Building a Culture of Encounter in Mendoza  

“We are promoters of a culture of encounter.” Pope Francis

Greetings! As we start another academic year, our University and College communities are coming alive with the energy and enthusiasm of new beginnings. It certainly feels like a time of renewal, where fresh ideas, diverse perspectives and boundless possibilities converge. I hope your fall semester is off to an excellent start.

This summer marked my first full year as the inaugural associate dean for innovation and inclusion here in Mendoza. The role aligns with the College’s larger goals of developing innovative curriculum and formative experiences for our students, elevating our degree programs and creating a culture of encounter among faculty, staff and students. 

I have the good fortune to work closely with Sr. Associate Dean Craig Crossland on innovation in our degree programs, and am exploring the potential for new non-degree programs to further the College’s teaching and research. I am honored to be part of an academic community where each and every individual plays an integral role in these endeavors. In this type of engaged community, we are more likely to see our students succeed and thrive, which also relates to belonging and inclusion. The research shows that how students respond to the question of, “do I belong?” is closely linked to whether they can succeed or thrive there.

As we enter this new academic year, I'm encouraged that students are expressing a deeper sense of inclusion and a strong commitment to creating a welcoming and diverse campus. Our resources in Mendoza allow us to achieve belonging in many ways, including through the visibility of accessible support systems and opportunities that encourage appreciation of diverse perspectives, talents and lived experiences. 

In that spirit, allow me to share some of the amazing things our College community accomplished last year — many of which we will continue this year ,— and how you can be part of them. 

• Programs for faculty and staff that support exclusive excellence in the workplace. Last year’s reading groups for “Relationship-Rich Education” and “Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community Can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity,” were well attended. Mendoza Staff DEI Council will also sponsor a reading group for World Mental Health Day in October. Please join other faculty and staff in reading, ”Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?” The Mendoza Community Forum: Building a Culture of Inclusion in Mendoza and Beyond, which took place earlier this month, is another example of a program that supports exclusive excellence in the workplace. 
• Social events that highlight the diverse backgrounds of faculty, staff, and students. The College collaborated with the MBA program to offer the first-ever Diversity and Heritage Ball in Spring 2023. With at least 125 faculty, staff and graduate students in attendance and seven different graduate affinity groups celebrated, this event is sure to return in Spring 2024. Keep track of events like this, as well as international holidays, by subscribing to the Mendoza DE&I Calendar using this link.
• Support of undergraduate and graduate student Affinity Groups. Students are pivotal in shaping Mendoza’s inclusive culture through their leadership of student organizations. Last year, we saw the success of Black History Week with the Black Graduate in Management Club, and just last week, there was “A Trip Through Latin America” with the Latin American Club at Mendoza. On the undergraduate side, a new student-led coalition called, The Equity in Business Initiative strives to make sure all students — especially students from underrepresented backgrounds and those unfamiliar with business/business-adjacent roles — know about opportunities on campus.  
• Co-sponsored events that connect faculty, staff and students with other Colleges on campus. Since the creation of the Office of Institutional Transformation, the University has become more intentional about connecting DEI practitioners across campus. This has led to collaboration between colleges and units for DE&I events, such as last month’s A Powerful Conversation with Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover and Dr. Angela Logan, during the TSU-ND football weekend. Stay tuned for other celebratory, cross-campus events like this during Walk the Walk Week, which will run January 16-22, 2024.  Contact me if you are interested in participating in monthly meetings of the University’s DEI Practitioners Group.
• Advancing equal access to business education through innovative recruiting initiatives with Graduate Enrollment. Examples of such recruiting initiatives include the Diversity in Leadership Program and partnerships with the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc. Last year, the MBA program welcomed two students from Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek-lettered fraternity for African American men. Mendoza will look to expand other recruiting partnerships with Catholic universities across the globe this year. 
• Formative student experiences that support inclusion in business. The DE&I Grow the Good in Business Case Competition in Spring 2023 drew Mendoza undergraduate, MBA and specialized master’s students to compete for $40,000 with their pitches focused on financial inclusion. Stay tuned for Spring 2024, when we plan to welcome more corporate sponsors and competing students. Judging opportunities will be available for faculty and staff.
• Consistent approach to surveying students about belonging in Mendoza. In 2022, 93% of Mendoza student respondents to the Inclusive Campus Survey strongly agreed (42%), agreed (36%) or somewhat agreed (15%) that they feel a sense of belonging at Notre Dame. But what about those students’ individual sense of belonging, community, and feeling valued within Mendoza? We could benefit from more data on student belonging at the College level.

I don’t take it lightly that the Dean’s Cabinet has trusted me to add perspective on diversity and belonging when discussing issues related to our core mission, as well as to lead our progress toward a culture of encounter as the needs of our students change. Please consider this an open invitation to reach out to me if you would like to discuss anything related to my role or innovation and inclusion in general. I welcome a conversation or your feedback at any time, whether it be in person or through our suggestion boxes. I look forward to another year where our community is strengthened by your support. 

Go Irish!

Kristen