At the forefront of constructing cornerstones that build resilient communities on campus and beyond graduation, is moving Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) from a conversation topic to lived experiences, intentionality and cultivating spaces that empower each unique individual.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility is at the heart of The Barnes Center at the Arch’s Wellness Wheel, showing its intersections with all eight Dimensions of Wellness.
When explored through a student-focused lens, DEIA is the core of holistic health and wellness. It’s also physically represented as the core of the Barnes Center at The Arch Wellness Wheel, showing its intersections with all eight Dimensions of Wellness.
“Holistic well-being cannot be explored without first acknowledging global and historical systems of oppression and health inequities that exist and interact with each Dimension of Wellness,” explained Tanya Williamson, Barnes Center at The Arch associate director for diversity and inclusion. “If not discovered and addressed, systemic health inequities can create barriers to accessing care, education and services.”
Individuals thrive in affirming spaces. Seeking to cultivate a culture of belonging, the Barnes Center at The Arch health and wellness team not only represents DEIA as the core of their Wellness Wheel, but work to keep DEIA at the center of every action.
“Every Syracuse University community member should feel welcomed and valued. Our mission is to integrate Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility, into all aspects of health and wellness,” Williamson says. “To achieve optimum health and wellness, our services, policies, practices, and the way we treat others must include the values and practices of DEIA.”
Tanya Williamson
Williamson and the Barnes Center and cross-campus teams work in the pursuit of continuously growing DEIA, which enhances the student health and wellness experience. Examples of this include but are not limited to: speaking with, gathering and implementing student feedback; trainings and workshops; expanding campus coalition through the Barnes Center DEIA Committee; and more.
“We are invested in DEIA initiatives that enrich the student experience. We’re learning and deepening our knowledge while taking actionable steps,” Williamson says. “Our collaborative work manifests in a variety of ways, including identifying the interrelated and overlapping impact of personal and institutional forms of inequity. We then exam issues from historical and current perspectives. We acknowledge the inequity that our students may face, and we ultimately strive to create opportunities for education, action and results to enhance the student experience. Specifically, we want students to feel they belong at the Barnes Center and on campus.”
About the Supporting Student Wellness Series
Through a student-focus lens of integrated health and wellness, this series explores a variety of Barnes Center at The Arch resources and services. In the pursuit of enhancing the student experience, topics empower faculty, staff, students, families and supporters, as catalysts of health and wellness within their daily interactions.
