Each year, GSA holds a leadership retreat to focus on critical issues for our Society. Such
concentrated time allows for in-depth learning, analysis, and discussion. This year’s
retreat, held on 22-23 August, was focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
Our
aims were to evaluate related activities in GSA’s 2019 Decadal Strategic Plan, to
amplify
our efforts with fresh perspectives, and to reinforce our commitment to positive change.
To
achieve these goals, the GSA Executive Committee and GSA staff were joined by 20 invited
diversity leaders in the geosciences. Helping to guide us through the process was
experienced facilitator and expert trainer Dr. Nita Mosby-Tyler of The Equity Project LLC , whose task it
was
to help us identify activities likely to have a measurable and lasting impact.
Priorities identified for improvement during the retreat included four target
areas:
- Communication and Transparency
- Mentoring and Support
- Revising the Nominations and Awards Process
- Creating Diversity in Leadership and Meetings Participation
We are distilling the wealth of recommendations and advice from the retreat into
obtainable
and impactful goals to be shared soon. These goals will be integrated into our Strategic
Plan, alongside existing
initiatives, activities, and committees focused on DEI efforts.
We, GSA’s president and president-elect, are confident that this will be a successful
approach to addressing issues of equity facing the geosciences and that actionable
outcomes
will position GSA to move forward in meeting its goals in the most effective way. Most
importantly, we now have a clear path ahead to better weave DEI efforts into the entire
GSA
structure, and in so doing, better serve all of our membership. GSA hopes to lead the
geosciences in furthering DEI efforts.
Our path is defined. Next steps include approving goals and metrics at the Council
leadership
level for action before GSA 2020 Connects Online in October. Please watch for more to
come
as implementation of this critical work gets underway.
Doug Walker, GSA President
Barb Dutrow, GSA President-Elect
Retreat Participants: Sarah Aarons, Nicole Aikin, Hendratta Ali, Beth Bartel, Tahlia Bear, Dick
Berg,
Todd Berggren, David Davis, Barbara Dutrow, Rod Ewing, Rebecca Fazzari, Nicole
Gasparini,
Tom Haberthier, Jeanette Hammann, Jose Hurtado, Pat Kilner, Mark Little, Susan Lofton,
Chris
Maples, Debbie Marcinkowski, Vicki McConnell, Claudia Mora, Allie Nagurney, Nathan
Niemi,
Tim Shin, Don Siegel, Wendy Smythe, Nan Stout, Christa Stratton, Marilyn Suiter, Doug
Walker, Wes Ward, Lisa White, Kasey White, and Sherilyn Williams-Stroud.