Defining Diversity: An Interview with Associate Provost Brenda Allen

The following is an interview conducted on October 8 with Brenda Allen, an Associate Provost and the first Director of Institutional Diversity. She also served under President Ruth Simmons at Smith College as Director of Institutional Diversity and Assistant to the President. On July 1, 2003, she joined the University administration as part of President Simmons’ “Initiatives for Academic Enrichment.”

The Spectator: Could you describe the responsibilities of your position?

Allen: President Simmons sees a strong relationship between diversity and excellence. A lot of things go under the rubric of diversity that are so central to her leadership. I was hired to help define her vision of diversity.

The Spectator: What is the relationship between diversity and excellence? What do you mean by “diversity”?

Allen: I believe very strongly that the degree to which students learn depends upon the extent to which students engage in issues from different perspectives. Taking this into account I intend to make they have the structural support necessary to create diversity among students and faculty. One area of focus is the curriculum, which has to have richly diverse perspectives. It has to be a broad diversity. I would take a global perspective because you learn when your place and point of view is challenged. And in order to create the right environment you have to have a broader concept of diversity beyond social categories.

The Spectator: What do you think are the benefits of a diverse campus?

Allen: The more we participate in conversation and debate, the more we learn how different people think and the better we are able to think about our views and deal with complex problems. This is important as we go into the world as citizens of a global society and confront nationalities and cultures different from our own. Thinking from a fundamental human point of view, you have to learn how to listen. We do not live in an isolated space anymore, so the better able we are able to negotiate cross-cultural boundaries, the better we able to undo conflict in society. We do not want to indoctrinate students in a particular point of view. Instead, we want to provide opportunities to challenge our own learning structures and experience the widest exposure to ideas. This goes across the board and involves what different people bring to the conversation.

The Spectator: What would you recommend to students who are interested in diversity and want to be more involved?

Allen: I work with students in different ways. I like to set up complex conversations. It is not about any particular perspective or point of view—it is what we can all gain. Regardless of what we bring, we all have something.

The Spectator: Do you have any plans to bring speakers to campus or to work with certain students groups on events that foster a diverse dialogue?

Allen: I have not yet begun working on programming. I have spoken with the Dean of the College. Bringing one person about one issue may not be the best method. People should not be divided by a speaker. A series of conversations can do wonderful things. Right now, I have been involved in explaining why things like academic freedom are important.