MESSAGE
FROM DEAN AND DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
COGGIN
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
Our country is once again being challenged to
contend with our long history of systemic racism. Despite making progress from
the very dark days of slavery and segregation, we are still a long way from Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream that all of us are judged by the content of our
character and not the color of our skin.
The torture and murder of George Floyd by people
who were entrusted to protect him came on the heels of other gruesome violence
from police and vigilante citizens aimed towards members of the Black
community. Breona Taylor and Ahmaud Arberry are names that should not be
forgotten. The peaceful protests that ensued have now erupted across all 50
states and many countries around the world. They are all asserting an essential
truth that all lives cannot matter until Black lives matter.
Traditionally, businesses and business education
have shied away from taking a position on fundamental social issues such as
race relations. However, business leaders today are recognizing that social
responsibility need not be separated from maximizing shareholder value. The
iconic ice cream brand Ben and Jerry’s said it succinctly, “What happened to
George Floyd was not the result of a bad apple; it was the predictable
consequence of a racist and prejudiced system and culture that has treated
Black bodies as the enemy from the beginning.” We all have a responsibility to
do our part to change the system and the culture.
At the Coggin College of Business, we recognize
the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion as core values to our
mission. We are committed to improving our ability to serve our constituents –
students, faculty, and staff. However, to be better servants we
must be good listeners. As a College we will support our students, faculty and
staff to raise their voices and exercise their First Ammendment rights to speak
truth to power. We will continue our work to increase diversity and inclusion
at our college and work with other colleges at UNF to improve the campus
culture where all who come to serve and be served feel welcomed, protected, and have the same opportunity to succeed.
This is a moment to reflect, ask questions, seek
answers, and commit to action. A moment of crisis can bring out the best in all
us. We can choose to become part of the solution. We can choose to become
agents of change working to move our country towards a more perfect
union.
In the midst of a pandemic while we are mostly
physically separated from each other, know that you are not alone. If you are
experiencing trauma or pain, please reach out to UNF’s Counseling
Center. In addition, you can reach out to UNF’s Commission
on Diversity and Inclusion (CODI) to engage in conversations about what we
can do better at UNF to help you productively engage as a student, faculty or
staff. In addition, you can reach out to the Dean’s
office at Coggin and to our newly instituted Office
of Diversity and Inclusion.
Our Office of Diversity and Inclusion at
Coggin is working with CODI to set up open forums in the form of a Real
Talk series. We encourage you to attend these sessions. We are committed to
hearing your voices and serving you better. If you have any questions, please
do not hesitate to contact us.
Mark
Dawkins
Parvez Ahmed
Dean
Director of Diversity and Inclusion
Parvez Ahmed
Director of Diversity and Inclusion
Professor of Finance
Coggin College of Business
University of North Florida
Jacksonville, FL 32224-7699
Email: pahmed@unf.edu
Mark C. Dawkins, Dean
Coggin College of Business
University of North Florida
904-557-4937 (cell)
Email: mark.dawkins@unf.edu
