Author Archives: Edward Pittman, Ed.D.

Leadership Through Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Maturity: A Roadmap

The path to inclusion and equity is an easy fix. Getting there requires commitment and a willingness to sustain the work over periods of time. Many institutions and organizations make lofty diversity statements during a crisis—only to fall short. Why? One reason is a lack of direction. Another is looking for quick, easy results forContinue reading “Leadership Through Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Maturity: A Roadmap”

6 Key Steps for Starting and Sustaining a Nonprofit Organization DEI Committee

I worked in higher education for over three decades, primarily in equity and inclusion leadership roles. Typically, we don’t think of colleges as nonprofits, but they are. Colleges must file IRS 990 forms too. They also have governing boards. So, it is not surprising that consulting with human service, educational, health, or other nonprofit organizationsContinue reading “6 Key Steps for Starting and Sustaining a Nonprofit Organization DEI Committee”

In Pursuit of Racial Equity: Consultant Offers Five Concrete Questions and Strategies

It’s rare that racial equity is made clear. But Janice Gassam Asare, Ph.D., writer, DEI consultant, and Forbes Senior Contributor, has zeroed in on key questions to ask. The five questions and strategies put forward are worth pursuing whether you are in higher education, non-profit, or corporate-business settings. At the heart of this work isContinue reading “In Pursuit of Racial Equity: Consultant Offers Five Concrete Questions and Strategies”

Helping Young Black and Latino Males Succeed Through Support and Challenging Stereotypes

by Edward Pittman March 10, 2014 When President Obama announced his $200 million My Brother’s Keeper initiative for Black boys, I wondered why Black and Latino men are still an enigma to the higher education community. Ten years ago I met Kenny, a chatty and bright student from metropolitan New York. He played lacrosse andContinue reading “Helping Young Black and Latino Males Succeed Through Support and Challenging Stereotypes”

Sustaining Professional Development in the Midst of COVID

Two years ago, I was asked to lead a professional development initiative. This was a shift from my previous dean’s work in student affairs and campus equity development for more than thirty years. The opportunity to think about supporting students through a different lens, however, has been both revealing and encouraging. Professional development initiatives thatContinue reading “Sustaining Professional Development in the Midst of COVID”

Making Implicit Bias Education Work

Are implicit bias workshops just a Band-Aid approach to racial justice and equity challenges on campuses, or can they actually have an impact? I offer some answers here. Edward Pittman May 20, 2021   The killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and other miscarriages of justice have, once again, awakened higher education to long-standingContinue reading “Making Implicit Bias Education Work”