Campus Rec Magazine shone the spotlight on individuals in the campus recreation industry who have been nominated for their work in diversity, equity and inclusion (EDI).
Leigh Ann Garstecki, Director of Fitness & Wellness with Duke Recreation & Physical Education, is one of the nominees. Read more about her nomination below, and view all nominees in the the Campus Rec Magazine article.
WHY ARE EDI INITIATIVES IMPORTANT TO YOUR DEPARTMENT?
LAG: Campus Recreation has a unique opportunity when it comes to the impact we have on our students and campus community. Between those who use our facilities, participate in our programs and work for us, we engage on so many different levels with various groups. We have a responsibility to be a place where all feel welcomed and wanted.
WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF AN EDI INITIATIVE AT YOUR FACILITY THAT COULD INSPIRE OTHER CAMPUS REC DEPARTMENTS?
LAG: Last summer we formed an Anti-Racism Commitment Group. Our first project was creating a personalized Departmental Internal DEI Review comprised of 31 questions. We created a 360-review process. Each area of our department was tasked with completing this review and submitting to our group for assessment — 11 reviews in total. After feedback was documented, it was passed along to our leadership team to then assess. We are at the point now where we will be giving all information back to our staff to make changes. From there, they will create an area roadmap used to complete a departmental roadmap. These roadmaps will lay out our top priorities and goals. This is where it all begins, and I would encourage other departments to do something similar.
Leigh Ann’s Nomination: “She is someone who recognizes different body types and barriers to participation which led her to create a women’s leadership program to introduce and support women’s engagement more broadly across all aspects of recreation. She has also provided outstanding leadership to an 11-member Anti-Racism Committee, which has required personal reflection, and departmental assessment and engagement with new learning resources.”