Diversity Week 2021
Johns Hopkins SAIS celebrated its fourth annual Diversity Week Oct. 4-8th through a series of virtual and in-person events hosted by the Diversity Council, Office of Marketing, Communications and Community Engagement, Office of Admissions, Global Careers, SAIS Women Lead, Student Diversity Coalition (SDC), Black Student Union (BSU), SAIS Pride, and Global Women in Leadership (GWIL).
The SAIS Pride Club opened the week by hosting a virtual meet and greet, followed by the SAIS Pride Pledge signing in the Nitze Building lobby on the SAIS DC campus. Interim Dean Kent E. Calder joined students, faculty, and staff in signing the pledge to express their support for an inclusive learning environment.
Cheri Wilson, Education and Training Manager within Johns Hopkins Medicine’s Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Health Equity, and the Diversity Council kicked off the second day of Diversity Week by leading a virtual session teaching attendees how unconscious bias and microaggressions function in their lives and impact their decision-making.
Also on day two, BSU and Global Careers hosted events in the Nitze Building courtyard for students, faculty, and staff. During BSU’s "Story of Stuff" session, attendees described the stories of diversity behind personal items they brought to the event. Global Careers staff led an informal conversation titled “Together we Rise,” where attendees focused on work, life, inclusion, and purpose. The day’s final event featured Pavithra Suryanarayan, assistant professor of International Political Economy at SAIS, who hosted a virtual conversation with GWIL on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted women in academia.
Over the next two days, the Diversity Council presented a photoseries in the Nitze Building lobby titled "We are SAIS," demonstrating the school’s diversity. Catherine Axe, executive director of Student Disability Services at Johns Hopkins University, led a virtual workshop in conjunction with the SAIS Student Diversity Coalition and Kennedy-Krieger Institute’s Universal Design team focused on creating more accessible and accommodating spaces and experiences. The Office of Admissions held its second Diversity Summit for prospective students to learn about the academic and social life at SAIS, and how to prepare a strong application. Student and alumni speakers described their experiences during the virtual summit and discussed why employers value a SAIS degree.
On the final day of Diversity Week, SAIS Women Lead hosted "Tips for Confident Public Speaking," featuring Amy Hissirch '16, vice president of Global and Web Strategy at ASAE. During the session, Hissirch recounted overcoming her public speaking fears and facilitated a conversation where attendees shared tips that have helped them during speaking engagements.
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