Philosophy of Practice
My philosophy of practice centers around my interest in students’ growth and development as it relates to diversity and inclusion. As students enter an increasingly diverse workforce, initiatives surrounding diversity and inclusion are more important than ever before. My work at a professional college has opened my eyes to the issues students face when their institution lacks resources and programs that expose them to people and cultures that differ from who they are or what they know. It is also detrimental to students when they belong to a marginalized group and their institution lacks the resources and knowledge to properly support them and the additional challenges they face as they move through higher education and subsequent careers.
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Increasing students’ awareness of social justice issues, and the importance of diversity and inclusion, contributes to the student’s holistic development. As a student affairs professional, I advocate for the importance of education outside of the classroom, and interacting with other students on campus plays a large role in student growth and development. When students are exposed to diversity, it challenges their experiences and and fosters critical thinking. These are two important cornerstones to a student’s growth and development. We strive to graduate educated, active, and involved citizens, and that endeavor begins with students understanding that they have a voice.
Gaining experience in the field of diversity and inclusion is extremely important to me because this is the functional area in which I hope to work once I enter the field full time. I want to work with students and institutions who lack the resources their institution should provide, and help grow and develop diversity and inclusion initiatives in the higher education community. Ideally, after I have several years of experience in this area, I would like to consult for different institutions, help them evaluate their diversity and inclusion programs, and assist them in developing a framework and action plan to better their initiatives.