Dr. Bryan Dawson, associate professor of psychological science, sought to shed light on an important topic through a published study on diversity climates at multi-campus universities.
“Diversity is a passion of mine in the research area,” he said in a keynote speech at Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Professional Development Day on the University of North Georgia’s (UNG) Gainesville Campus. “Diversity needs to be a priority for every institution because it determines whether or not students will stay.”
Dawson published the work in collaboration with Dr. Josh Cuevas, associate professor of middle grades, secondary and science education. Published in the Studies in Higher Education journal, their findings suggest that students exposed to others with different racial or cultural backgrounds may foster healthier and happier college experiences.
“Opening an honest communication with faculty, staff and students allows for transparency and input,” Dawson said. “Diversity should be a part of the ongoing conversation, and we should see brand equity with campus initiatives at every institution.”
In future projects, Dawson hopes to conduct a diversity study regarding sexuality and gender minority populations.
