We speak with Dr. Judith King-Calnek, United Nations International School’s first Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Since UNIS faculty and students come from all over the world, they draw on one another’s backgrounds and lived experience in presenting and analyzing social issues. Faculty, parents, alumni, and, especially, students are involved in new DEI initiatives. Students are actually writing curriculum, providing feedback, and delivering DEI modules to other students.

Overview 

00:00-00:52 Intros

00:52-01:41 UNIS

01:41-03:25 Anthropological viewpoint

03:25-08:05 Teaching history: Decentering Europe; globalization

08:05-09:26 Priorities as Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

09:26-13:33 Restorative mindset and practices

13:33-15:56 Student DEI committee

15:56-19:40 Students writing curriculum

19:40-23:39 Approaching controversial issues

23:39-27:41 Faculty conversations on curriculum and pedagogy

27:41-30:29 Handling microaggressions

30:29-34:04 Students as ethnographers

34:04-37:51 An ethical environment

37:51-39:30 Outro

Transcription 

Click here to see the full transcript of this episode. 

Credits

Soundtrack by Podington Bear

Photo facebook.com/UNISNY