March is Women’s History Month, and the theme this year is “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.”
To celebrate the women in the learning and development field and multiple education spaces, we reached out to internal and external partners and thought leaders to talk to them about their professional lives and how Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion have impacted their careers.
At ansrsource, we believe in the power of DEIAB … Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging … to educate, elevate, and enrich people’s lives. We are grateful to the women who chose to share their experiences with us.
We hope you enjoy learning about the women we spoke with as much as we loved speaking with them.
Happy Women’s History Month!
Nicole “Nikki” House
Professional Learning Team, EDUCAUSE
Q. If you consider yourself a DEI advocate or activist, what inspired you to do this work? Can you share a personal story or experience that fueled your passion for this cause? Have you had role models or mentors who have influenced you in this work?
I consider myself to be both an advocate and an ally for DEI. I think early on in my career as a recruiter at a predominantly white institution (PWI), I would have been more labeled as an Activist. Then, I recruited students from underserved and underrepresented communities which did not have equitable access to resources to improve admission test scores, much less the funds to pay the higher tuition which would likely lead to advanced education which might improve the socioeconomic circumstances of those communities going forward. I learned heart lessons which were hard–as I fought for students’ access to higher education, I found that even if they were granted aid to come into the building–there were these systems in place that still presented as barriers and needed to be addressed.
As I moved along my career continuum, I was able to illuminate diverse other voices at “the table.” One of the things I am most proud of in my career is a grant-funded retention program for underrepresented populations that I led. The statistics said less than 50% would graduate in six years; our four-year graduation rates were 85% and above. That is the power of lessening and removing barriers. Leading that program was my response to the success barriers after recruitment and I became an Ally to the students throughout their academic career.
I also created the Mississippi Outreach to Scholastic Talent (MOST) conference at Ole Miss to replace the previous Minority Achievement Conference—that was 2000! It took a lot of conversations with people to change the language and say, “Hey we don’t want to be called ‘minorities’ as if we don’t belong here.” It was an early conversation in removing barriers and making those students feel like members of the community. I just got an email from someone saying they are so proud to see my accomplishment because they’re still going 25 years later, but now it’s part of the Inclusion Center! This is an example of changing things by being a voice at the table.
From sitting with faculty members and the Vice President, Provost, or even the President, on steering committees and express what “we” have come to know from institutional data and research; to strategically advocate from a place of best practices and sound foundations; from an empathetic and authentic place; I have been able to bring attention to systemic change needed from areas of recruitment, retention, mentoring, marketing programs, and instructional design. Whether it’s an online course or an event, I advocate daily for equitable design, representation and inclusion for diverse audiences and neurodivergent learners.
My mentor who was most instrumental in my advocacy is Dr. Thomas Wallace. Drs. Donald Cole and Ethel Scurlock also influenced and inspired me through navigating complex systems. I would be remiss not to mention some students of mine who were also influential – Dr. Gerald Tang and LaKenji Hastings.
Q. Whether or not you consider yourself and advocate or activist, has your professional life intersected with or been impacted by Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs? If so, how?
DEI is a value system that brings awareness to the diverse needs of the people whom you serve. It is a driving force at EDUCAUSE and we have a task force that promotes engagement, respect, and practice. I also understand that when I give my thoughts or ideas that they are not just heard, but received. Importantly, I’m part of a community of IT professionals promoting DEI for the betterment of students all over the world. I have had those experiences of receiving professional development toward understanding the nature of DEI principles, serving on hiring committees, and coaching staff. I’m an adjunct also, so this impacts me most in conversations with my doctoral students. The issue is not always race. Whether it is language, a physical challenge like being color-blind, being left-handed, being food-insecure, or age–these meaningful exchanges are as important to show my personal commitment to their individual needs for access and inclusion.
Q. Is there a person doing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work currently who inspires you?
Dr. Rosita Lopez https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-rosita-lopez-1223bb18
Q. If you could recommend one resource to people who want to learn more about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (book, podcast, article, documentary, movie, etc.), what would it be?
Michelle King podcast The Fix: https://michellepking.com/podcast/
Also love this: Tribal Justice (my great grandfather is Cherokee) https://www.pbs.org/pov/films/tribaljustice/
About Nicole:
Nicole is an enthusiastic learning champion, leveraging her extensive 25-year career in higher education to cultivate meaningful learning opportunities that mitigate learning barriers for diverse learners. A Mississippi HOBY Alumni, she has held leadership roles in career services, graduate studies, and instructional technology for several institutions including Stephens College (a private women’s college), Ellucian, and University of Tennessee Health Science Center prior to joining EDUCAUSE. Nicole earned her PhD in Higher Education from The University of Mississippi and fused her student affairs background with her passion for instructional technology to develop her expertise for enhancing learning ecosystems to improve student outcomes. She served as a QM Coordinator and received Ellucian’s “On the Spot” Award. In her free time, Nikki enjoys community service, SEC football, and content creation.
