Jun 15More Higher Ed DEI Effectiveness Questions AnsweredI recently took a deep dive into my inbox for questions about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in the higher education industry. The challenge is that there is so much ground still left to be covered until we get to the place of not needing DEI efforts at all. I…Higher Ed4 min read
Jun 9Measuring the Success of Your DEI Efforts in Higher Ed — FAQs AnsweredIt has been just over two years since George Floyd was killed and organizations openly pledged their support to do a better job on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Although the concept has been around for decades, the buzz has risen significantly in the last two years. Across the…Higher Ed4 min read
May 25Am I Safe On Your Campus? Considering Physical and Emotional Protection for MinoritiesI started this article last week on the heels of the Buffalo mass shooting. I was shaken, truly traumatized, at the very thought that I had participated in military combat only to return home to the realities of racially motivated shootings. I was grappling with the idea that not only…Higher Ed4 min read
May 6Practicing What I Preach: Compassionate Leadership and Accountability to MyselfI make it no secret that I am a nontraditional leader in higher education in many ways — from my being a Black male to being a military veteran — I am not the norm. I stand proudly for the profound impact that compassion, vulnerability and true accountability have on…Higher Ed3 min read
Apr 20Substance vs. Optics: The Leadership Formula That Drives Successby Jarrod Benjamin and Demetria Anderson We’ve all sat in at least one meeting that absolutely could have been an email. And if we are honest, the pandemic doubled down on this theory proving that some things we do in our offices and programs are more ritualistic and traditional than…Higher Ed4 min read
Mar 30The Power of the Collective: Black Male DevelopmentWhen looking at the school-to-prison pipeline, a recent study confirming its existence notes, students assigned to stricter middle schools are 1.7 percentage points more likely to drop out of high school and 2.4 percentage points less likely to attend a four-year college. The impacts are more significant for Black and…Higher Ed4 min read
Mar 25Utilizing Your Privilege for Others as a Compassionate Leader in Higher EdJarrod Benjamin and Cesquinn M. Curtis Hard truth — access to higher education is a privilege. Historically, higher education in America was reserved specifically for white males. Women and Blacks were not on the consideration list to begin with. And while some access has changed, many things have remained the…Compassionate Leadership3 min read
Mar 21A Cautious Look at Cancel Culture: Defunding the PoliceI stared at the television screen in disbelief and anguish as the details surrounding George Floyd’s death ran through the headlines. The constant stream of social media replays and commentary was maddening. Breonna Taylor’s tragic death fanned the flames of my rage, and I knew something had to change. The…Higher Ed4 min read
Mar 10The Traits & Benefits of Compassionate Leadership in Higher EducationI transitioned into higher education after my military career. As such, I’ve had an opportunity to observe many leadership styles and the making of great leaders. In all of my travels and interactions, I’ve come to value the compassionate leadership approach at the top of my list. Higher education is…Higher Ed4 min read
Feb 24Privilege and Cancel Culture in Higher EducationPrivilege does not have to be the nasty word that it has become. Instead when we recognize that we stand in a place of privilege, we are given the opportunity to use that privilege to the aid and benefit of others. In a recent article, I shared some of the…Higher Education3 min read
