The inaugural class of TCU R.I.S.E. (Responsible for Inclusion and Sustaining Excellence) has graduated and earned their certificates. The seven-month program, open to faculty and staff committed to inclusive excellence, received 100 applications, with a cohort of 24 selected.
TCU R.I.S.E. is a partnership between the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and Human Resources led by Aisha Torrey-Sawyer, director of diversity and inclusion initiatives, and Ebony Rose, senior learning and development consultant. The program provides tools and learning opportunities to advance personal and professional development in diversity, equity and inclusion.
“Participants utilize tools such as the Intercultural Development Inventory to gain insight on their current intercultural competence, as well as the Inclusive Excellence Toolkit to take inventory and determine action in moving diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives forward in their unit or in the university,” Torrey-Sawyer said.
Sophia Garcia, Ph.D., instructor of biology and a member of the first cohort, said, “The R.I.S.E. program was a valuable experience. It equips participants with the skills and vocabulary to be more effective agents of change within their spheres of influence. Personally, it has helped me be a better advocate for our most underserved populations. I am grateful for the system of support the R.I.S.E. program provides, as it has given me the confidence to address DEI issues in our TCU community and beyond.”
Participants in the cohort improved their intercultural development through personal assessment; strengthened their skills in advocacy and social change activism; and developed strategies to interrupt structural and systemic issues of power, privilege and oppression. R.I.S.E. is an example of how we are all responsible for DEI at the university. Graduates are now empowered to move concepts into concrete action.
“One of the major benefits of this cohort experience was the conversations and learning the participants did together. Each of our session topics required our participants to engage in meaningful and sometimes challenging discussion while learning more about themselves as DEI advocates,” Rose said.
The team is preparing for the next R.I.S.E. cohort to begin in the fall. Watch TCU Today for the announcement.