Events

The OIE collaborated with the Black and African Diaspora Community of Action (BADCOA), Spiritual Life, Intercultural Education, and Conflict Transformation (SLICECT), Africa Global, Caribbean Student Association and AZIZA to hold a community event to celebrate Black History Month at NYUAD. The event consisted of introductory remarks by Fatiah Touray, NYUAD’s executive director of the Office of Inclusion and Equity, a group activity, and time for individuals to mingle and connect.

The OIE collaborated with the Office of Social Responsibility to hold a children’s book reading featuring Patricia Odie and her book, I Love Me The Way I Am!.

In this conversation Dr Beverly Daniel Tatum, interim president of Mount Holyoke College, Baishakhi Taylor, associate vice chancellor for Student Affairs NYUAD, discussed the interplay between culture and higher education, with a focus on leadership and empowerment. Through this conversation, moderated by Vice Chancellor Mariët Westermann, they explored the following questions: what can we learn from today’s women leaders in higher education? What are women leaders cognizant of when preparing youth, especially girls, for success? How can we make education more accessible to women, especially from underserved communities?

The OIE collaborated with the Office of Community Outreach, Special Olympics UAE, and Applied and Behavioral Training Institute (ABTI) to hold the Inclusion Conference, which brought together families, caregivers, educators, leading professionals, and community members interested in inclusive education for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD). The theme of the 2023 conference was advancing inclusion within educational settings in the UAE and its purpose was to provide a mutual platform for sharing knowledge and experience from multiple perspectives. Participants had the opportunity to gain a better understanding of what a holistic approach to inclusion looks like, be of better support to individuals with IDD, and do their part in advancing inclusion in education.

This global conference on colorism brought together prominent scholars conducting research on the implications of skin color and its intersections with structural and systemic discrimination. The overall aim of this conference was to address the impact of colorism — a subject often overlooked and centered around bi-racial identities within the US American context — and its manifestations in different parts of the world such as Africa, the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia, East Asia, the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean. The OIE held the symposium in collaboration with NYUAD Arts and Humanities, NYU Office of Global Inclusion, Diversity, and Strategic Innovation, NYUAD Social Science, NYUAD Institute, and Georgetown University in Qatar.

Academic Year 2022-2023

The Engineering Division at NYU Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with the Office of Inclusion and Equity, continues to be devoted to educating future engineers and aims to educate the community on how inclusion, diversity, belonging, equity, and accessibility (IDBEA) and Engineering are tied in our daily life, in terms of education and practices. 

Click here for details on the talks scheduled for this year and to learn more about
Engineering IDBE.

The Office of Inclusion and Equity hosted the Future Talent Summit with the Future Talent Council. This Summit was an invitation-only annual gathering of policymakers, corporate executives, and university leaders. The conference convened talent leaders from across the globe with the aim of exchanging perspectives and shaping meaningful relationships for the future.

NYU Women’s Lead is an event that originated in NYU NY through the Office of Global Inclusion, Diversity, and Strategic Innovation. From its inception, NYU Women’s Lead has celebrated and amplified the prolific work of global women trailblazers — past and present — while centering intersectional gender equity and innovative leadership. 

The Office of Inclusion and Equity expanded this initiative here in Abu Dhabi, in the form of a luncheon. This luncheon served as a time for women faculty and administrators to connect with each other, and eventually, leverage these connections to highlight and amplify the work of women while centering intersectional gender equity and innovative leadership.

The Office of Inclusion and Equity hosted a conversation with Neha Vora, associate professor of Anthropology at Lafayette College. Vora discussed her new book, Teach for Arabia: American Universities, Liberalism, and Transnational Qatar. Relevant to NYU Abu Dhabi and its context, this conversation explored how American branch campuses influence notions of identity and citizenship among both citizen and non-citizen residents and contribute to national imaginings of the future. Vora in conversation with NYUAD’s Dale Hudson and Sheetal Majithia also questioned the mythologies of liberal and illiberal peoples, places, and ideologies, as well as how people can contribute to decolonizing university life and knowledge production.

Haben Girma — first deafblind graduate of Harvard Law School and disability rights advocate in conversation with Monroe France, former senior associate Vice President for Global Engagement and Inclusive Leadership at NYU, explored the ways that ableism has obstructed the invaluable potential of one billion people worldwide, impeding our global opportunity for innovation.

The OIE hosted Reverend Nontombi Naomi Tutu, race and gender justice activist, founder of Nozizwe Consulting, and daughter of the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu for a discussion on the need to actualize an intersectional approach in the fight for women’s rights, our collective responsibility to cultivate strong gender coalitions and allyship across racial lines, and the role of dialog and reconciliation in charting a brighter path forward.

Often considered an import of “American ideologies'', Dr. Angela Davis, American political activist, professor, and author, and Dr. Ann Morning, professor of Sociology at NYU, explored Black History Month as a tool for highlighting the importance of diverse and inclusive conversations about the Black experience and historical knowledge in the global context.

Fatiah Touray represented NYUAD's Office of Inclusion and Equity as a panelist in conversation with moderator Kelsey Warner of the National.  Panelists discussed the many ways in which inclusion and openness shape strong societies and how to foster a culture of belonging.  This discussion came as part of Expo 2020's Dubai's "Tolerance and Inclusivity" theme week.

Panelists:

• Fatiah Touray , Senior Director Inclusion and Equity, NYUAD
• Ambassador Marc Sievers, Director American Jewish Committee Office in Abu Dhabi
• Nadya Kamali, Country Managing Director, UAE, Accenture

Moderator:

• Kelsey Warner, Future Editor, The National News

Rooted in racism and the long-term effects of colonialism, the societal ill has encouraged lighter-skin preference with an impact on multiple areas including access to various resources, opportunities for social mobility, representation in media, and popular beauty standards. This discussion tackles the issue of colorism and its varied manifestations in communities across the globe. It also focuses on the colonial history of colorism and its continued socio-cultural impact in regions such as the Americas, South and Southeast Asia, and Africa.

This event is hosted in collaboration with the Humanities Research Fellowship for the Study of the Arab World. It is co-sponsored by the NYUAD African Studies minor, the NYUAD Social Science division, and the NYUAD Caribbean Students Association. 

Panel Members

• Rani Varghese, Associate Professor, School of Social Work, Adelphi University
• Ginetta E.B. Candelario, Professor of Sociology and Latin American & Latina/o Studies, Study of Women & Gender Program Affiliate, Smith College
• Bayan Abubakr, PHD Student, Department of History, Yale University
• Joanne Rondilla, Assistant Professor, Sociology & Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, San Jose State University

Moderated by

• Rogaia M. Abusharaf, Professor of Anthropology, Georgetown University Qatar

Artists from Theater for One: We Are Here (Nairobi Edition), Aleya Kassam and Mūmbi Kaigwa, join NYUAD alumni Vamika Sinha and Mohammed Waseem Chaudry to discuss issues of multiculturalism relations and the interplay of diverse identities through an East African lens. Moderated by Fatiah Touray, Senior Director of Inclusion and Equity at NYUAD.

Further information can be found at NYUAD Arts Center.

• Wednesday, October 20, 2021 | 11am-12:30pm GST
• Thursday, October 28, 2021 | 10:20-11:45am GST
• Thursday, October 28, 2021 | 2:25-4pm GST
• Tuesday, November 9, 2021 | 5:30-7pm GST
• Monday, November 15 at 12:30-2pm GST
• Sunday, November 28 at 1:15-2:45pm GST

These sessions provide an overview of best practices for designing a recruitment strategy that draws a diverse candidate pool. Participants receive resources and tools to conduct broad outreach and learn strategies to mitigate implicit/unconscious bias at each stage of the search process.  

Facilitators:
Fatiah Touray, Esq;
Senior Director, Inclusion and Equity

Naomi Munro
Director, Academic Appointments

The NYUAD Office of Sustainability and Stewardship and the NYUAD Office of Inclusion and Equity discussed the impact of climate change on global communities and the importance of facilitating multi-sector solutions to address the “grand challenge” of our time. Panelists from academic, non-profit, and intergovernmental organizations discussed the intersecting responsibilities of combating climate change and deconstruct the systemic issues that put historically marginalized and low-income communities globally at an elevated risk of experiencing environmental hazards (i.e. pollution, food insecurity, airborne and waterborne illnesses, etc.)

July-September 2021

A series of live orientation sessions were held for new faculty joining in fall 2021, designed to build an inclusive and informative foundation upon which our new faculty can build upon and thrive. 

Further information and key dates are available through Faculty Advancement and Engagement.

AY 2021-22

The Engineering Division at NYU Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with the Office of Inclusion and Equity, is devoted to educating future engineers and aims to educate the community on how inclusion, diversity, belonging and equity (IDBE) and Engineering are tied in our daily life, in terms of education and practices. Therefore, we established the Engineering IDBE Seminar Series at the core of our mission. The virtual monthly seminars will be attended by students, researchers, staff, and faculty from Engineering as well as from the diverse family of NYU Abu Dhabi. 

Click here for details on the talks scheduled for this year and to learn more about Engineering IDBE. 

Check back for dates.

This interactive series examines the relationship between diversity and inclusion, the impact of inclusive behaviors in the workplace, and what you can do to cultivate inclusion. You do not need to be in a leadership or supervisory capacity to attend this series, it is suitable for anyone who seeks to support a more inclusive workplace and is interested in exploring how they can support this through their own thinking and behavior.  

Leadership development programs designed specifically for faculty can be found on the NYUAD Faculty Advancement and Engagement page.

Check back for dates.

The OIE works closely with divisions and units to provide tailored programming and workshops on a variety of topics that reflect their unique needs.

Check back for dates.

Inclusive Conversations are an ongoing series of informal dialogs on a variety of topics related to aspects of identity and social interactions, facilitated by staff and faculty from across the university. The series opens a rare opportunity for small community dialogue on issues of identity, social interactions, and other potentially sensitive topics for 6-8 people per conversation aimed at:

• Creating a welcoming space to facilitate open, non-judgmental dialog for those interested in exploring various issues impacting their professional and personal lives.
• Increasing a sense of inclusion and belonging on our campus by inviting a healthy exchange of our observations and reflections in a non-siloed setting.

April, 2021

NYUAD is committed to providing equal educational opportunities and participation for all students, faculty, academic support, postdoctoral and research, and administrative staff.  

For further information on Accessibility at NYUAD contact: equal.opportunity@nyu.edu

Friday, April 16 | 6:30-7:30pm

In the spirit of the holy month of Ramadan, this was an opportunity to come together as a community and celebrate the festivities of the holy month:  the NYUAD Virtual Community Iftar with Imam Khalid!  There was a wholesome dialogue with Imam Khalid, the Executive Director of the Islamic Center at NYU, and fellow NYUAD members aiming to learn more about Ramadan, interacting through fun games and engaging in insightful conversation.

This Iftar was brought to in collaboration with ResED, SLICE, Social Responsibility and the Office of Inclusion and Equity.

Tuesday, March 30, 2021 | 8pm

Virtual Vigil

The Office of Inclusion and Equity and the Spiritual Life and Intercultural Education hosted a vigil to show solidarity with the Asian community and to honor the victims of anti-Asian attacks globally.  This was an opportunity for our NYUAD community to come together to share their experiences and honor the lives lost, those who have borne the brunt of their violent physical, verbal and online attacks, and countless others who now live in fear.

Members of the community shared testimonials, stories, and ways to support Asian communities at NYUAD and beyond.

Sunday, March 28, 2021 | 1:15-2:45pm

Have you ever been in a classroom, meeting, or other interaction where a comment directed at you or someone is experienced as a slight? Have you experienced what appears to be well-meaning comments related to your identity make you feel excluded? Microaggressions are subtle, discriminatory actions or comments that serve to marginalize and insult the target. While often unintentional, microaggressions are real and harmful experiences. This interactive session is aimed at understanding, interrupting, and developing the skills needed to respond to microaggressions using a variety of scenarios that may show up in the classroom. We will discuss how to address the psycho-emotional and academic well-being of yourself when such interactions are directed against you or your students. Participants gain strategies to create inclusive classrooms and how to support colleagues you know who have been harmed by microaggressions.

Nancy Gleason, Director for the Hilary Ballon Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning; Associate Professor of Practice of Political Science

Fatiah Touray, Senior Director, Inclusion and Equity

Intended Audience:  NYUAD Faculty

March 2021

This workshop was held in collaboration with NYUAD's Spiritual Life and Intercultural Education (SLICE) and taught participants about implicit (or unconscious bias) and sought to raise awareness and provide tools to adjust automatic patterns of thinking.

The Blackness Without Borders Series is available to watch by NYUAD Community members.

Blackness Without Borders:  Students in Conversation
Thursday, April 8, 2021

The Office of Inclusion and Equity and Spiritual Life and Intercultural Education (SLICE) have teamed up to create "Blackness Without Borders: Students in Conversation".  This space allowed NYUAD students to come together and discuss the Blackness Without Borders series.  This dialogue was framed through reflections of the series itself, how NYUAD is progressing in terms of IDBE, and looked into feedback and sentiments on what students want to see next year.  

Honoring International Women's Day #ChooseToChallenge
Monday, March 8, 2021

In honor of Women's International Day, the first female head of state of an African country, former President of Libera, and Nobel Laureate, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was in conversation with Vice Chancellor Mariët Westermann. They discussed the importance of having women in leadership positions to catalyze social change, women seeking to push boundaries and challenge the status quo, and President Sirleaf's achievements in rebuilding a war torn nation.  More information here.

The Intersection of the Black Experience in the MENA and Muslim World
Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Experts and scholars in Middle Eastern, African, and Diaspora studies, the panelists explore the nuanced and complex Black experiences in Morocco, Egypt, Sudan, and the Gulf; delving into the colonial history of the Middle East and North Africa and tracing its impact on the development of how the Black experience is framed and understood today. https://nyuad.nyu.edu/en/events/2021/february/blackness-without-borders-series-presenting-eddie-s-glaude-jr.html.  Watch the video here (please note that this video is accessible by NYUAD community members only).

Eddie S. Glaude Jr
Monday, February 8, 2021

 Please join Eddie S. Glaude Jr., Chair of Princeton’s Department of African American Studies in conversation with Awam Amkpa, NYUAD Interim Dean of Arts and Humanities as they discuss the multiple dimensions of the Black experience in the US and beyond. The inaugural Blackness Without Borders series will be introduced by Vice Chancellor Mariët Westermann and followed by opening remarks from Fatiah Touray, Esq., Senior Director of the Office of Inclusion and Equity at NYUAD.  More information here.