2020 GlobalMindED
The Future of Work is Diverse, Inclusive, Just and Equitable
GlobalMindED closes the equity gap by creating a capable, diverse talent pipeline through connections to role models, mentors, internships for low-income students, returning adults, First Gen to college and inclusive leaders who teach them, work with them and hire them.
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GlobalMindED met the remarkable leader, Dr. Irma Becerra, through Bernie Milano, founder of the PhD Project. She has forged many trails as a Latina in STEM, and electrical engineering PhD. Now, as a college president she helps other diverse students of all ages and stages achieve success. |
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You are one of a handful of immigrant women of color who have risen to become a college president. What is your personal story and how did you beat the odds to get where you are?
I was born in Cuba, and immigrated to the U.S. with my parents when I was an infant to escape Castro’s Revolution. I then lived in Puerto Rico through high school. My family had to start again from nothing, and there were many challenges we faced. However, my formative experiences gave me a passion for knowledge, and my grandparents instilled in me a belief that “no one can take away your education.”
I earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Miami, and went on to work at Florida Power and Light. Later on, I decided to continue my education, and became the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Florida International University, taking classes where I was commonly the only woman in the room. I worked for a NASA-funded center at the University of Florida, and then joined the faculty at FIU College of Business. I would spend the next 12 years there working to become a tenured full professor in Management Information Systems, and also founded FIU’s Knowledge Management Lab.
Around this time, I discovered how I could make a greater impact on more lives through education administration. Leaving the classroom, I served in a variety of positions at FIU including Entrepreneurship Center Director, Vice Provost and Vice President. I then moved to St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Fla., where I was Provost and Chief Academic Officer.
Then, in the spring of 2018, I was blessed to be selected as Marymount’s seventh president, and I moved to Arlington in Northern Virginia.
Marymount has a very special history. Tell us about how that history has shaped your current priorities and the diverse students at your institution.
We are, in fact, celebrating our 70th anniversary this year. In 1950, Marymount began as a two-year women’s college, seeking to prepare women for work and careers – which weren’t exactly mainstream ideas at the time! Since then, we have grown to become a coeducational, doctoral-granting University that is now a leading Catholic higher educational institution.
Our diversity is a hallmark of a Marymount education – we have been consistently recognized for our ethnic diversity and number of international students on campus. Our commitment to diversity is part of our mission as well – that we are a student-centered learning community that values diversity and focuses on the education of the whole person. We emphasize three core values of intellectual curiosity, service to others and having a global perspective.
Our current priorities are reflected in our five-year Strategic Plan, “Momentum,” which aims for Marymount to become nationally recognized for innovation and commitment to student success, alumni achievement and faculty and staff excellence. To make that happen, we are focusing our efforts on four pillars.
The first is our distinctive identity – Marymount is strengthening awareness, appreciation and support of our history, traditions and unique position in the region, nation and the world.
The second is the transformative experiences we offer – Marymount is providing all students the curriculum, academic and extracurricular support that prepares them to thrive in a complex world.
The third is our vibrant community – Marymount offers an exciting environment of talented and committed students, faculty, staff and community partners who work together, support each other and serve the greater good.
Finally, we must focus on a sustainable future – one in which we ensure our continued viability through solid enrollment growth that is fueled by market-driven programs that reflect our mission.
As a global educational leader, what do you expect from yourself and others to transform the racial inequity that the U.S. and the world is experiencing now?
I believe that all universities have the responsibility to address social justice issues, especially at this point in time given the Black Lives Matter movement as well as the protests and rallies against racism and police brutality happening across our nation.
At Marymount, one of our Strategic Plan initiatives is focused on diversity and inclusion. We’ve already created an Inclusion Network consisting of volunteers of faculty, staff and students, and we have updated our bias incident report process to create a more positive campus climate. Going forward, we have a number of recommendations we are seeking to implement, such as further diversifying both our faculty and our Board of Trustees (our staff is already quite diverse).
This is a continuing effort. We are also always listening to our students for feedback to understand what they’re looking for, and have recently held several active listening sessions for this purpose.
What else do you want your graduates and emerging leaders to know at this important time as they get ready to lead in the world?
Our Marymount graduates are now global citizens of an interconnected world, and have earned degrees that will help rebuild our nation and the globe. They are now working to bolster our health care system, defend our cyber networks against future threats and aid our economic recovery. We stand at the eve of conquering one of the greatest threats of our times, and their college education has prepared them to conquer the threats we face today and those we will face in the future. We are in their hands.
Bio:
Dr. Irma Becerra took office as the seventh President of Marymount University on July 1, 2018. After just one year, she launched the university’s new strategic plan, added market-driven academic programs that prioritize career preparation, acquired The Rixey luxury apartment building for use as a new residence life option, and improved the university’s IT infrastructure through the implementation of Workday.
She is a nationally recognized educator known for innovation, entrepreneurship, and transformational education. Prior to Marymount, she served as Provost and Chief Academic Officer at St. Thomas University, and also spent three decades at Florida International University (FIU) in a variety of positions that include Vice President, Vice Provost, Entrepreneurship Center Director, and tenured professor. She became the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in electrical engineering at FIU.
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In case you missed the Back to School in Times Like No Other sessions, here are links to our YouTube channel:
Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable: A Conversation on Race, Isms, Justice, Moving Forward and the Role White People Need to Play: Ryan Ross; Associate Vice Chancellor: Student Affairs, Equity, and Inclusion, Colorado Community College System leads the conversation with Clifton Taulbert; President and CEO, Freemount Corporation and Roots Java Coffee, Javon Brame; Dean of Students, Arapahoe Community College, Chelsea Williams; Founder & CEO, College Code LLC, and Representative Leslie Herod; Legislator, Colorado General Assembly
Equity in Engineering Programs: Priming the STEM Pipeline During and After COVID-19: Dr. Dora Renaud, Sr. Director of Academic Programs & Professional Development, SHPE: Leading Hispanics in STEM, Melanie Suarez, Student, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Mechanical Engineering, Nicolas Valencia Diaz, Student, Florida International University, Biomedical Engineering, Sophia Plata, PhD Student, University of Southern California, Environmental Engineering
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To view the recent Rural sessions, please see our YouTube channel:
Native American Business Opportunities, Tribal Economic Development and Post-secondary Education/Workforce Participation: J.C. Whorton, Jr.; Consultant, Lecturer, Author and Adjunct Faculty, University of Colorado Boulder, Don Kelin; President, Fox Professional Services, Rocky Mountain Indian Chamber of Commerce, Matt Rantanen; Director of Technology, Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association, Tribal Digital Village Network Initiative, and Melvin Monette; CEO, Indigenous Education, Inc.
Fortifying Native Students, Faculty and Communities During and After COVID-19: Ron Lessard (Mohawk); Acting Exec. Director, White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education leads panel including Diana Cournoyer; Oglala Sioux Tribe, Executive Director, National Indian Education Association, Michael Chamberlain; Special Assistant for Rural Outreach, US Department of Education, Carrie L. Billy; President & CEO, American Indian Higher Education Consortium, and features a performance by Ava Rose Johnson; Student and Musician, Native American Music Awards Winner
Rural Innovations in Education During COVID-19: Anne Trujillo; Anchor 7News, Denver moderates the panel which includes Tina Goar; Executive Director, San Luis Valley BOCES, Dr. Robert Mitchell; Asst. Professor of Leadership, Research, and Foundations, UCCS, Luis Murillo; Principal, Skoglund Middle School, and Samantha Yocam; Superintendent and Principal, Kim School District
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THE FLYOVER NATION
Energy's Role in a Troubled Heartland
By J.C. Whorton
A unique and timely discussion of the challenging issues facing the country’s troubled Heartland.
Since the beginning of westward expansion into the Heartland’s vast regions, natural resource development has played a historic role in shaping its communities. Today, domestic oil and gas development offers one of the strongest prospects for the Heartland’s present and future prosperity as well as the nation’s re-emergence as a dominant player in the global energy economy.
The U.S. is now the world’s largest producer of crude oil and natural gas, two circumstances that are universally disrupting international geopolitical order. The earth has a finite supply of natural resources and a rapidly growing and over consuming population.
As America positions itself for a very uncertain and constantly evolving global marketplace, will the Heartland become America’s “great connector” or “great divide”?
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J.C. Whorton is a senior level energy and financial professional with over forty years of essential experience. Having a ranching and Native American heritage, Mr. Whorton is a strong advocate for rural education and economic development initiatives.
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Links to read about Inclusive Leaders, many of whom are African American and people of color:
Curated sessions from GlobalMindED 2020 YouTube channel:
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From the Center for Positive Organizations:
From the Economist:
From Forbes:
From Harvard Business Review:
From the World Academy of Art & Science and UN; Geneva Global Leadership in the 21st Century econference:
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Listen here for an interview with Pam Newkirk, GlobalMindED speaker and author of Diversity Inc.: The Failed Promise of a Billion- Dollar Business.
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Responding to Crisis
The 30-Day Justice Plan
As the reset of America is underway, understanding the role you can play in a system of change can be difficult, but we encourage you to listen, learn and be active. To start, instead of, say, a juice cleanse, feed your brain and move yourself with this practical plan over the next month. Here's our guide of what to read, watch, listen to and do in order to be part of the solution.
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Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for? (Audience) Why should they care? (Benefit) What do I want them to do here? (Call-to-Action)
Create a great offer by adding words like "free" "personalized" "complimentary" or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take an action, so think about inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"
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GlobalMindED and the SDG Impact Fund are delighted to announce GlobalMindED's Donor Advised Fund. 2020 is the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations and the 25th Anniversary of the Beijing Women's Declaration and Action Platform. Many from around the world are thinking of 2020 as the gateway to our most vital decade for delivering equity, the Sustainable Development Goals, and a world where all can thrive. Our key time for these outcomes is 2020-2030.
GlobalMindED DAF and the SDG Impact Fund are a powerful combined force for good as the 2019 year comes to a close and we reflect on the gratitude and the commitments we make to the causes we care most about. The DAF offers immense power and flexibility for giving prior to the year's end as you plant seeds of generous intention for 2020 and the decade ahead.
When you contribute to GlobalMindED, you support First Gen students. We have served more than 400 students by connecting them to role models, mentors, internships and jobs. Your generous support will allow us to take our work 10x and reach these talented students at scale who lack the resources and support we provide. Your support also helps teachers who can't afford the conference fees, faculty at colleges which are under resourced and students who persist at those universities despite food insecurity and/or housing insecurity.
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Meet GlobalMindED Founder, Carol Carter as interviewed by Tim Moore on his podcast Success Made to Last: From Success to Significance
Listen to Part 1 of Carol's interview
Listen to Part 2 of Carol's interview
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Recent GlobalMindED Newsletter Profiles:
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Since 2006 when the flagship TGR Learning Lab opened its doors in Anaheim, CA, TGR Foundation has had a lot to celebrate, including its most recent milestone of one million students impacted by TGR EDU: Explore, alone.
Developed in partnership with Discovery Education, TGR EDU: Explore is a free digital resource library that offers interactive web experiences, lesson plans, training videos and tools for educators, students and families to explore new disciplines and gain skills for a modern and expanding workforce.
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As you start the New Year, are you looking for ways to re-engineer your classroom culture? Check out Designing the Future: How Engineering Builds Creative Critical Thinking in the Classroom. The associated website has lots of activities, projects, and resources you can implement immediately. Our fall workshops using the book as a roadmap for change have been highly successful. Start designing the future today - try using the customized Study Guide for a book study in your PLC. Or contact ProjectEngin or Solution Tree to learn how you can bring professional development based on Ann's book to your school, district, or conference.
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