Tisch Inclusion Timeline
2014
Allyson Green becomes Dean and makes a commitment to streamline inclusion efforts school-wide. After engaging in listening sessions and receiving input from the community, Tisch began to establish core efforts to foster belonging in the community.
2015
Continuous feedback at Tisch was complemented by university-level listening sessions with Senior Leadership, including Dean Green, in discussions led by former NYU Provost Katherine Fleming and former CAS Dean Gabrielle Starr. The University Senate Executive Committee also established the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Task Force, comprising students, faculty, and administrators. Student engagement at Tisch was formalized through the creation of RAAD (Radical Artists Aiming for Diversity).
2016
Dean Green established the Office of Strategic Initiatives led by Dr. Sheril Antonio, Senior Associate Dean and Patti Pearson, Assistant Dean. This office began the critical work of supporting summer pre-college programs aimed at strengthening the pipeline of students in the arts. Concurrently, the university began a search for a Chief Diversity Officer, launched the Being @ NYU Climate Assessment by Rankin & Associates, and developed the Bias Response Line, all resources available to the Tisch community.
2017
Tisch hired Kathy Obear, a diversity consultant, to offer foundational learning opportunities for the faculty and staff. The offerings include: “Deepening Our Capacity to Create Greater Inclusion Inside and Outside the Classroom” and “Microaggressions in the Classroom and Beyond.”
2018
The Cabinet was established to assist with the integration of community engagement initiatives school-wide and to support the development of the Assistant Dean of Diversity position, which developed into the current Dean of Community Engagement role. They continue to advise and collaborate to expand these efforts at Tisch.
Efforts to increase communication and support were launched, including the office's website containing resources available to the community.
2019
The Tisch Office of Diversity was established and an Assistant Dean of Diversity was hired to spearhead inclusion and belonging efforts at the school. This would help to later develop Tisch-wide community engagement efforts.
2020
Tisch assessed and reaffirmed its commitment to inclusion and belonging efforts, determining priority areas to move the work forward in response to the needs of the community.
As an example of these efforts, SARI (Students Against Racial Inequities), a student group engaged in this work, developed a video on microaggressions in collaboration with Tisch faculty, administrators and alumni. This group would evolve and become the BSC (Black Student Council).
2022
Tisch hires Assistant Dean of Diversity, Christina Salgado, and the office expands to include two additional administrative staff to support the growing needs of the community.
2023
Restorative practices are implemented, workshops focused on inclusive teaching and community building were offered, and communications and resources were further developed. Collaboration with the Cabinet and student groups continue, and a faculty and staff committee was created as another avenue for feedback.
2024
The office continues to ensure all community members feel supported and have the resources necessary to succeed. To reflect the expansive scope of our efforts, the office is renamed Office of Community Engagement.