By Tyler White | Staff Writer
Advocating for diversity, equity and inclusion at Baylor is not just happening among the student body. With Employee Resource Groups, faculty and staff can connect with others who share a common purpose while supporting each other along the way.
According to their website, Employee Resource Groups intend to serve as a resource “by fostering a diverse, inclusive workplace aligned with the institutional mission, vision, goals, business practices and objectives.” There are currently four established Employee Resource Groups: the Latinx Faculty and Staff Association, the Jewish Faculty and Staff Association, the Black Faculty and Staff Association and the Military-Connected Faculty and Staff Association.
Dr. Crystal Diaz-Espinoza, director of enrollment and alumni services at the Garland School of Social Work, is the president of the Latinx Faculty and Staff Association. After being chartered last year, the group has found an interest in building connections among those who are seeking community at Baylor, she said.
“What we used to hear pretty frequently in some of the meetings last year was that, for some faculty and staff, it was the first time they’ve been in a room of people that look like them,” Diaz-Espinoza said.
Diaz-Espinoza said Employee Resource Groups are a powerful way for people to experience their culture in a supportive environment and connect with others across campus. She said the group is continuing to work on bridging the gap between the Baylor and Waco Latinx communities as well as impacting student life on campus.
“What we’re trying to do is figure out how we can, as a faculty and staff, come together and bring our culture into our workspace so that students can see our culture too and feel seen,” Diaz-Espinoza said.
David Jortner, associate professor of theater arts and graduate program director of the department, is a mentor in the newly formed Jewish Faculty and Staff Association. The group was started to be a unified voice for faculty and staff and to provide support for students on campus, he said.
“Our goal is to raise the presence of Jewish faculty and staff here at Baylor as well as Jewish students,” Jortner said. “I think many people assume that if we’re at Baylor, you have to be Christian, but of course, a small minority of us are not.”
After setting goals and standards, Jortner said the group plans to be a resource for potential incoming faculty and staff to highlight the Jewish communities within Baylor and Waco. Additionally, he said the group wants to be a resource for students by providing professors who follow Jewish holiday schedules and are welcoming to students with questions about Judaism.
“We’re really hoping to do things like bring speakers to campus or host events to make the greater campus community aware of Judaism in general, the Jewish community here, and then also be a resource for both Jewish and non-Jewish students,” Jortner said.
Diaz-Espinoza said the goal is for Employee Resource Groups to grow in number and reach across campus. She said it’s important for these groups to highlight the cultures on campus and to support and work with each other.
“I think we’re excited about the opportunity to showcase all of the individual groups, but also know that there’s a goal for us to work together as Employee Resource Groups,” Diaz-Espinoza said.
