The Kelley Diversity Ally Certificate is a distinction for those who demonstrate an active commitment to diversity and inclusion, both at Kelley and beyond. These individuals display an appreciation and understanding for the diverse backgrounds of their colleagues, leaders, and direct reports, and are prepared to champion a sense of inclusion within their organizations.
The Diversity Ally Certificate Program is designed to strengthen an individual's ability to advocate for diversity, inclusion, and equity now and in the future.
Develop key skills for inclusive leadership.
This initiative will help participants become inclusive leaders by learning about backgrounds or approaches different from their own, increasing their emotional intelligence, and developing frameworks for building community in their own groups and organizations. A Kelley Diversity Ally can be counted on to actively exercise inclusive leadership that aids and advances diverse populations within the Kelley School, Indiana University, the Bloomington community, and beyond.
Becoming a Kelley Diversity Ally means:
- Being an advocate of diversity
- Championing equity and inclusivity
- Expanding your cultural competence
- Highlighting this distinction as a part of your personal brand
- Receiving recognition at end-of-year events (e.g., graduation)
Certificate Requirements
In order to earn the distinction of the Kelley Diversity Ally Certificate, leadership and participation in all of the following diversity and inclusion activities is required.
For Kelley Diversity Ally distinction, participants are asked to complete a few foundational learning assignments. These readings, videos, etc., will help bridge participants’ understanding of the importance of diversity and inclusion initiatives. These assignments are designed to ensure all participants understand the fundamentals of diversity and inclusion initiatives and increase their awareness of diversity and inclusion in a corporate setting. Participants are encouraged to complete these assignments in parallel with the workshop and event modules.
For Kelley Ally distinction, participants should attend at least four workshops. Workshops will be specifically geared toward broadening participants’ perspectives and exploring commonalities and differences between groups. Examples could include:
- Candid Conversations
- Guest speakers on topics such as generational differences in the workplace, developing inclusive products at a company, neurodiversity at work, and how companies approach diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Facilitated discussions by diversity, equity, and inclusion leaders
- Organized listening sessions or discussions with Kelley/IU stakeholders in-person or via social media channels
To obtain credit, individuals will need to upload one of the following to the designated Canvas site:
- A write-up of the key takeaways from the event and a photo proving attendance; or
- A reflection video about the event and a photo proving attendance.
For Kelley Diversity Ally distinction, participants should attend at least three cultural events. These events should be hosted by or related to a culture or identity other than the participant's own. (For example, an individual from China could attend the African-American Choral Ensemble’s concert or a straight, cisgender individual could attend the Pridefest.)
Such events might include the following:
- Lotus Festival concerts
- Potpourri of the Arts
- Pridefest
- Euphoria (MBA Culture Night)
- Jacobs School of Music concert
- IU Cinema movie
- Jewish Theatre of Bloomington play
To obtain credit, individuals will need to upload one of the following to the designated Canvas site:
- A write-up of the key takeaways from the event and a photo proving attendance; or
- A reflection video about the event and a photo proving attendance.
For Kelley Ally distinction, participants should attend at least three student club events. The spirit of this component is to encourage collaboration within the Kelley Community. To satisfy this requirement, an individual should attend an assortment of official student club or organization events. We encourage you to choose an event hosted by or related to a group with which you don't identify.
To obtain credit, individuals will need to upload one of the following to the designated Canvas site:
- A write-up of the key takeaways from the event and a photo proving attendance; or
- A reflection video about the event and a photo proving attendance.
If you're interested in obtaining the Kelley Diversity Ally Certificate, contact Regina Funk, Director of Diversity and Inclusion, at regnlee@iu.edu. This is a new offering at the Kelley School, so your participation and feedback will shape the experience for future participants.