By Pierce Doyle
March 3, 2021
Because the search for a Vice President for Mission, Values, and Inclusion has been extended, two well-known college leaders Tony Garcia and John Leonard have been appointed to take on the role together in the interim.
“We’re tag-teaming this work for the semester. And, in the meantime, there’s this recruitment happening behind the scenes,” said Garcia.
Garcia said that the appointments to the positions will end in June and that the College hopes to have the position filled by that time.
Edgewood remains committed to finding individuals familiar with the school’s Dominican identity, in addition to Edgewood’s anti-racism and equity work. However, this has been challenging amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
“What I do know is short term I want to ensure that our students feel supported. I know that good work has been happening, but I want to provide a very strategic thoughtful approach on supporting students of color, our undocumented students, and LGBTQ students as well,” said Garcia. “Those populations right now, are in my mind, folks that I want to engage in a really thoughtful way.”
For the past decade, Garcia has been coordinating, leading, and championing diversity equity and inclusion efforts at Edgewood. Leonard is a professor of religious studies at the college, working closely with the school’s Center for Multicultural Education and Center for Diversity and Inclusion.
Leonard and Garcia said they are eager to work together given their history as colleagues and their shared passion for promoting equal opportunities for minority students.
“Inclusion, equity, and anti-racism work are in his bones. It’s the fabric of who John is,” said Garcia.
Garcia and Leonard are collaborating with other Edgewood leaders in creating a culture shift around anti-racism within the college this Spring semester. Garcia predicts the pandemic’s limitations on social events on campus will present obstacles.
“Interfacing with students is obviously going to be a challenge. And creating community during a pandemic is incredibly hard…Folks have screen fatigue,” said Garcia.
Garcia organized an ALANA (Asian, Latinx, African, and Native American) / BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) faculty, staff, and student virtual meet and greet Feb. 9 at 7 p.m.
Although Garcia said he had high hopes for the virtual meeting to bridge the socially distant gap between students and faculty of color, only 18 of the 500 invited attended. Most attendees were faculty and staff members.
The event was strategically planned late in the day to accommodate the various conflicting schedules of potential attendees. The four percent turn-out, however, indicates the pervasive existence of screen fatigue across the Edgewood community, as well as a need for more inclusivity-based events for ALANA/BIPOC students at Edgewood College.
Eagle student and communications tutor Diana Florencio Martinez during the meet-and-greet said that there was a need for developing a better sense of community for minority students at Edgewood.
“This is something that affects me every single day on campus. I want to help out and contribute towards making the community better or at least come together more. I also want to educate myself more on how making bridges can happen obviously,” said Florencio Martinez.
President of the Latinx Student Union and Criminal Justice major Vivi Velasquez added that she attended the meet-and-greet in hopes of connecting with students and faculty of color via the open-ended virtual dialogue.
College President Andrew Manion spoke at the meeting expressing his hope that the group can help the college develop a culture “that we know Edgewood can be and believe in our hearts that we can work toward.”
Vice President of Academic Affairs Angela Salas also attended.
Near the close of the meeting, Edgewood administrator Willie Larkin addressed attendees. Larkin is the senior advisor to the president and has worked in higher education for 48 years at seven different universities.
“While Edgewood College is a unique and special institution of higher education, it is not automatically immune or protected against the remnants associated with racism and other issues related to social justice. Finding solutions is an ongoing endeavor for us all and is a daily struggle, but we are preparing the college for controlled growth.” said Larkin.
Larkin, Edgewood’s former chief of diversity, stated that diversity, equity, and inclusion are important concerns for all successful organizations, emphasizing its importance within private universities and colleges.
“If we talk long enough, people eventually start to understand and trust one another,” said Larkin. “Furthermore, the president is all-in and committed to all facets of diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as members of the cabinet. Right now, the president’s appointments of John Leonard and Tony Garcia to lead these efforts was a great administrative decision.”
Eagle community members are urged to help shape the VP search by answering this brief survey.
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