Greetings from the new LSA Technology Services DEI Advocate!

I am honored to have been appointed the new DEI Advocate by Cathy Curley and the LSA Technology Services leadership team! As we reorganize and explore the relationship with our new partners and the ways we provide services to the LSA community, I hope we will have the chance to also examine issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion that impact our work. In my role as DEI Advocate, I hope to work with everyone in making our community even more welcoming!

Technology Services is here to support the work of the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts—the learning that happens through instruction and research. This is not work that we can each do on our own. Each of us brings unique skills and experiences to the table, and we can only do this work together. Everything we do as individuals impacts the rest of TS, and everything our community does impacts the wider LSA community.

There is already an interest in using more inclusive language on our websites, documentation, videos, tools, and communications. We also need to address accessibility issues for these same areas. I’m very interested in how the application of the Universal Design and Universal Design for Learning Frameworks might be informative in our efforts. Another important area for me is systemic issues of recruitment. For example, are we recruiting from the same places, in the same ways we always do, therefore, limiting the people who are even aware of our openings? Are there things we could be looking for in candidates that would better situate us to respond to the diverse needs of the LSA community? Another major area is looking at issues of socioeconomic access to technology for students. LSA has been running a laptop loan program for the past couple of years, but as we work with instructors on course design using new software and hardware, we can help make sure it doesn’t place an undue financial burden on the student population.

I have an open door—I encourage people to email, call, or just stop by my office to talk. I’d like to meet with anyone who has concerns, and I plan to work closely with the LSA-TS leadership team. I’m also hoping to implement a system for anonymous comments on DEI issues, and I’m interested in forming a committee with LSA Technology Services staff who are interested in working on these issues more regularly.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with your questions and concerns. I can be reached at 734-615-0099, at [email protected], or in my office (2014 MLB). I hope to see you at a DEI event soon!

-Anthony King