Dr. 大女. 龙骨 will take on the role of Poly’s new Director of Diversity, 股本, 和包容 as of July 1, 2021.

Dr. 龙骨来自埃文斯顿的西北大学, IL, 他在那里担任多元化事务助理主任, 股本, 和包容 for the Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching since 2018.

Dr. 龙骨 grew up in Oakland, CA, where he attended an independent high school. He recalls that his parents were strong proponents of the best possible education for him and his sister. This included regular family outings for Black arts and educational outreach events. 作为一个年轻的黑人. 龙骨 says he has lived and understands the experience of being a minoritized student in an independent school. 

Dr. 龙骨说 his “study of social identities” in his graduate and post-graduate research led him to Diversity, 股本, 包容工作. He wanted to take research a step further into real life implementation to examine and understand the lived experiences of racially minoritized students in educational contexts. He considered, “How can I apply theory to make a real difference?” One way was his work at the University of Michigan through “assisting with the execution and facilitation of two summer pipeline programs, 夏天 Research Opportunity Program–SROP and Michigan Humanities Emerging Research Scholars–MICHHERS.” For him, it was a very exciting time applying his research for the betterment of students.

Dr. 龙骨’ parents were a great support throughout his college career. He earned a BS in psychology from Howard University and a Master of Public Health from The George Washington University. 在师范学院, 哥伦比亚大学, 他获得了文学硕士学位, 以及心理咨询教育学硕士学位. He went on to earn a Master of Science in psychology and then a Doctor of Philosophy, Combined Program in Education and Psychology from the University of Michigan, 安阿伯. He studied the French language at Université de Bourgogne in Dijon, France and attended a 夏天 School on Black Europe program in Amsterdam, 荷兰. 狂热的旅行者, 他希望参观“奴隶城堡”,“欧洲商人在加纳建造的堡垒, 当国际旅行对我们开放的时候.

Dr. 龙骨’ early work included providing academic counseling to scholarship students from racial/ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds at the University of Miami, 科勒尔盖布尔斯.  2011年至2018年期间，在密歇根大学(University of Michigan). 龙骨 served as: a research technician senior at the Center for the Study of Black Youth in Context; a program assistant with the Rackham Graduate School where he mentored 17 incoming graduate student participants from an educational, 文化, or geographic background underrepresented in graduate study in their discipline; and as a student services assistant with the Rackham Graduate School assisting in the development and execution of student programs, including mentoring 15 夏天 Research Opportunity Program students.

尽管大多数博士. 基尔斯的经历是在大学层面, 他很高兴能和我们最年轻的学生一起工作, 她指出，三岁的孩子“天生开放和诚实”, 这是接触他们的黄金时间,” as well as providing an “open door policy” and safe/brave space for 上学校 students with concerns or ideas about improving the community. He would like students to know that he plans to be transparent. “我是来听的，”他说. “我想成为一名参谋.他希望学生们知道“他们的声音和想法很重要”.”

当博士. 龙骨 sees the value of having topics for discussion in forums, 他认为他们应该采取一些行动. He hopes to bring in speakers for roundtables and for career days, 包括来自hbcu / msi /部落学院的代表, as well as those who have taken non-traditional paths to their careers.

In addition to engaging with students and celebrating special diversity events, Dr. 龙骨 would like to see diversity celebrated “throughout the entire year—in the art on the walls, 我们如何优先考虑文学, 为学生提供交流的空间.“艺术贴近他的内心. Dr. 基尔斯受过古典大提琴演奏训练, 打击乐器, 钢琴和创作型歌手Erykah Badu的忠实粉丝, having once traveled cross country in one weekend to attend her concert.

In engaging with Poly faculty, students, board members, and parents in the interview process, Dr. 龙骨说 he felt encouraged that he could have an “immediate impact” in the role of Director of Diversity, 股本, 和包容. He found, “an openness to ideas I presented” and a very serious regard for the work of anti-racism.

“‘种族主义’这个词无处不在. It’s used to explain all the things that cause African-Americans’ suffering and death: inadequate access to health care, 食物, 住房和就业, 或者是警察的子弹, 警棍还是膝盖. But ‘racism’ fails to fully capture what black people in this country are facing.”

Dr. 龙骨 explained that part of that work is to disentangle anti-racism from diversity, 股本, 和包容. 他引用了 纽约时报 专栏 作者:kihana miraya Ross, an assistant professor of African-American studies at Northwestern University, in which she called the word racism a “catch-all” that is not specific. 罗斯写道:“‘种族主义’这个词无处不在. It’s used to explain all the things that cause African-Americans’ suffering and death: inadequate access to health care, 食物, 住房和就业, 或者是警察的子弹, 警棍还是膝盖. But ‘racism’ fails to fully capture what black people in this country are facing.”

“保利真的在这项工作上投入了很多。. 龙骨说. 但是，他说，多元化工作“不仅仅是种族驱动的.这是他工作的短期目标, 他说, 会包括额外的社会身份，比如种族吗, 性别, 以及DEI对话的能力. This will include considering, “What does social justice mean for minoritized groups?” and how the intersection of multiple identities accounts for within group variation of lived experiences (e.g.(并非所有拉丁裔学生都有相同的经历).  He added that to “diversity, 股本, 和包容” should be added the word ”belonging.” And a goal for this work at Poly will be that “people should feel like they belong.”

当他进入新的角色时. 龙骨说 he hopes the community will be patient with him as he learns the landscape and needs of Poly. He can see that Poly is excited and passionate about the work of diversity, 股本, 和包容. 一开始可能会有小的进展, 他说, 并邀请社区与他一起参与这项工作.