Temple Receives HEED Award: Third Year in a Row

by Rosa Parks-Green, Jenny Lackey
September 17
For the third year in a row, Temple University has won the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award. This national recognition, awarded by Insight into Diversity magazine, recognizes colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. The comprehensive application covers a variety of areas and is used by Temple to assess best practices. Temple University's interest in applying for the HEED Diversity Awards stems from its deep and longstanding mission to provide accessible, high-quality education to one of the nation's...

Equity and Justice: Transformative Social Change Through Temple’s Experiential Learning in South Africa

by Dr. Nu'Rodney Prad
September 05
The Office of Institutional Diversity. Equity, Advocacy and Leadership's Global Experiential Learning (Global X) trip to South Africa, hosted in partnership with International Student Affairs (ISA), has once again provided a profound learning experience. After resuming in 2022, following a one-year pandemic pause, the program provides students with an in-depth exploration of anti-racism and gentrification by comparing South Africa's Apartheid system with racial issues in the United States. Since its inception in 2019, the Global X Learning trip has been designed to enhance...

Equity and Justice: Transformative Social Change Through Temple’s Experiential Learning in South Africa

by Dr. Nu'Rodney Prad
September 05
“I realized that South Africa's past is not as black and white as it seems in a classroom," reflected Sophomore Hanifa Savage. "Hearing personal accounts from those who lived through Apartheid made me understand that its impacts continue in subtle ways.” Similarly, Senior Kennedy Brown observed, "the South Africans' honest discussions about their past highlighted the importance of radical honesty. Acknowledging past wrongs is crucial for reconciliation and healing, something we often struggle with in the U.S." A distinctive aspect of the Global X Learning trip is the...

IDEAL Honors the Legacy of Michelle Benns-Cook

by Rosa Parks-Green, Dr. Tiffenia D. Archie
August 30
Institutional, Diversity, Equity, Advocacy and Leadership (IDEAL) proudly remembers and honors the life of Michelle Benns-Cook, a dedicated Temple Owl, who passed away unexpectedly last spring. Michelle was a committed faculty and staff member within the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) and was a passionate advocate for social justice. Her tireless efforts and unwavering support for IDEAL's mission have left an indelible mark on our department and the University. Michelle played a pivotal role as an active member of the DEI Collaborative—a coalition of...

IDEAL Honors the Legacy of Michelle Benns-Cook

by Rosa Parks-Green, Dr. Tiffenia D. Archie
August 30
In addition to her role in the DEI Collaborative, Michelle served as an Equal Opportunity Ombudsperson. In this capacity, she worked with faculty, staff and students to address informal complaints of discrimination, harassment and bias. Despite the often challenging nature of these cases, Michelle approached each one with a positive attitude, a genuine willingness to listen and learn and a focused determination to find solutions. Michelle's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion extended far beyond her professional responsibilities. She completed the Graduate...

Temple University Community Gateway: A little step with a long reach

by Dr. Valerie Harrison, Jenny Lackey
August 29
The Temple Community Gateway, launched in May 2024, serves as a central touch point for residents of the North Philadelphia community to connect with resources and services offered by Temple. Located on the fourth floor of Temple’s Entertainment and Community Education Building (ECEC) at 1509 W. Cecil B. Moore Avenue, one of Temple’s neighbors endearingly describes the Gateway as “the middleman to the plug.” The Gateway is connecting residents to opportunities for job training and placement, summer programs, youth and adult education, health and wellness, small business...

Temple University Community Gateway: A little step with a long reach

by Dr. Valerie Harrison, Jenny Lackey
August 29
Recently, a neighbor attended a meeting of area religious leaders organized by Director of Community Outreach and Hiring, Michael Robinson of Temple’s Lenfest Center. The neighbor is a grandmother and guardian of one of her grandchildren. In the past, she had attended Temple’s Pan African Studies Community Education Program (PASCEP) classes and had a great experience. However, she was having difficulty connecting with other Temple programs, especially for her grandchildren. She met Temple Community Gateway's Shelbie Ulysse at the meeting of area religious leaders, and they...

Embracing Diversity: Insights on Disability Advocacy

April 24
Dr. Carrie Snyder is Temple University’s Director of Disability Resources and Services, leading a team that provides students with the appropriate accommodations they need to access the campus community. Dr. Snyder brings to Temple a long and distinguished record of advocacy and education in the disability field and in higher education. She joined Temple in May 2022, and has already made a tremendous impact. Dr. Snyder graciously shared her insights with the Idealist.

Embracing Diversity: Insights on Disability Advocacy

April 24
Idealist: How should we address persons with disabilities? Dr. Snyder: It varies. Some prefer identity-first language like "disabled person" or "autistic." Others prefer person-first language, such as "person with a disability" or "person with autism." Communities often have preferences; for instance, person-first language is common in mental health contexts. It’s the difference between referring to someone as a schizophrenic vs. a person with schizophrenia which is most often preferred. I adapt, using both to honor diverse perspectives. Idealist: Can you talk...