Ann Arbor Times

Eastern Michigan University (EMU) associate professor Audrey Farrugia, serving as the 2023-24 Michael G. Morris Endowed Chair, is set to host an Open House and Morris Chair Presentation on Wednesday, October 23, from 3 to 5:30 p.m. in the Porter Building. This event will provide attendees with a chance to explore opportunities within the College of Education and engage with others interested in this field. Following the Open House, Farrugia will lead a discussion focused on leadership transformation in education, emphasizing diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging (DEIJB).

Farrugia's project titled “Research, Response, Results: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Belonging Preparation in the College of Education” aims to explore and enhance the climate within higher education. "My work as the 2023-2024 Morris Chair aims to provide an understanding of the current climate and experiences around diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging in the College of Education,” said Farrugia.

The project includes three main components:

1. **College Climate Research Survey and Listening Sessions**: These sessions were conducted to genuinely understand DEIJB experiences by gathering perspectives from students, staff, faculty members, and lecturers within the College of Education.

2. **Development Sessions with National Experts**: Insights from these surveys will guide development sessions for EMU’s College of Education led by national experts in DEIJB.

3. **Follow-up Seminar for Reflection and Strategy**: A concluding seminar will allow college members to reflect on what has been learned from the project and strategize ways to integrate DEIJB into their classrooms and community interactions.

Farrugia emphasizes active participation within the college as a crucial step towards strengthening DEIJB initiatives. She plans to present findings from her research at the upcoming event while discussing how her efforts align with those of Christopher Robbins who is set to be the 2024-2025 Morris Chair.

Eastern Michigan University was founded in 1849 as Michigan's second oldest public university. It serves nearly 13,000 students across various disciplines through its numerous colleges including Arts & Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering & Technology; Health & Human Services along with its graduate school.