The Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) at NC State University is underway with six leadership teams selected following a rigorous application process. The Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity announces the following inaugural pilot participants:

• College of Sciences
• Office of Global Engagement
• NC State Facilities
• The Graduate School
• College of Veterinary Medicine
• Wilson College of Textiles

The IDI Champion Team facilitated a virtual kickoff  via Zoom on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020. Invited participants met each other, learned about the application of IDI in the work environment, the IDI continuum and the commitment of each leadership team. Further, each leadership team had the opportunity to meet their assigned IDI Champion team members in a separate breakout session.

Melvin Jai Jackson, director of graduate student success in the College of Education and IDI Champion team member, shared, “I believe the IDI Initiative at NC State University is part of a university-wide catalyst that provides our partners with a guided exploration into their collective orientation on a cultural competence continuum. I am excited to work with these groups to build bridges to the resources, support and encouragement they need to further advance their efforts towards diversity, equity and inclusion. I love that through the efforts of the Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity and collective units, we are leading the Pack and setting the tone for continuous growth and development.”

Delisha Hinton, associate director of student services in the Wilson College of Textiles and inaugural leadership member, shared, “I’m excited that the Wilson College of Textiles was selected to participate in the inaugural Intercultural Development Initiative. We’ve made some progress as a college community and we are looking forward to utilizing the IDI to continue developing and enhancing our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. It is difficult to say what training we may need, and this assessment will allow us to better pinpoint what our gap areas are as a community and focus on those areas.” 

Carl Thomas, chief diversity officer in the Office of Global Engagement and inaugural leadership team member, shared, “One of our major challenges is that our units function in very different capacities, which leads to a somewhat decentralized and “siloed” environment. So we might be developing various ways of increasing intercultural competence among our students, faculty, staff and international partners, but using a common framework and/or vocabulary could allow us to unify and amplify our efforts and increase their effectiveness. Since our staff are also well-versed in teaching about cross-cultural effectiveness, there may be a tendency to view ourselves as already knowledgeable, which could make it more difficult to embrace further learning. This is also why the developmental nature of the IDI is such an attractive option for our group.”

Pamela Gilchrest, director of the Imhotep and Anderson Academy in The Science House within the College of Sciences, shared, “I am excited to serve with a diverse cadre of professionals to support leadership teams at North Carolina State University committed to developing inclusive work and learning spaces that honor authenticity, innovation, thoughtful action and the power of culture.”

Maria Alamanza, director of external faculty awards and recognition in the Office of Faculty Affairs, shared, “As a Qualified Administrator, I am excited to get the chance to work one-on-one with leadership teams that are dedicated to expanding and improving upon diversity, equity and inclusion goals within their units/colleges. I think the IDI pilot program will help energize these efforts and inform the important decisions that they make in the years to come.”

Peter Harries, dean of the graduate school, shared, “The Graduate School is excited to be part of the IDI for a variety of reasons. As a leadership team, we are always striving towards excellence across a broad spectrum of competencies. This initiative will allow us to focus on issues of diversity, inclusion and belonging that span beyond the emphasis we already place on these components as fundamental to a vital, innovative and dynamic graduate environment. There is still much for us to learn and act on in this area, and we look forward to bringing the new information, approaches and plans we will develop as part of this program to improving numerous aspects of graduate education.”

Each leadership team member will complete the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) by Dec. 2, at which time the individual reports will be combined into a group profile. Each leadership team will meet with their assigned IDI Champion Team member for a debrief by Jan. 19, 2021. The teams will work throughout the spring semester on their group’s primary orientation through the IDI, combined with their unit’s identified goals and aspirations.

The IDI Champion team will document the inaugural experience as it unfolds. Dean Paul Lunn of the College of Veterinary Medicine shared, “Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are major strategic priorities for the CVM. The opportunity for the leadership team to develop our individual and group intercultural competency will better equip us to meet our goals and identify new ways to advance DEI programs in the college. The CVM leadership team has shown tremendous interest and motivation in the topic of culture, diversity, equity and inclusion and I believe this will also provide valuable resources for these individuals who have significant influence in student life and workplace culture.”

• Please continue to visit Intercultural Development Inventory for updates on the pilot effort.