Jackie Carter

Diversity & Inclusion Manager at Washington University in St. Louis - Olin Business School

Vice President for Access and Equity Position Statement

Dear Colleagues,

My name is Jackie Carter, and I am the Diversity and Inclusion Manager at Washington University in St. Louis, Olin Business School.  This role was newly created to support our strategic plan around diversity and inclusion and to recognize the efforts and advocating diversity, equity and inclusion at Olin Business School.  I have over twenty-five years of higher education experience in the areas of Registrar, Student Affairs, Academic Advising, Student Development Advocate and Diversity, and Inclusion.  I am humbled to have been slated for the Vice President of the Access and Equity position.   It would be an honor to utilize my skills, commitment to access and equity to partner with you to serve the organization in this capacity.

I have been an active member of AACRAO for several years.  At my first meeting, I immediately stepped up and got involved by joining the Student Access and Equity Committee. I was looking for an opportunity to serve in a meaningful way and to make a sustainable impact that isn't always present in my daily role.  As a higher education professional, I know our jobs require more than what is written in black and white.   I wanted to couple my passion with my skills and proudly allowed myself to be a servant to issues of access, equity, and inclusion.  I am the current chair of the Professional Access and Equity Committee and have chaired the Student Access and Equity, Black Caucus, Nomination and Elections and I have had the honor to serve as the VP at Large for AACRAO Board of Directors.

I am deeply rooted in access, equity, diversity, and inclusion and I draw upon these values daily.  I truly see myself as a change agent constantly making an impact that results in equity and inclusion for staff, students and faculty.  This is where I draw upon the idea of “lift as you climb”.   As a leader, my goal is to focus what is best for all, provide access, empower and inspire. We should be in a constant cycle of lifting not only students, our colleagues and sometimes ourselves to reach beyond our potential as we climb.  I’ve tried to be this catalyst not only at my institution, community but as an AACRAO leader.  I am always looking through the lens of possibility and finding opportunities to allow one to flourish and inspire others around me.  I saw this realization as the Achieve I am Woman program session became the springboard for creating the Women Caucus.  Additionally, I recognized the need and significance to express multiple identities.  Hence, was the reason I requested the AACRAO office to schedule the caucus meetings at our annual meetings at different times for this purpose and to demonstrate my support and celebrate the differences amongst our members.   As the Black Caucus Chair push the thought process that caucus can create thought-provoking sessions and I was part of the founding group that recognized many of our members didn’t understand the role of the caucus, we implemented the joint caucus sessions and reception to increase the awareness that is still continuing.   While serving as the VP Large on AACRAO board I was intentional that discussions considered all aspects of identities and any barriers.  While serving as the VP at Large I assisted the board with establishing a Student Identity workgroup that developed meaningful guidance for our members and their institutions that will have an impact on those who have been disregarded in higher education.  When the Board found themselves at a crossroads of making a social justice stand and committing to diversity and inclusion I assist with the development of our definition of diversity, equity, and inclusion language that our organization now upholds.

 I'm also a constant voice at my own university and within the local community advocating change to our culture to be one of acceptance and inclusion.   As with many universities, we were not fulling our commitment to access, diversity, equity, and inclusion.  This was evident during the uproar of Ferguson and the killing of Mike Brown.  I served as a delegate and on many workgroups to create a culture of inclusion which created the Academy of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Washington University. 

While I’m proud of the advancement we have made as an organization there is still work to be done and perhaps much more at our respective institutions.  As the VP of Access of Equity, I would proudly continue the work with our strategic plan a few years.  We must continue the course of removing barriers and reframing challenges as opportunities not yet obtained.

To represent AACRAO and our members in this capacity as the resounding voice of celebrating our difference is an honor.  As I have stated many times before I have received an abundance from AACRAO and it is my duty to give back. “To whom much is given, much is required”.

Thank you for your thoughtful consideration.