Change Makers of NIRSA: Sustaining Hope through Education & Research

In March, NIRSA President Cara Lucia engaged in dialogue with five colleagues from across the association to talk about sustaining hope through education and research.

“In the classes I teach, I typically have a module on organizational change. One of the ideas I always share with students to consider is the idea that change, when thoughtful and intentional, can be really impactful for individuals and organizations. So when I think of change makers, I think of people who are thoughtful and intentional.” – Dr. Erin Patchett, Colorado State University

Welcome to our fourth episode in the Change Makers of NIRSA vlog series. The goal of the series is to create synergy around the concept of critical hope (hope with action) during times of change. Critical hope “demands that leaders take up the most difficult challenges, explore the most sensitive subjects, and raise the most daring questions (Preskill & Brookfield, 2009, p. 173).” Throughout the year I am sharing stories, insights, and resources from colleagues.

I must acknowledge that so many of our members are engaging in change on the ground at their respective campuses and for the association. So far we have conversed about hope with action, generations exhibiting critical hope, and sharing ripples of hope. Today I am excited to have with me colleagues who are sustaining hope through education and research.

This month, I am excited to have Jacob Eubank, Assistant Professor at CUNY Lehman College, Jarrell Garcia, Assistant Director for Operations, University of California-Santa Barbara, Stacey Hall, Assistant Vice Provost of Student Life at the University of New Hampshire,  Augustus Hallmon, Assistant Professor at James Madison University, and A’Naja Newsome, Assistant Director of Fitness & Wellness at the University of South Florida with me.

Preskill & Brookfield (2009) share, “Hope will not make change happen, but without hope change is impossible. Without a sense that ordinary people working together are potentially limitless, the journey toward justice cannot even begin” (p.175). So, what could we possibly do?

We can sustain hope by:

• Listening to others speak of their success in addressing injustice
• Talking about things that breed hope in others
• Acknowledging obstacles and share how people are doing things here and there to chip away at the wall of injustice
• Helping others live with the reality of failure – failure may lead to a new idea to tackle the problem
• Learning how to share work in which we are involved in can have a powerful impact
• Pointing to evidence that people’s efforts are making a difference
• Being vulnerable about how others assisted us during a time of injustice we may have experienced

The bullets listed above have been adapted from page 177 of Preskill & Brookfield, 2009 book Learning as a Way of Leading: Lessons from the Struggle for Social Justice. I believe you will see the behaviors listed above expressed in the many sentiments shared by our five colleagues. I would like to thank Jake, Jarrell, Stacey, Augustus, and A’Naja for taking time to be a part of our fourth vlog.

Let’s get to sustaining hope!

Be well NIRSA family and be the change,

Cara Lucia

Resources

If making positive change—on your campus or in the campus recreation profession—is something you are interested in learning more about, I’d invite you to explore the following resources:

1. Learning as Way of Leading: Lessons from the Struggle for Social Justice
2. NIRSA EDI Resource Guide
3. Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, & You

Tweet @NIRSAPresident or email me at nirsa.president@nirsa.org if you want to connect more.