During the start of the spring semester, New England College welcomed the new Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Dr. Erica Sigauke, to campus. She came to NEC excited to work with a diverse student body and to help all students achieve the educational goals that will enable them to positively impact the world.
“New England College is a college that inspired me through its mission, goals, and style of educational setting,” said Sigauke.
She described how, in addition to admiring NEC’s accomplishments and diversity, she appreciates how NEC helps groups of people that do not typically attend college, including women and members of the military, further their education since its inception in 1946. The efforts that NEC makes to give everyone an opportunity to further their education, no matter their ethnicity, gender, economic class, and more, resonate deeply with Sigauke.
Ever since her childhood in Zimbabwe, Africa, Sigauke was encouraged to accept everyone as part of her community, no matter their differences. She practices an Ubuntu philosophy, which emphasizes the importance of togetherness, empathy, compassion and respect. People from different tribes who spoke different languages were welcomed into her home with her family. Despite their differences, Sigauke and her family shared their resources with these people from different tribes and were always willing to lend them a hand. She said such philosophy and experience also inspire her to continue sowing the seeds of a loving community where everyone belongs and helps each other out at NEC.
She already has several ideas for programs to do just that.
“Some of the diversity and inclusion programs I plan to implement, as we go step by step, include collaboration, community engagement programs, and art programs,” said Sigauke.
She said one of her goals is to give students the opportunity to share their different cultures with each other, so they can better understand each other and, through this understanding, become a stronger community. With these programs, especially the art program, she wants to give students a space to share all of the different elements of their culture, including music, food, art, leadership, and more, so they can freely express themselves and appreciate how others express themselves as well.
“I believe that the new diversity and inclusion initiatives we are putting in place are a holistic approach which will further promote transformation, students’ goals and help them learn about inclusive leadership skills,” said Sigauke.
She believes that programs and initiatives that value building a community of love and respect will be able to effectively combat racism and discrimination because this kind of community encourages everyone to respect and be mindful of each other, thereby promoting a safe, accepting environment. Sigauke also thinks that just by furthering their education, NEC students combat racism and discrimination by learning about these issues and discussing them.
“I agree with Nelson Mandela, who argued that, ‘education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,’” she said.
By supporting students as they pursue their educational goals and creating programs that celebrate diversity and inclusion, Sigauke is excited to help grow a loving, diverse community at NEC inspired by her own loving, diverse community that she had when she lived in Zimbabwe.
