(527a) From Pledges to Practice: Turning Commitments into Action to Create More Inclusive Institutions

The United States and the world are in the midst of a watershed moment of racial reckoning. In the wake of global protests for racial justice, billions have been pledged, and thousands of companies, universities, and associations have made commitments to dismantle systemic racism and work toward social justice. There’s a reason. For institutions to thrive, they must foster an inclusive climate, one in which every stakeholder feels that they can bring their whole selves into the classroom, laboratory and the workplace. And yet, fostering true systems change has proven elusive.

Engineers are astute at tackling complex problems. Who, then, are better equipped to grapple with the complexity of increasing diversity, and fostering equity and inclusion (DEI) in higher education, industry and other domains at scale?

This talk synthesizes the latest research on diversity into a practical value proposition, through the lens of an engineer. It makes the case for why diversity and inclusion matter, and offers a systems approach to creating more equitable and inclusive workplaces and campuses.