Dear CAS community:
These past days and weeks have shone a spotlight on the innumerable injustices in our society. I want to be clear that we in the College of Arts & Sciences stand in solidarity with our communities, faculty, staff, and students who are expressing their anger, sadness, grief, and frustration over the continued devaluation of Black lives, voices and experiences.
If you have not read Chancellor Gilliam’s message, I encourage you to do so. I stand with the Chancellor in outrage over the death of George Floyd and the many instances of racially motivated violence that have come before.
I also hope you will explore this anti-racist resource guide that was compiled to help us all better understand and take action against racial inequity, white supremacy, and injustice.
Regardless of role or position, we are here at UNCG to advance knowledge and understanding. We are here to serve the values of teaching, learning, and collaboration. These values are vitally important now more than ever.
I see this time of unrest as a critical call for each of us to reflect and learn—about our own biases, the experiences of others, our sociopolitical movements, history, civic responsibilities, and more. I have and will continue to try to deepen my own understanding of bias and privilege and to consider what steps I can take in my work as dean and in my personal life to make the institution and world a more equitable place. I hope you will reflect on what actions (big and small) you can take as well.
As always, I am proud to work with such thoughtful people who value diversity at every level within CAS. It is this diversity—of studies, identities, ideas, and backgrounds—that makes us strong.
With hope for our common future together.
— Dr. John Z. Kiss, Dean, College of Arts & Sciences