Message from the Dean

June 18, 2020

Dear Colleagues and Students in the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences,

The past few weeks have raised awareness about the racial injustices that have plagued our nation for hundreds of years and that continue to threaten the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness of those who are marginalized in our society. In the wake of the senseless killing of Mr. George Floyd in Minneapolis, protesters have taken to the streets to express their pain and call for action. These protests have included Milwaukee and Marquette. Such calls for change here in our community and on our campus align with Marquette’s Catholic, Jesuit mission and commitment to social justice. Eloquent statements of sorrow and the search for justice have been shared by the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and, here at Marquette, President Michael R. Lovell and Vice President William Welburn. Within our College of Arts and Sciences, faculty, staff and students have reached out to express support and emphasize solidarity. College constituents, such as the Department of Psychology, the Department of Social and Cultural Sciences and the Center for Transnational Justice, have posted messages calling for racial justice.

It is fitting that, as we process our pain and sorrow, we turn to action. What can and must we do? The Helen Way Klingler College of Arts and Sciences is home to excellent academic programs and initiatives that address diversity and inclusion. Our faculty contribute heavily to the programs in Race, Ethnic and Indigenous Studies (REIS) and our college is home to the Center for Peacemaking. These are just two of many initiatives that work to promote justice for all. Faculty, staff and students in the college engage in public-facing scholarship and service that promotes peace, justice and equity. We seek to diversify our faculty, staff and students and, in so doing, ensure that we are as excellent as we can be. Looking forward, the college will continue to raise the visibility of the work we already do to promote diversity, equity and inclusion. We will continue to pursue new opportunities to deepen and broaden this work. Addressing the systemic injustice of racism requires a systemic response.

Over the past month, I have met with many faculty and staff members across the college and beyond. I have engaged with alumni and benefactors of our college. Each day I come away from these meetings heartened by the energy, faith and commitment that members of our community bring to their work. It is all the more striking how warm and wonderful these interactions are, given that they are happening not in person but through video conferences. We are managing to stay in touch, even during the pandemic and the resultant necessity of physical distancing.

During the coming year, the college will continue to pursue three goals: to sharpen our identity, to provide programs that meet the needs of students and the world and to garner support for the college. None of these pursuits is possible without embracing diversity, equity and inclusion. I invite faculty and staff across the college to think about how we can integrate course content on race, diversity and social justice where appropriate and to renew our commitment to checking in with students, demonstrating concern and  offering support.

We will move forward guided by the Ignatian imperatives to serve faith and promote justice. Let’s remember that hope is not just an emotion; rather, it is the intersection where agency meets a path forward.

I continue to seek out ways to interact with you and get to know your dreams, concerns and aspirations. I’m eager to listen and learn. Please feel free to contact me at heidi.bostic@marquette.edu.

Wishing you a summer filled with hope.

Sincerely,

Dr. Heidi Bostic
Dean, Klingler College of Arts and Sciences