Beyond hosting conversations and creating Allies, Advocates participate in a peer mentorship model for diversity and inclusion that emphasizes continued learning and personal growth. Building this supportive network of peers allows Advocates to address the questions and challenges related to equity with the courage necessary to contribute substantively to culture change.
Advocates and Allies for Equity is an initiative that focuses on improving the climate and culture for women and underrepresented groups by creating a peer mentoring network; educating men about implicit bias, male privilege and gender equity issues; and preparing them for active allyship. Thirty-eight Advocates, or male leaders with a record of advocacy for women, were selected to host conversations with men across campus to create a network of Allies for equity.
To further their understanding of women and underrepresented groups' experience, the Advocates also hold regular meetings, participate in ongoing education, and consult with the Advocates and Allies Advisory Council. They mentor and support each other, with the goal of climate change so women and underrepresented groups can thrive. Personal growth and accountability is cultivated through the Advocates mentoring network and has lead to changes in their behaviors and expectations.
Learn about the personal journeys of some of the Advocates by linking to their Q&A interviews below.
Cesar Seguil
Director, Academic Programs & Administration, Academic Affairs, College of Pharmacy
Use your privilege to stand up against injustices that impact your colleagues who are underrepresented.
Robert Griffiths
Associate Vice President, Office of Distance Education and eLearning
It’s critical to put yourself in others’ shoes, to have insight and empathy for how others experience the world. Learning about male privilege gave me an impactful glance into experiences that because of my role, gender, and ethnicity, I simply have been granted without knowing it was granted to me.
Michael Ibba
Professor and Chair, Department of Microbiology
I actively promote the necessity to address biases and inequities to my colleagues as an essential component of advancing excellence.
Michael Ibba
said about how he brings what he learned as an Advocate to his colleagues.
Sam Craighead
Manager, Learning Experience, Office of Distance Education and eLearning
When someone says something off base, instead of trying to change the subject or ignoring it and moving on, I’ll start a conversation.
Sam Craighead
said about how being an advocate changed the way he interacts with colleagues at Ohio State.
