Reflection on Black History Month
Black History Month provides a sustained moment to reflect on the contributions of CLA’s Black students, alumni, faculty, and staff.
Stories featured in this issue of ALMA MATTERS highlight Black alumni changemakers. They complement themes found in the University's "Where it Starts" series, revealing how “change starts wherever the powers of creativity, vision, and joy meet.” Those powers are definitively at the heart of the liberal arts. As you’ll see, our alumni are making a difference. We are proud of alumni who, for example, are creating fresh programming in community arts, introducing inner-city youth to career opportunities, or securing funding so future students can realize their promise.
I’m also reflecting on our Roadmap commitment to building a more diverse and inclusive community. One of our primary goals has been to better reflect the world at large. The College’s enrollment of underrepresented and under-resourced students has increased. Our faculty are more diverse across disciplines. As important as these gains are, it is equally vital that the environment of the college collectively and within each unit is one of inclusive respect, opportunity, and engagement, as that’s what makes an organization not only one that people want to join, but one in which they want to stay.
We have come far, but we know we have work to do. We are pushing beyond thinking in terms of “all are welcome here” to thinking about a place that, from the start, has all in mind.
You are a part of this journey and I am grateful for the roles so many of you play in helping us overcome obstacles, build community, and deepen our purpose.
Today’s students have had a college experience unlike what any of us experienced. A worldwide pandemic transforming virtually every aspect of day-to-day living. The murder of George Floyd not far from campus and the repercussions and reckoning that resulted. Nearly all classes delivered online for the 2020-21 academic year. Some of the traditional social and extracurricular residential college experiences curtailed for a lengthy time. A rapidly-shifting job market.
They persevered and excelled. Because of you and your investment in their success, I am confident our students are prepared for their journey beyond the University of Minnesota. And the excellence, energy, and diversity of background, experience, and viewpoint that they will bring into the world when they launch off campus brings me great hope.
With best wishes,
John Coleman, Dean of the College
