We Are NOT a Family: The Importance of Belonging in Workplace Culture

About the Event

Drawing on data from industry and higher education, participants will explore the concept of sense of belonging as a critical component to a healthy work-life life-work balance. Attendees will discuss safe spaces within the workplace and learn best/better practices related to sponsoring and creating a sense of belonging for employees. Additionally, this session will explicate on the challenges related to the "family" ideology of workplace culture while providing participants with practical skills to help create and sustain inclusive workplace environments. 

This event is open to IH faculty and staff. Refreshments will be provided.

Registration required

Presenters

Emil L. Cunningham, Ph.D. (he/him/his)

Assistant Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion
Deputy Chief Diversity Officer
Johns Hopkins University

Dr. Cunningham is charged with leading the operational aspects for the office of diversity and inclusion and working alongside colleagues within the office to help advance the university’s diversity strategic plan. Prior to assuming this role Dr. Cunningham served as the Director for the office of diversity and inclusion at The Pennsylvania State University where he was responsible for developing strategies to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion for a unit comprised of more than 3,300 staff members spread out across the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. During his higher education tenure, Dr. Cunningham engaged in work in Residence Life, Student Conduct, Educational Equity, alcohol prevention, Town-Gown interactions, University Development, and Academic Support for Student Athletes. Dr. Cunningham holds a PhD in Higher Education as well as an MEd in College Student Affairs from The Pennsylvania State University and he obtained his AB from Vassar College. Dr. Cunningham currently serves on the Board of Directors for Centre Safe, a local organization in Centre County, PA whose mission is to empower survivors of sexual or domestic violence and to work toward the elimination of such violence. And he is a member of several local and national organizations, including the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Christina Turner (she/they)

Senior Diversity Strategist
Office of Diversity and Inclusion
Johns Hopkins University

Christina develops scalable, evidence-based solutions to institution-wide equity and inclusion goals through research, assessment, and data visualization. They also serve as the ODI liaison to the JHU Office of Institutional Research. Previously, they directed institutional research and assessment at Gonzaga University and Spokane Falls Community College and served as a Senior Research Associate and Project Manager at Rankin Climate. Christina holds master’s degrees in multiple fields of study, including the physical sciences, social sciences, humanities, and education. Shaped by their experiences as a physics Ph.D. student and as a higher education staff member, Christina’s research interests include students’ sense of belonging, staff workplace climate, ideal worker norms in higher education, and critical university studies.