Over the last year, Birmingham-Southern’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee has grown its presence on campus through partnerships with campus organizations, workshop series, and other goals for the community.

This committee – first founded in 2019 – is one of very few campus committees that has a shared and balanced membership between faculty and staff members. Membership includes four faculty members, four staff members, and two ex-officio members: Dr. Kristie Williams, director of student diversity and inclusion, and Kenneth Cox, associate athletic director for student-athlete mentorship and head coach for cross country and track and field.

When students raised questions and concerns about diversity and inclusion at BSC, faculty and staff formed the group to listen to and act on what the community had to say.

“Students have offered many ideas about ways the Hilltop community can improve its diversity and inclusion, and they have asked for better communication between students and the administration, faculty, and staff,” says Dr. Scot Duncan, professor of biology and committee member. “The College recognized the importance of this and put together the committee to help facilitate communication and promote DEI initiatives on campus.”

The committee supports everyone on campus, especially focusing on the needs of historically underrepresented communities including Black, Latinx, and LGBTQ+ students, first-generation and transfer students, and students with different accessibility needs.

This academic year, the DEI committee has hosted several lectures, workshops, and other programs and discussion-based events. It has partnered with the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion, the Krulak Institute, the Department of Modern Foreign Languages, and other campus organizations for speaker events and book clubs on racial reconciliation, climate change, and social justice. The committee has hosted an Activist Series featuring various speakers including Katie Glenn ’11, policy associate at the Southern Poverty Law Center.

While advocating for diversity within course curriculum, the committee works on other proposals that build on the campus’ commitment to diversity and equity in hiring, along with other initiatives. The committee has also created an Instagram account @bsc_diversity_and_inclusion this year to promote workshops and events and to connect with students. Duncan encourages members of the BSC community to share their thoughts and concerns with the committee through Instagram or by emailing [email protected].

“Through programming, communication, and discussions on such important issues as diversity in hiring and curriculum, our committee works to craft an environment that is welcoming to all,” Duncan says.

2020-2021 DEI Committee Faculty and Staff Members
Dr. Jessica Hines, assistant professor of English
Dr. Scot Duncan, professor of biology
Dr. Sandra Sprayberry, Robert E. Luckie, Jr. Professor of English
Dr. Mark Schantz, professor of history
Jennifer Jones, assistant athletic director for external relations
Dr. Brandon Brown, associate dean of students
Dr. Jessica Pincham King, director of rise3
Peter Crow, advancement operations coordinator