Interim Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer Dr. André L. Churchwell, Vice Chancellor for Administration Eric Kopstain, Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for People and Business Services Laura Nairon and Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Public Safety and Special Initiatives August Washington will continue a series of listening sessions for Vanderbilt University staff beginning Friday, Feb. 14, from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at The Commons Center, Room 237. All university staff are welcome to attend.
The series of listening sessions, begun during the fall 2019 semester, provides opportunities for staff to discuss their experiences on campus, the culture of working at Vanderbilt, and ways to create a more equitable and inclusive working environment at the university.
“The listening sessions last semester were informative, enlightening and extremely helpful,” Churchwell said. “We want to build on the information gathered at those sessions as we continue our tour. We want every staff member to have the opportunity to share their thoughts, concerns and feedback regarding working at Vanderbilt.”
Key messages and themes discussed will be reported out to the campus community at the conclusion of the listening tour, which will wrap up later this spring. Churchwell, Kopstain, Nairon and Washington, along with other university colleagues, will then consider and analyze the feedback received to identify possible next steps.
The listening tour is designed to take the administrators to a variety of campus areas throughout the academic year and will serve as an opportunity for staff to be more engaged with university leadership and to have their voices heard.
The other listening sessions scheduled for the spring semester are as follows:
Wednesday, April 29
3–4:30 p.m
Library Community Room
Co-hosted by the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries
Friday, May 29
10–11:30 a.m.
Featheringill Hall, Room 134A
Thursday, June 11
2:30–4 p.m.
Student Life Center, Board of Trust Room