it’s important that we explore that through the lenses of diversity, equity, and inclusion.”
This year’s Fall Convocation featured guest speaker Dr. Derek Greenfield, vice president for Inclusive Excellence, Campus Culture, and Academic Engagement at Harris Stowe State University in St. Louis. Greenfield has more than 30 years of experience in higher education. His work has even led him to receive numerous awards and citations, and he also completed a prestigious post as a Kellogg Fellow.
Greenfield’s passionate and interactive message centered around promoting diversity and creating inclusive excellence.
“Today is the start of the rest of your life,” said Greenfield. “We can begin by building a community here at Methodist University where everyone knows that they belong. When the world’s weight is lifted off of your shoulders and you know people accept you for who you are, you can run faster and jump higher. You can be the best version of who you are. That’s what we need to do here at Methodist University.”
Many of the students, faculty, and staff connected with Greenfield’s one-of-a-kind speech that featured poems, in-depth stories, and most of all, active participation from the audience.
On multiple occasions, Greenfield asked the MU community to take part in various activities such as pairing up with someone they have never met to learn more about them, joining a randomly selected student to sing “Lean on Me,” and even asking the audience to share their personal stories.
“When people bring different perspectives and different ideas, we’re smarter and better together,” he said. “There’s so much work for us to do, but when we share stories with one another, research shows that our brain waves become similar. Empathy happens when we hear from each other.”
Greenfield then asked the MU community to go around, find a couple of people, and tell them how appreciated they are – concluding this year’s Fall Convocation with a round of hugs and gratitude.
Methodist University was recently ranked the No. 1 Most Diverse University in North Carolina and has a dedicated Student, Belonging & Inclusion team and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office.