NYU Wagner

Diversity at Wagner

Many factors compel us to reframe public service education. The pace of change. The way sectors overlap and roles shift over time. The importance of looking for solutions at the intersections. The increasing flatness of the world and the realization that, at the same time, so much of the world remains at the bottom of the pyramid. And the overwhelming reality that differences matter. That race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, and many other aspects of personal identity shape the way we see the world, the way resources are distributed, the way policies are made, the way boundaries are drawn, and the way institutions are managed.

NYU Wagner is not unique among academic institutions in acknowledging that differences matter. But we claim some distinction in how we approach these issues, beginning with an explicit focus on race during our overnight orientation for incoming students and including events such as a community convening called “Race Dialogue” and a student-sponsored series called “Racenomics.” Our goal is to create a community in which race and other significant differences are discussable. Many faculty research issues of discrimination and access, disparity and equality, exclusion and inclusion. Faculty proposing new courses need to explain how those courses speak to issues of race and ethics, among other social differences. We continue to develop workshops and gatherings focused on building our collective capacity to work across boundaries of difference and promote social justice.

This is definitely a work in progress. And as a graduate school devoted to preparing the future leaders of worldwide institutions and organizations, we continue to reflect on our own practices in an effort to live up to our aspirations. We invite you to join us.

Ellen Schall
Dean