54 www.blackeoejournal.com Black EOE Journal
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
H
istorically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have become the epicenters of Black excellence and home to many first-gener- ation college students. As the fight against racial inequality continues, HBCUs maintain their commitment to providing higher educational opportunities to members of marginalized groups who were once denied the right to an education. Emily M. Dickens, J.D, chief of staff for SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management), carries multiple titles but is most proud of her service as a member of the North Carolina Central University Board of Trustees. As a first-generation HBCU alum, Dickens credits much of her success to her HBCU community and her beloved parents. As she nos- talgically recalls her foundation of educational values, she pays homage to her late father for his commitment to her education. My dad had a seventh-grade education he can do math better than anybody I know, and every day he made us read the Daily News from back to front, said Dickens. He understood the value of education for us. Her dream to make her parents proud led to her career as a lobbyist for one campus, to a lobbyist for all 17 schools and universities of the North Carolina system. I was an advocate for access to higher ed today its access to better workplaces, said Dickens during the SHRM Diversity and Inclusion Conference. So, Ive always been that lobbyist thats lob- bying for some purpose; Im not lobbying for more money the bigger purpose was access! Increasing access to higher education for underserved communities begins with building bridges and strengthening the relationship between HR and HBCUs. As we magnify the importance of representation for breaking barriers, we honor the individuals who take on the challenge. In the words of Dickens, we should always be recruiting (ABR). Hire more people who represent those schools and then you get that talent recruiting for you, and it creates a bridge, said Dickens. So, I, as an HBCU grad, believe it is my responsibility in the workplace so its my job to represent my school everywhere I go, she continued. Raising the next generation of Black women in leadership positions starts with community. We must present opportunities for Black women
HBCUs Pave the Way for Black Women in Leadership
By Kimberly Gladden-Eversley
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