Supporting the SEHHB’s Focus on Anti-Racism, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
The SEHHB welcomed (r-l) Natasha Flowers, PhD, assistant dean for anti-racism, equity and inclusion, and Loen Graceson-Martin, director of student services, to its ranks during the 2021-2022 academic year. Flowers and Graceson-Martin play key roles in the SEHHB’s ongoing anti-racism, equity, diversity and inclusion (AEDI) efforts.
Natasha Flowers, PhD
Assistant Dean for Anti-Racism, Equity and Inclusion
How is your role impacting the AEDI work taking place in the SEHHB?
I am fully engaged in supporting the elevation of the SEHHB’s current expertise in AEDI, collaborating with department chairs, faculty, staff and students to sustain the energy and effort for addressing inequities and unexamined deficit thinking around diversity; broadening the scope of inclusive practices; and strengthening our relationships with school districts, community-grounded organizations and people who have fought against racism and oppression and seek reliable partners as they press forward.
What are some of the ways you have supported this work over the past year?
Our dean, Robin Hughes, PhD, wakes up questioning what more we all can do to eliminate systemic barriers to wellness and success for children and communities who are persistently marginalized and underserved. Therefore, I understand the assignment: listen, question, communicate, activate. The minute I arrived, I began working on several state-led initiatives that explicitly support deeper understanding and action:
- Illinois State Board of Education's Culturally Responsive Standards
- Diverse Learner Ready Teachers Pipeline Project
- Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity
- Illinois Tutoring Initiative
These high profile programs offer a level of accountability that requires strategic work among our invested department chairs, faculty and staff. While these are K-12 initiatives, I am excited to share that faculty in our Departments of Psychology, Applied Health and Educational Administration immediately invited me to meetings to discuss, envision and plan next steps in teaching, research and community outreach. I am working with colleagues who have participated in SIUE’s IMPACT Academy and other professional leadership development coordinated by Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Jessica Harris.
What role can students, faculty and the broader community play in supporting this work?
Every workshop, course and experience I have had in pursuit of equity, justice and inclusion requires "listening, questioning, communicating and activating." It is a mantra that is easy to memorize, but there are so many complexities embedded here. The self-examination, the much-needed conversations and the plan require a commitment to transformation that means more ethnic and cultural diversity, upheaval of archaic policies that uphold privilege, and uninterrupted focus on contributing and impacting.
Loen Graceson-Martin, MSEd
Director of Student Services
How do you plan to support the recruitment and retention of SEHHB students?
SEHHB Student Services participates in all campus recruitment events and encourages department participation so prospective students can fully engage with students, faculty and staff at these events. Having a diverse cohort of students in all our programs is a significant focus. We are fortunate the East St. Louis Charter High School is housed within the SEHHB, and we have established relationships with several other high schools and community colleges. We will continue to develop and maintain these relationships and strategically reach out to create new ones.
- The SEHHB will host its inaugural Future Teachers Conference this fall. This free conference offers presentations and workshops, including information and perspectives from current SEHHB students, faculty and administrators. Academic advisors from the Department of Teaching and Learning will be available at the information tables to answer questions as students attend informational sessions. This is a great opportunity to showcase our programs to area high schools.
- We are planning future collaborations with the Office of Admissions to showcase our programs to prospective students through targeted outreach and visits.
Retention has always been a priority for me. There are many resources available on campus that can help with retention but are underutilized by students. Fully utilizing our campus communities, student-centered programs and initiatives allows us to better engage with our students so they can be successful. Examples of these programs include:
- The Office of Student Opportunities for Academic Results (SOAR), which offers academic and professional support to select first-year students and sophomores who are still deciding on their majors
- Focused Interest Communities (FICs), where we can meet students in their spaces to provide outreach and support
- The Black Scholar Experience, which promotes belonging and academic advancement
How are you working to make the SEHHB more equitable for all students?
I've had the opportunity to work with the SEHHB's interim associate dean, assistant dean for anti-racism, equity and inclusion, and the Department of Teaching and Learning on initiatives and projects to make our programs more attractive and accessible to all students; I welcome similar collaborations with other departments and units on campus.
By making sure all students are provided with the necessary tools and resources, we are helping them reach their full potential. For instance, being intentional in our efforts to support diverse learners, we work with campus partners like the Office of Accessible Campus Community and Equitable Student Support (ACCESS).
What are some strategies you'd like to implement to help students?
- Effective academic advising. Advising plays a key role in student retention and success. Students want to know their advisors genuinely care, are available and provide them with accurate information. Effective advising also helps students utilize the extensive network of support available to them so they can have the best educational experience possible.
- Establishing a strong presence in the residential halls so students feel connected to the SEHHB.
- Peer mentoring
- Student Ambassador Program