DEI Educational Resources

For faculty and staff seeking to improve, learn, and participate in Furman’s ongoing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives, Furman has several resources, including in-person and online workshops, inclusive technology, grants, and people to contact.

Table of Contents

  • Faculty Development Center (FDC)
  • Departmental DEI Representatives
  • Accessibility (SOAR)
  • Faculty and Staff Affinity Groups
  • CREATE Conversations
  • Bias Incident Response and Report
  • Whom Should I Contact for DEI Assistance?

Faculty Development Center (FDC)

There are many ways to teach well—and all teaching can be improved. Rethinking your pedagogy for equity and inclusion can support a rich learning environment that draws on the assets of all learners. Each of our pedagogically-focused professional growth opportunities incorporate DEI elements to enhance your teaching and students’ learning. Please see our website for more information about opportunities in multiple formats: asynchronous learning via Learning By Design studio recordings, workshops, conversations via our Talking Teaching series, reading groups, and Summer Pro Courses and Institutes. Though DEI is infused throughout our faculty resources, see our Accessibility and Inclusion Resources for explicitly tailored resources.

Accessibility (SOAR)

The mission of the Student Office for Accessibility Resources is to create an accessible, inclusive, sustainable learning environment, where disability is recognized as an aspect of diversity that is integral to the campus community and to society. Our primary objective is to provide equal access to campus programs and activities for all students. Faculty and Staff can access the full range of available resources here. Resources include:

CREATE Conversations

Conversation-Rich Education for Anti-Racist Teaching/Learning Environments conversations provide opportunities for faculty and staff to dialogue on issues of race, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Furman facilitators lead 75-minute conversations with interested faculty or staff groups on any of the following topics. Furman CREATE facilitators can customize conversations to the needs of the group. To schedule a conversation for your team and learn about other facilitated conversations, contact Robyn Andrews.

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Words matter, and generating shared understandings is one of the cornerstones of a healthy classroom and campus climate. In this introductory session, colleagues will consider some key concepts that are the basis of Anti-Racist advocacy.

In this conversation participants will delve into considering equity, how it may relate to identity and privilege, and consider how we may address equity gaps within our spheres of influence.

Sense of belonging and mattering are key predictors in student and colleague success and retention. We can support an inclusive climate when we understand impact vs. intent, employ empathetic active listening, and diffuse micro-aggressions. In this conversation, we will discuss case studies to guide development of potential action plans for how to be an anti-racist ally.

University classrooms offer unique spaces for exploring topics with people who hold different, even conflicting, perspectives. Good facilitation does not require that you have expertise on all topics. Instead, focus on developing skills to identify and manage sensitive topics, cognitive dissonance, and emotionally charged conversations. This session will help with strategies to prepare for challenging conversations before they occur, to navigate difficult moments during these conversations, and to recuperate after challenging conversations.

The objective of this conversation is to examine the insidious ways implicit biases and microaggressions show up in workplaces, how to interrogate such behavior and messages it sends in increasingly diverse settings.

Whom Should I Contact for DEI Assistance?

Need help and not quite sure where to go? Faculty and staff can reach out to:

The Presidential Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and its subcommittees meet regularly. The dedicated faculty and staff members are eager to help colleagues access and develop DEI resources and programs. See here for a list of the DEI Presidential Committee subcommittees and current members.

Robyn Andrews

Access Services & Diversity Coordinator/Pathways Academic Advisor

Franklin Ellis

Associate Dean and Director of the Center for Inclusive Communities / Special Assistant to the President for Diversity and Belonging

Cynthia King

Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusive Excellence; Professor of Communication Studies

Lisa Knight

Alva and Beatrice Bradley Professor of Anthropology, Asian Studies, and Religion; Chair, Department of Anthropology

Departmental DEI Representatives

Each academic department at Furman has two DEI representatives, who serve as resources for their faculty colleagues, facilitate biannual DEI Workshops within their department, and help promote inclusive cultures within their department.

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Art Sarah Archino Kylie Fisher
Music Randall Umstead Stacy Christofakis
Theatre Arts Maegan Azar Alan Bryson
Anthropology Lisa Knight Kaniqua Robinson
Asian Studies Lisa Knight Alex Francis-Ratte/Andrew Womack
Classics Randall Childree Chiara Palladino
Communication Studies John McArthur Mai Xiong-Gum
English Melinda Menzer Michele Spietz
History Lane Harris Tugce Kayaal
Modern Languages & Literatures Linda Bartlett Carole Salmon
Philosophy Erik Anderson David Gandolfo
Religion Tim Wardle Tori Montrose
WGSS Savita Nair Nader Hakim
Biology Greg Lewis Ashley Morris
Chemistry Tim Hanks Mac Gilliland
Computer Sciences Kevin Treu Chris Alvin
Earth, Environmental & Sustainability Sciences Suresh Muthukrishnan Geoffrey Habron
Health Sciences Natalie The Shaniece Criss
Mathematics Tom Lewis Sarah Frick
Physics David Moffett Dake Wang
Business/Accounting Sandy Roberson Jeanine Stratton
Economics Jason Jones Ken Peterson
Education Nelly Hecker Shameera Virani
Library Caroline Mills Robyn Andrews
Politics & International Affairs Glen Halva-Neubauer Kate Kaup
Psychology Erin Hahn Veronica Flores
Sociology Ken Kolb Joe Merry
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Faculty and Staff Affinity Groups

Bias Incident Response and Report

Furman University emphasizes the worth of all people. Acts that violate this core value will not be tolerated. Accordingly, Furman has implemented a Bias Incident Response & Support (BIRS) plan that is managed by the BIRS Team. The BIRS team addresses bias incidents occurring within the University community that involve students, staff, faculty, alumni, and visitors to campus.

Students, staff, faculty and visitors to campus who perceive that they have experienced a bias incident, as well as those who are witnesses to a bias incident, are urged to complete a Bias Incident Report.