Join Drake President Martin today
...Our Monday Zoom call link
Drake University President Dr. Marty Martin will be our Monday Zoom lunch guest from noon to 1 p.m. And judging by yesterday’s buzz, this announcement in the Potluck column was the talk of the town.
While the University of Iowa is busy scrubbing "D-E-I" from its websites—per Iowa Writers’ Collaborative columnist Todd Dorman—Drake’s president had the courage (imagine!) to affirm the university’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in a note to faculty and students.
It's shocking, right? The idea is that students and faculty will be better leaders if they engage with different cultures, treat people equitably, and ensure broad participation in education—controversial stuff.
Is this such a radical idea? Seriously? If you missed yesterday’s column, click the link to read: Letter to Drake community.
Here’s the reality: Any business or college that ignores diversity, equity, and inclusion is at a competitive disadvantage. The scientist with the so-called "funny-sounding" name may have just developed the product that changes the market. The young department head with a disability might have cracked a logistics problem, saving millions. The retailer that hires employees who reflect its neighborhood could unlock massive growth. The examples go on and on.
We have a lot to talk about with President Martin.
If you’re new here, welcome! Every Monday at noon, I host a Zoom conversation with an interesting guest and open it up to our readers. The conversation is then shared as a podcast. Join us today, starting at noon central time.
Did you see yesterday’s Iowa Writers’ Collaborative Roundup?
Julie - great guest! I wish I could watch live but flying in from DC after a few days with the grans. Will pick it up after it is recorded. I am horrified by what U of IA is doing. Anne Applebaum wrote a great piece on how dictators all over the world start taking over the universities to smother the opposition. Maybe it is will be the smaller colleges and universities that don’t rely on fed $ to keep democracy and freedom of thought alive against the current anti-democratic regime.
Bev