Last post, I discussed my feelings regarding who can “speak with authority” on diversity. I think I raised more questions than I answered. In the coming weeks, I will try to be a bit more specific. This week, I will focus on educational credentials.
A while back, I headed up an initiative at Baltimore City Community College (BCCC) called the Institute for Intercultural Understanding (IIU). When I stepped down to pursue my interests in writing, a colleague of mine expressed interest in the position. She was an excellent communicator and had assumed a leadership role with regard to a number of IIU initiatives. Furthermore, she showed great insight into a wide range of diversity issues and was familiar with BCCC. However, she was a staff member with a Bachelor’s degree. Because of that, she was excluded from the search for the Director of the IIU, even though I lobbied hard on her behalf.
As someone with a Ph.D. degree in sociology and a specialization in the field of race and ethnic relations, I am certainly aware of the value of an advanced degree. When I appear before other faculty, senior-level managers, and professionals whose jobs require them to “manage diversity,” I understand that having Dr. before my name is apt to provide me with a certain degree of authority from their vantage point. My studies included the sociology of intergroup relations, racial and ethnic minorities, social problems, Black educational thought, problems of the Black community, and so forth. Moreover, my dissertation dealt with diversity. But what if I had majored in Psychology or Business Administration or Education? Is the degree more important than the field of study? And are there other life experiences which are more important than a degree? For example, the woman I referenced above constantly took advantage of opportunities to educate herself about diversity, even though she did not earn formal educational credentials.
Lifelong education is critical, both formal and informal. Degrees and areas of study are also very relevant, I believe, even though they should not, by themselves, determine who is prepared to “speak with authority” on the subject of diversity. The woman I referenced above, I think, would have done a good job as Director of the IIU. How other people would have perceived her and her qualifications is another thing.
To be continued…