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during spring semester 2021, the office of student Life gave MGa students, staff, and faculty opportunities to formally pledge to
listen to the stories of others, treat all people with dignity and respect, and commit to fostering an inclusive learning environment.

MGA Expands Diversity By Alexandria Brooks

Programming And Conversations

I n response to the wave of social movements in the office’s long-term initiative for more inclu-
Bacote said the president is actively involved
and protests that followed the violent deaths of
Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George
Floyd in 2020, Middle Georgia State University sive and diverse programming. Last summer, in
addition to making himself available for candid
(MGA) placed a renewed emphasis on diversity-, conversations with students, faculty, and staff, he
inclusion-, and equity-related programs at the assigned Bacote to his cabinet and advocated for
institution. additional programming.
Jenia Bacote, MGA’s director of Diversity, In the months since, Bacote’s office and other
Inclusion, & Equity/Title IX coordinator, is MGA departments and divisions have planned
part of that effort. and offered a full slate of programming to sup-
Created in 2016, the office coordinates efforts port diversity and inclusion. The programming
that support MGA’s values and commitment to helps MGA live out its value of engagement to help
educate and create awareness about diversity, members of the campus community have what can
inclusion, and equity across the University’s be hard conversations.
campuses. There are several initiatives in place The Office of Diversity began collaborating
through which the office supports these efforts, with various offices, departments, and student
including training, programs on specific topics, organizations to implement programs, workshops,
and special events. and events, including the “Are You IN? Inclusive
“From day one, my primary role has been to Conversations Series,” where students candidly
build up this office into a long-term, sustainable discuss their campus experiences at MGA and the
unit,” Bacote said. “Since I am an office of one, a “Inclusive Introductions Diversity Speaker Series”
pivotal role I have is to develop relationships for that brings guest speakers to help train, educate,
collaboration across the campuses.” Bacote also and inform MGA’s campus community.
assists on several committees and serves on the The “Collective Action Series,” the brainchild
cabinet of Dr. Christopher Blake, MGA president, of the School of Arts & Letters (SOAL), is one of
to advise and consult on issues of diversity. several ongoing initiatives created to foster

16 MIDDLE GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY