I endorsed a new book, Diversity Matters edited by Karen A. Longman. It is a great book which deals with the important issue of diversity in higher education.
This is a helpful book for anyone in higher education as well as those concerned with diversity in school and workplace.
Description
Today, no institution can ignore the need for deep conversations about race and ethnicity. But colleges and universities face a unique set of challenges as they explore these topics. Diversity Mattersoffers leaders a roadmap as they think through how their campuses can serve all students well.
Five Key Sections
Campus Case Studies: Transforming Institutions with a Commitment to Diversity
Why We Stayed: Lessons in Resiliency and Leadership from Long-Term CCCU Diversity Professionals
Voices of Our Friends: Speaking for Themselves
Curricular/Cocurricular Initiatives to Enhance Diversity Awareness and Action
Autoethnographies: Emerging Leaders and Career Stages
Each chapter in Diversity Matters includes important discussion questions for administration, faculty, and staff.
ENDORSEMENTS FROM THE BACK COVER
“Diversity Matters is a welcome offering not just in the realm of evangelical Christian higher education, but also in the realm of evangelical Christianity as a whole. Through it, the contributors clearly and courageously address the why, the what, and the how of developing institutions where racial and ethnic diversity can flourish in ways that benefit the institutions and honor God.”
—BISHOP CLAUDE ALEXANDER, pastor of The Park Church in Charlotte, North Carolina
“The future of Christian higher education is in educating the diversity of God’s followers for the work of Christ on earth. This book is a giant step to get us there. Bringing together a who’s who of Christian authors on the topic, this volume is a tour de force.”
—MICHAEL O. EMERSON, Provost, North Park University, author, Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America and
Transcending Racial Barriers
“Diversity Matters is a poignant book. It touches on what really matters in the effort to create diverse communities and expand racial equity on campus, in classrooms, at faculty meetings, and more. The writers challenge structural and institutional racial injustices and speak to the heart of diversity and how it can be achieved.”
—GRACE JI-SUN KIM, associate professor of theology, Earlham School of Religion, author, Embracing the Other and Mother Daughter Speak
“We are at a critical moment in Christian education in regard to diversity. With the demographics of our nation changing dramatically every year, it is imperative that the church and Christian institutions of higher learning keep pace with this changing reality. To that end, Diversity Matters offers sound advice to all who wish to join in this necessary progress.”
—NOEL CASTELLANOS, President, Christian Community Development Association
About the Editor
Karen A. Longman is the PhD Program Director and Professor of Doctoral Higher Education at Azusa Pacific University. She also serves as a Senior Fellow of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU), where she worked for nineteen years as Vice-President for Professional Development and Research. In 2016, Longman’s contributions to Christian higher education were recognized through receiving the John R. Dellenback Global Leadership Award. Longman is coediting Christian Higher Education: An International Journal of Research, Theory, and Practice and an eight-volume book series being sponsored by the International Leadership Association focused on Women and Leadership—the first volume is titled Women and Leadership in Higher Education. She holds a PhD in Higher Education from the University of Michigan.
Grace Ji-Sun Kim 
Much is said about diversity in higher education, and many institutions talk about it and in a sense try to put it to work. Now here comes the BUT, when we look at the admission statistics for Hispanics, Asian Americans, Blacks those numbers are going to remain low. At least at institutions like Union Theological Seminary or McCormick and you’ll see that. When we have events where Latina theologians are speaking we see a very low attendance of Faculty, if we take out the students that attend because the Caucus is saying “Hey, we’re here” the hall would be empty. I am no expert on this topic, although I have had a couple of experiences probing what diversity really means, when you are the diversity. I’m just a teacher wondering what diversity really means when it comes to education at all levels.
thanks for your interesting reflection on diversity. i appreciate it