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The Key Executive Leadership Program announces new diversity initiatives

The Key Executive Leadership Program recently announced the formation of a Key Diversity Advisory Council, which through focused initiatives will seek to provide a supportive and inclusive environment for staff, faculty, coaches, students, alumni, and stakeholders regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, or veteran status.

Serving on the front lines of public policy and program implementation, public sector leaders are responsible for the impact of executing policy and programs to a diverse citizenry, including traditionally underrepresented groups. This makes sensitivity to, and relentless pursuit of, diverse and inclusive environments a top priority.

“I am excited about the opportunity to serve on the Key Diversity Advisory Council. Based upon the dynamic policy issues facing our nation, it is critically important that we develop government leaders who are equipped to examine and engage various perspectives from an increasingly diverse workforce and citizenry,” Key Diversity Advisory Councilmember Troy Williams shared. “Furthermore, the interests of the government are best served when its leadership is inclusive and reflects diversity in its composition. I look forward to contributing towards the Council's efforts to advance its stated objectives."

Working with the Director, the three person council will focus on three major areas: 

  1. Outreach - to include events, speakers, and articles on demographics in the public sector
  2. Integration – to include curricula, content, and maximizing the power of the cohort approach.
  3. Evaluation – to include measurement of the climate in our program evaluation tools.
Initial activities suggested by the committee include:
  • Utilizing recruitment efforts that draw from a diverse array of students, faculty, and staff.
  • Offering opportunities for additional training to faculty and staff on topics related to diversity and inclusion to increase their level of cultural competency.
  • Encouraging faculty to include diverse perspectives on material taught/discussed in the classroom.
  • Reviewing curricula each year for opportunities to integrate topics on diversity and inclusion.
  • Including topics related to diversity and inclusion in program offerings outside of the MPA (i.e. Speaker’s Series, Key Leadership Conference, Leadership Forums, Guest Speakers).
  • Building a Key culture that does not tolerate cultural, gender, racial, and ethnic stereotypes and strives to promote cross-cultural understanding among staff, faculty, coaches, and students.

"It is great to be part of a Council that continues to grow the Key Executive [Leadership] Program with diverse leaders to meet the emerging challenges of our future," shared Diversity Advisory Councilmember Gwendolyn Sykes, adjunct professor and alumna of the Key Executive Leadership Master of Public Administration. 

To read the full statement, please visit the Key Diversity Advisory Council Statement.