ADEA Releases Faculty Diversity Toolkit
June 18, 2020—The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) has released a toolkit aimed at bolstering the recruitment and retention of diverse faculty, including historically underrepresented racial, ethnic and marginalized groups.
The ADEA Faculty Diversity Toolkit (ADEA FDT) can be downloaded as a PDF from the ADEA website, and it is the focus of a launch and dedication webinar on June 22.
“We all know the benefits of diversity and inclusion,” says Karen P. West, D.M.D., M.P.H., ADEA President and CEO. “Research points to the positive impact that diverse faculty have on educational quality, the campus climate and educational outcomes.”
The release of the ADEA FDT—a landmark, evidence-based resource—and an accompanying Facilitator’s Guide come at a time of heightened scrutiny into racial inequalities in the United States and abroad.
“Throughout dental education, we must make a meaningful commitment to abolishing systemic racism and discrimination and embrace diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice as never-ending goals,” says Dr. West. “Although by no means the sole answer to the tough questions we face, the ADEA FDT is another tool in our arsenal. It will assist us in developing inclusive and purposeful practices that support the recruitment and retention of historically underrepresented and marginalized faculty and a diverse student pipeline from which to develop academic leadership.”
The toolkit includes best practice highlights for recruitment and hiring, with guidance on faculty searches and how to evaluate candidates. Additionally, there are best practice highlights on how to retain a diverse faculty, with tips on mentoring, professional development and promotion. The ADEA FDT also includes a section on barriers and challenges to successful recruitment and retention, as well as an examination of biases and myths. It is a living document, accessible online, that will be updated periodically.
“Our hope is that the model programs highlighted throughout the toolkit will stimulate further investigation and piloting of programs by dental schools and allied dental programs in order to assess the transferability of these best practices and models to academic dentistry,” Dr. West says.
The ADEA FDT is a result of the convening of the ADEA Faculty Diversity Development Work Group, a cross-section of ADEA members from U.S. and Canadian dental schools and allied dental education programs. Its development was guided by the ADEA Office of Access, Diversity and Inclusion, led by Sonya G. Smith, Ed.D., J.D., ADEA’s Chief Diversity Officer.
The ADEA FDT is dedicated to Jeanne C. Sinkford, D.D.S., Ph.D., and Leo E. Rouse, D.D.S., FACD, whom Dr. West describes as “not only extraordinary leaders but good friends and sound advisors.”
Interested parties are invited to register and attend the complimentary June 22 launch and dedication webinar. The one-hour webinar starts at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
ADEA is The Voice of Dental Education and its mission is to lead and support the health professions community in preparing future-ready oral health professionals.
About ADEA: The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) is The Voice of Dental Education. Our mission is to lead and support the health professions community in preparing future-ready oral health professionals. Our members include all 78 U.S. and Canadian dental schools, more than 800 allied and advanced dental education programs, more than 50 corporations and approximately 18,000 individuals. Our activities encompass a wide range of research, advocacy, faculty development, meetings and communications, including the esteemed Journal of Dental Education®, as well as the dental school application services ADEA AADSAS®, ADEA PASS®, ADEA DHCAS® and ADEA CAAPID®.