DEI Listen & Learn Sessions Help Better Understand Needs of Various Populations
During December 2023 and February 2024, NOVA’s Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion held several Listen & Learn sessions to hear from local stakeholders and members of the NOVA community. ‘Building Strategies of Inclusive Excellence for African American/Black Learner Communities in Higher Education,’ involved members of the community and College leadership to discuss how to better serve diverse populations.
The aim of the sessions was to connect an array of stakeholders and to help maximize community engagement. They introduced topics that would foster a solid collaboration to address obstacles that communities face as they consider pursuing higher education at NOVA and explore solutions and opportunities. The DEI Community of Focus sessions began in the fall of 2021, with stakeholders from Latino, Hispanic and/or Latinx communities gathering to understand the impact COVID-19 had on families and the implications for community college education. During fall 2022, sessions were held with leaders from the refugee and DACA/undocumented communities to learn how NOVA could do more to support those individuals with identifying resources and/or overcoming barriers to achieving higher education. Fall 2023 and spring 2024, the identified community of focus was African American and/or Black learners.
These ‘Listen & Learn’ strategy sessions were inspired by a U.S. Department of Education report, “Strategies for Increasing Diversity and Opportunity in Higher Education.” The report calls for state leaders and higher education administrators to prioritize outreach, admissions, financial aid and college completion to advance diversity on college campuses.
Stakeholders were asked to relay data and trends they were seeing within their communities and they were asked about higher education engagement and workforce development efforts. Their insights, feedback and recommendations will be crucial to helping NOVA continuously improve and implement its strategic planning. NOVA is grateful to those who took the time to collaborate on these important sessions.
December 2023: Alexandria Campus
- Melanie Carter, 2022 NoVAC chapter president, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
- Gaynelle Diaz, director of resident and community services, Alexandria Redevelopment Housing Authority (ARHA)
- Samuel Gilkeson, chief human resources officer, Virginia Hospital Center
- Michelle Leete, president NAACP, Fairfax Branch
- Karen Smaw, director of diversity business, investment and entrepreneurship, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority
- Gloria Yarbrough, project coordinator, National Congress of Black Women
- Annette Haggray, provost, NOVA Alexandria Campus
- Nathan Carter, chief diversity, equity & inclusion officer, NOVA
- Brent Via, associate director, career planning and development, NOVA
February 2024: Woodbridge Campus
- Michael Artson, chair ACT-SO, NAACP-Prince William Branch
- Yanet Boyd, supervisor of family and community engagement, Prince William County Schools Department of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Compliance
- Darlene Brown, sr. VP/financial advisor, Pinnacle Financial Partners
- L’Tonya Davis, chief diversity, equity & inclusion officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Tara Eason, coordinator, Prince William County Schools CTE Department
- Taharee Jackson, owner, Global Inclusion Academy LLC
- Richmond Hill, provost, NOVA Woodbridge Campus
- Lawrence Nightingale, administrative faculty, NOVA Woodbridge
- Kimberly Blue, career counselor, NOVA Woodbridge
- Cedric Howard, instructor, NOVA Student Services Center
- Brent Via, associate director, career planning and development, NOVA
If you have questions about the Listen & Learn sessions or any of NOVA’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, please visit the DEI webpage or reach out to Dr. Harper, MHarper@nvcc.edu.
Submitted by:
Dr. Mia Harper, Assoc. Director of DEI, MHarper@nvcc.edu