November 5, 2020
Dear Tulane Community:
To achieve true greatness, a university must be diverse, equitable and inclusive – attracting, supporting and increasing the potential of students, faculty and staff from all backgrounds, races and ethnicities. A diverse university increases academic impact by engaging with a full range of perspectives and insights, it spurs innovation through a deeper understanding of societal needs and opportunities, it builds unity by welcoming, supporting and valuing all. In a word, diversity builds a great university and a better society.
Last month we announced A Plan for Now, a university-wide effort to build on initiatives already underway and identify future actions necessary to become a more diverse, equitable and inclusive academic community. One of the initiatives identified in A Plan for Now is the creation of the Tulane Leadership Institute, which seeks to identify and nurture future university leaders while enhancing the skills, insight and vision of current leaders. This new institute* will be directed by Shantay Bolton, vice president and deputy chief operating officer and will include the Emerging Leaders Program and the Anti-Racism Leadership Program, both of which are now accepting nominations and applications.
Emerging Leaders Program
This 12-month program will help participants enhance their leadership self-awareness and increase their institutional knowledge through monthly activities in strategic planning, change management, effective communication, understanding diversity and inclusion and more. This program will prepare employees to move into leadership positions throughout the university.
We encourage supervisors to meet with potential nominees for the Emerging Leaders Program and discuss how participation might benefit the nominee and their department. While self-nominations are not accepted, individuals interested in participating should discuss this program with their supervisors. For more information on nominating an individual, please click here. Nominations must be received on or before Nov. 27.
Anti-Racism Leadership Program
The Anti-Racism Leadership Program is designed to help established university leaders grow in their understanding of racial injustice and inequities in the workplace and actively commit to creating a more equitable and inclusive campus environment.
We hope to provide participants in the yearlong Anti-Racism Leadership Program with the skills and understanding necessary to implement institutional anti-racism initiatives in their departments, as well as to take on leadership roles that promote diversity, inclusion and equity in the broader university community.
The Anti-Racism Leadership Program will be led by Anneliese Singh, chief diversity officer and associate provost for faculty development and diversity. Those interested in the program should apply here before Nov. 27.
The Leadership Institute's faculty and facilitators are committed to a purposeful curriculum that will demand deep reflection, openness to new ways of learning, self-awareness and encourage alignment of professional ambitions with university aspirations. We have no doubt that the yearlong experiences offered by the Leadership Institute will have a profound and long-lasting impact on the personal and professional lives of the participants, as we prepare them to become the next leaders of a truly great university.
Michael A. Fitts, President
Patrick Norton, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Robin Forman, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
* All qualified applicants to these programs will receive consideration for participation without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law or policy.
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