A Conversation with Dr. Latoya Pierce
Dr. Latoya Pierce joined Centenary as the College’s first Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Chief Diversity Officer in January 2022. In a few short months, Pierce has already played key roles in campus events and activities such as the annual Dream Week celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; Black History Month; and Women’s History Month, and has begun community outreach as a member of the YWCA of Northwest Louisiana’s Racial Justice Committee.
Pierce earned a Ph.D. in counselor education from the University of New Orleans and also holds a master’s degree in counseling and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Loyola University New Orleans. She has held administrative and teaching positions at Arkansas State University, Louisiana Tech University, and St. Bonaventure University. Pierce has served as a subject matter expert in diversity for the Louisiana State University system, as well as a cultural and linguistic specialist at Arkansas State.
Pierce sat down with Centenary Magazine for a Q&A about DEI work and her experience at Centenary so far.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work is a concept that is becoming more visible but not necessarily better understood by the public at large. What does DEI work look like, concretely, on a college campus and why/how is it essential to Centenary's mission?
DEI work is dynamic because it can be simultaneously fulfilling and complex. Anytime we are working in both macro and microsystems, we have to hold space for a number of mitigating factors and variables. DEI work on a college campus is successful when there is institutional buy-in, strategic planning, staff support, and funding. At the campus level, DEI work involves partnering with student organizations, creating ongoing programming around DEI topics, serving in advocacy and allyship roles, elevating the institution’s DEI platform at a state, regional, and national level, and maintaining the integrity, spirit, and aspirational goals that embody our diverse community. Our mission is to prepare global citizens to live productive lives of vitality and purpose, and the steps that have been outlined help us reach that goal.
Now that you have been at Centenary for a few months, what do you feel are the most pressing/important short-term and long-term DEI goals for the campus as a whole? What are some of the successes and challenges that you have observed in your time on campus so far?
I would say short-term goals focus heavily on collecting data. This would include assessing campus needs relative to DEI and reviewing policy and procedure relative to DEI (both formal and informal procedures). Long-term goals would be to ensure Centenary is a leader in DEI evidenced by increased faculty of color, curriculum that makes space for diverse voices/authors/research, awareness and inclusion of all diverse communities and increased dialogue around the -isms (ableism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, racism, etc.), and ultimately creating a community of belonging for everyone.
In terms of challenges, I think every institution of higher education is faced with the challenge of how do we get this right? I think Centenary is firmly committed to not only growing in the DEI realm, but thriving and excelling. I have had the opportunity in a very short period of time to work with incredible faculty, staff, and students who have begun this type of work and want to further their commitment to DEI via research, grants, programming, partnerships, mentorship, policy/procedure, etc. The synergy that takes place at Centenary will be a driving factor for what we can accomplish.
What are some of the events that you’ve been able to organize or participate in so far?
One of the first events I was fortunate to take part in was Centenary’s Dream Week commemorating the work, life, and achievements of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dream Week was at the very beginning of my tenure here at Centenary, but I was determined to plug in and connect with the campus community. I did a presentation on allyship and creating a sense of belonging for underrepresented/marginalized groups. The purpose was twofold: 1) to navigate the many ways one can be an ally and what that process entails, and 2) to begin the broader conversation around engagement with students/faculty/staff of color, specifically the process of recruitment, transition, and retention. I think programming such as this talk gives us the opportunity to more closely explore critical issues and find ways to make them actionable items.
How can Centenary be a leader and partner in similar work happening in the Shreveport-Bossier City community?
To be a leader, we must be steadfast in our commitment to DEI, and both strategic and visible as an institution. DEI work is the work of many, not simply a few, and the more we are involved in projects and collaborations in the Shreveport-Bossier community, we create a footprint and path for others to follow. Partnerships with non-profits, organizations, community and advocacy groups, and other institutions help us remain engaged in this work.
Dr. Pierce’s welcome to Dream Week provides an overview of why DEI work is important.
Dr. Pierce presented on “Allyship” during the 2022 Dream Week celebration.