Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
College of Education: Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access
NAU’s College of Education is proud of the diversity among our students, faculty and staff and aims to create an inclusive environment for all.
We recently talked with Claudia Rodas, Associate Clinical Professor in Educational Specialties to find out how she creates an inclusive environment in her work.
Tell us about the elements of your history and your family history that have influenced who you are and how you got to where you are today.
I am a first-generation college graduate of Guatemalan immigrant parents. My parents worked multiple jobs, and I had to help raise my young brother. School work always had to come after I was done with my responsibilities. I experienced many difficulties in school as many of my teachers did not have experience with students like me. My experiences taught me to reflect on the importance of teacher biases, assumptions about students, and the lack of teacher preparation in teaching diverse students.
My parents were very supportive and encouraged me to pursue my education despite the obstacles that I faced. I am the first woman in my family to obtain a bachelor’s degree, a masters and a PhD. Resiliency, determination, and a strong support system are my foundations for success.
Could you share your identities that are most important to you and why?
I am a Latina (Guatemalan), professional woman who is proud of my Mayan Indigenous background. These identities are very important because I had a sort of identity crisis in high school. I was trying to become “American” in public, while being raised in a Guatemalan household with their own cultural norms and values that emphasize family obligations, reciprocity, and strong family ties. There was a culture shock when I stepped outside my home, where I was just one more Latina who was expected to have poor academic performances, drop out of school, and never obtain a college degree. It took me a long time to accept myself, embrace my cultural background, and overcome acculturation stress.
What do you do to create an inclusive environment for all in your work?
My own experiences taught me that diversity and inclusion matter. I strongly believe that supporting students from diverse populations, languages, ability levels, and gender identities is part of having an inclusive environment. I create an inclusive environment by supporting students through different levels of support including technology integration, mentoring students and faculty, promoting collaboration in a safe environment, and supporting students’ mental health and academic performance. I use evidence-based teaching practices to promote resilience, decrease risk factors in individual students, and support vulnerable and disadvantage students. My goal is to provide an accessible classroom for all students from all walks of life, to try to be sensitive to my students’ needs and differences, and to promote a classroom environment that helps students connect their own experiences to the topic at hand.
Thank you for sharing a little about yourself, Dr. Rodas!
If you are interested in connecting with Dr. Rodas, you can reach her at claudia.rodas@nau.edu.