Equity and Inclusion: A Shoutout to Plattsburgh's OIE

Hello all,

This week I'm giving a shoutout to our Plattsburgh Office for Institutional Effectiveness (OIE), for their consistent use of data to tell accurate, carefully documented, and important stories about our college. I am regularly looking for ways to promote the value of women and yet National Women's Equality Day wasn't even on my radar, so I really appreciate the office drawing attention to it with their campus announcement that included the following (slightly edited):

"Data Spotlight: Prioritize Equity and Inclusion
Tomorrow, August 26th, is National Women’s Equality Day. This annual holiday commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920 which granted women the right to vote. In honor of the 125th anniversary of this milestone, we are shining a spotlight on the students and employees who identify as women on our campus! 54% of our campus’s current 730 employees identify as female.

Plattsburgh Women In Technology Celebrates Women's Equality Day
Women have always been essential to building the future. Just as women’s suffrage strengthened democracy, equality in technology fuels progress that benefits us all. From Ada Lovelace, the world’s first computer programmer, to the women scientists and “human computers” of World War II, women have shaped innovation from the start. Although cultural barriers pushed many out of the field in the 1970s, attitudes are shifting. Today, more women than ever are working in science and technology."

Thanks to Plattsburgh faculty/staff members Sarah Cunningham (Co-chair with Tyler Whitney of the Plattsburgh WIT) for drafting the message, and Dr. Kylie King, Erin Campbell, Levi Martinez and the interns of the OIE for reminding our campus about this important day.

And from the website of the National Women's History Alliance we can read the text of the 1971 declaration:

"Joint Resolution of Congress, 1971 Designating August 26 of each year as Women’s Equality Day
WHEREAS, the women of the United States have been treated as second-class citizens and have not been entitled the full rights and privileges, public or private, legal or institutional, which are available to male citizens of the United States;

and WHEREAS, the women of the United States have united to assure that these rights and privileges are available to all citizens equally regardless of sex;

and WHEREAS, the women of the United States have designated August 26, the anniversary date of the certification of the Nineteenth Amendment, as symbol of the continued fight for equal rights;

and WHEREAS, the women of United States are to be commended and supported in their organizations and activities,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that August 26th of each year is designated as Women’s Equality Day, and the President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation annually in commemoration of that day in 1920, on which the women of America were first given the right to vote, and that day in 1970, on which a nationwide demonstration for women’s rights took place."

We know that full equality has yet to be achieved in the U.S. and around the world. We know that majority populations (of racial, cultural, socioeconomic, religious, sex/gender expression, and ability) still have power over minority populations. We have to celebrate the progress we have made together and continue to work to achieve more. Thank you all for reading these posts, contributing to equity actions on your campuses and in your lives, and learning how to do better every day.

All the best,
Holly

Beyond Opinions: The Power of a Point of View

Hello all,

This week I'm sharing a blog post from DeEtta Jones & Associates (DJA) that really made me think about my own thinking processes!

In this blog Everyone Has Opinions. Few Have a Point of View I read about how they see a difference between an opinion on one situation, idea, option or problem, and the deeper and more consistent thinking that lies behind a point of view.

From the text:

"Let’s start here: an opinion is easy. A point of view is earned.

We live in an age where opinions are everywhere—scroll your feed for five seconds, and you’ll be served hot takes, strong stances, and click-worthy commentary on everything from AI to astrology. But a point of view? That takes something more. More depth. More discernment. More of you.

So what’s the difference?

An opinion is a reaction. Often quick, surface-level, emotionally driven. You like something or you don’t. You agree or you don’t. You repost, retweet, respond. Opinions can be loud, persuasive, even performative.

A point of view is a rooted perspective. It’s built over time—through your experiences, your reflection, your values, and your unique positioning in the world. It connects dots. It makes meaning. And when expressed well, it invites others to see something new, something deeper, something true.

Put simply:

Opinions fill space. A point of view shapes it.

Why This Matters for Leaders

If you are leading, teaching, advising, or influencing others in any capacity—your point of view is your value. It’s what distinguishes your voice from the noise. It’s what lets people trust you, follow you, and build alongside you. Not because you have the most credentials or the sharpest takes, but because you have clarity—and the courage to share it.

This is especially important in a moment like now, when so many people are in flux. The world is uncertain. Institutions are being questioned. There are fewer fixed paths, and more need than ever for grounded, human-centered leadership. "

That's very interesting to me, because I consider our work in higher education as a long-term effort to sustain and improve our society and our world by passing on the knowledge we've gained so far and setting up the next generations to keep growing and innovating to meet the next sets of challenges. So I have opinions about all kinds of things- all day long. But what exactly is my point of view?

I'm going to spend some time thinking about this. I know that harmony in a diverse world is a part of my world view. I know that sharing resources, physical and intellectual, not limiting access to them, is part of my world view. I know that I tend to be skeptical of leaders who say one thing and do another. I know that nature heals and being in nature is what we were designed for.

But I don't know exactly how those views shape how I work, and now it's going to take up space in my head until I figure it out!

Naturally I had to share this with all of you, so I'm not alone in my pondering.

One last quote from this blog "What do you know in your bones that you haven't said out loud yet?"

Feel free to respond on or off the list with your thoughts!

All the best,
Holly