December 9, 2021 — In the spring 2022 semester, Boston University Diversity & Inclusion (BU D&I) will continue to build capacity, foster communities, and promote thriving through a lineup of events, workshops, and programs. Throughout the semester, check the BU D&I Events Calendar to register for upcoming programs and subscribe to the BU D&I Newsletters to stay up-to-date.

 

Learn More Series

Stylized quotation marks. One is purple with text inside reading "Learn More Series" and the other is yellow with text inside reading "Disability"

Now in its third year, the BU D&I Learn More Series continues to explore this year’s theme of disability and the impacts of ableism. Join us for featured speaker Christine Sun Kim who will be giving a talk titled Disability Justice and the Arts on February 7, 2022. We will conclude this year’s series of keynote speakers with a conversation with Allyship, Advocacy, and Action in the Disability Community featuring Kerry Thompson on April 5, 2022. Lastly, this year’s Gayl Jones Symposium, held in partnership between BU D&I and the College of Arts & Sciences English and African American Studies programs, will feature a panel of distinguished speakers in conversation around disability justice and ableism.

Through Learn More Programming Grants, BU D&I provides funding for schools, departments, faculty, staff, students, individuals, and groups to host their own Learn More Series programs. These programs and events in the spring 2022 semester include a conversation with people with intellectual disabilities on love and relationships, a talk about mental health in the queer community organized by the LGBTQIA+ Faculty & Staff Community Network, a presentation on universal design organized by SAFEBUDS and the School of Public Health, and more.

 

Faculty Diversity Initiatives

BU D&I is pleased to host two faculty and staff luncheons for BU faculty/staff of color and for LGBTQIA+ faculty/staff on the Medical Campus this spring semester. Additionally, join us for two special programs for BU faculty:  “Using Your Scholarship to Influence Social Change: A Conversation with Ibram X. Kendi” on March 22, 2022. Details about registrations to come! Originally planned for spring 2022, “Animate Your Research: A Play-Based Approach to Exploring and Communicating Your Research” will be postponed to fall 2022.

Group photo of fifteen people smiling in front of a red public art sculpture on grass
We were thrilled to host our first in-person reception for faculty of color in October 2021. Join BU D&I for more social gatherings for faculty in the spring semester.

 

Learning & Action Workshops

First launched in fall 2021, Learning & Action Workshops offer BU faculty, staff, and graduate employees single-session educational sessions on a variety of D&I-related topics. In the spring 2022 semester, BU D&I’s Learning & Training team will hold sessions on DEI Foundations, Shared Understanding, Implicit Bias and Microaggressions, Race, Racism, Anti-Racism, Gender and Sexuality, and Neurodiversity. Each independent session is two hours long and includes time for group discussion. Please note, capacity in each of these workshops is limited.

Registrations will open in early January 2022. Please subscribe to BU D&I’s newsletters to receive ongoing updates.

 

Inclusive Leaders Program

In the spring 2022 semester, we are excited to launch the Inclusive Leaders Program for BU Staff and Faculty leadership and management. Participants nominated for this cohort-based program will expand their skills for equitable and inclusive leadership, acquire tools for leading communities, cultures and climates where diversity thrives, and create a community learning network with other leaders and managers from across BU. Our BU D&I Learning and Training team will be accepting nominations for the 2022 Spring Semester in January. Stay tuned for more information about the eligibility requirements, nomination process and meeting dates, coming soon!