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Diversity Advisory Council

Diversity Advisory Council (DAC)

About the Council

The Graduate College formed the Diversity Advisory Council (DAC) in spring 2020 to address issues of institutional racism, unconscious bias and racial inequalities within the Drexel community, raise awareness of these issues, implement action items, and support our Black community members. The council liaises academic and administrative units, and is aligned with the goals and efforts of the University's Anti-Racism Task Force (ARTF).

Alonzo M. Flowers III, PhD, served as the DAC's inaugural faculty chair and Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Graduate College from 2021-2022. Dr. Flowers appointed Ebony E. White, PhD, LPC, NCC, ACS who took over the role of faculty chair from 2022-2024. The inaugural student chair of the DAC was Matthew Shirley, PhD student in Biomedical Engineering in the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, NSF Graduate Research Fellow and former President of the Drexel Black Graduate Student Union (DBGSU).

Under the leadership of Dr. Tsz Kwok, Director of Academic Administration and Director of Graduate Multicultural & Equity Affairs in the Graduate College, Dr. Joseph H. Hancock, II was appointment chair of the DAC in 2024 after serving over twenty years at Drexel University with a strategic focus on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Inspired by the book Beyond Race and Gender: Unleashing the Power of Your Total Workforce by Managing Diversity by Roosevelt Thomas in 1992, Dr. Hancock began his mission to ensure equality and social justice for all in the workplace at his previous employers of The Gap Inc, L.Brands and Target Corporation where he served in mid-senior leadership and regional roles for over eighteen years.

Dr. Hancock's own scholarship in DEI, branding, communication and retail has made him a landmark author with his book Fashion Brand Stories now celebrating its third edition and 15 years in print. His work examines diversity amongst brands, retailers and merchandisers celebrating all psychographics and demographics that makeup consumers. Dr. Hancock has served as the LGBTQIA+ liaison for the Office of Faculty Advancement for over a decade and help with the founding of the Black Faculty & Staff Group (now BEAD). Dr. Hancock teaches across multiple colleges and has received awards from the Provost's Office, Pennoni Honors College, the Goodwin College, Steinbright Career Development Center, and the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design.

Dr. Hancock is honored to assume this role as chair. He will continue the focus of the DAC as they have worked over the past four years to ensure it is operating with the goal of social justice. Over the past year we have identified our mission statement, understanding it is a living artifact that will grow as we continue to grow as a community. We also are dedicated to our role of holding the Graduate College accountable, ensuring we are prioritizing equity and justice in our words and actions. Finally, we are working on ways to support faculty in ensuring their syllabi are anti-racist and include diverse voices.

Read the Graduate College's Strategic Plan

Last updated November 2021. Requires Drexel login.

Mission Statement

The Diversity Advisory Council (DAC) at Drexel University prioritizes equity at all levels within the Graduate College. The DAC will assist in evaluating and supporting the implementation of the Strategic Priority 2 as identified in the Graduate College strategic plan to achieve and sustain diversity, equity, and justice, and prevent academic redlining within our community. The DAC acknowledges not only the individual actions that impede equity and justice but also the White Supremacist and Hegemonic structures that shape decisions and actions that perpetuate and reproduce inequity. The DAC will identify measures and make actionable recommendations to ensure continued and persistent work toward equity within the Graduate College. Additionally, the DAC will hold accountable the Graduate College for their timely implementation of the Strategic Priority 2. Together as a university-wide community, the DAC is committed to self-assessing and strengthening our own cultural competence by creating a climate that values diversity, champions equity, and seeks justice within the Graduate College.

Call to Action

The objectives of the DAC should be designed to serve as a vehicle to help move the Graduate College from its current state regarding justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI) toward a more equitable environment for all members of the community. These objectives include:

  • Elevate important issues related to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion to the Graduate College.
  • Provide consultation and leadership on current and new initiatives including climate surveys, discussions, cross-cultural awareness and learning opportunities for students, staff, and faculty with the Graduate College.
  • Continue to address different forms of diversity within the scope of program development and other Graduate College initiatives.
  • Ensure diversity reflects the inclusion of emerging majority groups that have been historically excluded from the conversations and spaces.
  • Advise on the best approaches to attracting and retaining historically marginalized groups and equity student body generally.
  • Recommend approaches to ensure that ongoing efforts around JEDI are well-coordinated with the Graduate College.
  • Recommend that the Graduate College provides levels of transparency regarding data concerning diversity and inclusion initiatives (public data).

Council Goals

Under the leadership of Dr. Tsz Kwok and Dr. Joseph H. Hancock, II the DAC will focus on:

  1. Cultivating a sense of community that welcomes, engages, and embraces a broad spectrum of cultural and social identities.
  2. Establishing a brave space for the Drexel community to converse with members of the Diversity Advisory Committee (DAC).
  3. Planning events and programming that celebrate and engage Drexel graduate students, faculty and professional staff, as well as the greater Drexel community.

Council Members & Initiatives

View DAC membership and initiatives.

Complete a Request Form

The DAC is pleased to announce a Qualtrics form for community members who are seeking guidance or support, who wish to engage in personal and professional development in JEDI, and/or who wish to learn more about the DAC and their initiatives and recommendations. The form also invites feedback and ideas.

Complete a Request Form [Qualtrics]