A Message to the NISOD Community

Our heart and prayers go out to George Floyd, his family and friends, and everyone whose heart is aching right now. While men and women around the world denounce his senseless killing and the long-standing injustices found in our systems and institutions, the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) stands in solidarity with everyone doing their part to eliminate racial and other inequalities.

Mr. Floyd’s brutal killing, and those of other Black Americans and other people of color, as well as the unfair treatment of people due to their race, gender, or sexual orientation, demonstrate the continued need to address the inequities seen in our communities.

NISOD has a long and proud history of promoting, recognizing, and celebrating diversity, equity, and inclusion at community and technical colleges, from partnering with Diverse: Issues in Higher Education to recognize colleges that make an exceptional commitment to diversity, to adding an Improving Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion track to our annual International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence.

Community colleges are increasingly becoming the point of entry to higher education for students of color and most women. Never before has the need for faculty, staff, and administrators who come from diverse racial, ethnic, economic, and gender backgrounds been so great. Consequently, much work remains to be done. NISOD will continue to encourage and help community and technical colleges develop a supportive campus culture, including helping them diversify their faculty, administrators, and staff. Going forward, we’ll help these institutions facilitate meaningful conversations about and take specific steps to address diversity, equity, and inclusion concerns.

But for right now, NISOD stands in solidarity with everyone doing their part to eliminate racial and other inequalities.