The College of Education at Michigan State University will begin offering professional education to help schools, colleges and other organizations achieve more equitable and inclusive cultures. These programs will be led by Dorinda Carter Andrews through her new appointment as assistant dean of equity outreach initiatives.
Carter Andrews is nationally known for her research on issues affecting the academic performance of students of color in K-12 education. She has shared her expertise as a consultant to many school districts and higher education institutions. Now she is preparing to support culturally responsive learning environments on a much larger scale.
“As a College of Education, we are well-equipped to provide this training,” she said, noting that many of her faculty colleagues share a commitment to addressing issues of race, culture and equity in education. “We must address what are becoming explicit concerns of marginalized individuals in educational institutions. These aren’t new issues but they are resurfacing in different ways today, and that makes this type of professional education so important.”
She expects to pilot training modules and materials during summer 2017. Options could include one- or multi-day seminars, both in person or online, for educators, employee groups or individuals who can then facilitate training in their own organizations.
Learning to lead
Carter Andrews is looking forward to exploring her potential as an administrator in higher education. In addition to her promotion in the college, she was recently selected for the Academic Leadership Program sponsored by the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC). The CIC represents all Big Ten universities plus the University of Chicago.
Just five MSU faculty members participate in the fellowship each year, which is designed to help them meet the specific challenges of academic administration at major research universities. The fellows participate in seminars at other member institutions plus readings and participation in monthly activities on their home campuses.