“Oh My Gosh! I Have A Black Professor!” The Importance of African American Faculty on Our Campus
- Ayeesha Ali (Iowa State University)
- Easten Lovelace (Iowa State University)
- Esdras Murillo Larios (Iowa State University)
- Itzel Padrón Zuñiga (Iowa State University)
Abstract
In this session, we will discuss the importance of having African American faculty on our campus, some of their history at Iowa State, and their impact today. Faculty play a major role in student success through classroom interaction and mentorship. Therefore, the relevance of having diverse faculty and staff members on Iowa State’s campus is critical. We will engage in discussion about the recruitment and retention strategies that Iowa State can use to maintain African American faculty on our campus. We specifically examine our 2013 diversity audit and use it as a tool to compare Iowa State to other universities in the country in their specific approach to promote a diverse and inclusive campus. Participants will be challenged to see through the eyes of our African American faculty, learn about the challenges they face, and appreciate the impact they have on students success.