Implicit Bias Seminar

Photo Courtesy from The Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology

NORMAL, Ill.-Illinois State University hosted a seminar for faculty and staff to attend in order to educate more on the value of leaving bias-based opinions and commentary behind in a university professional setting.

A discussion with the Coordinator of Faculty Development Mayuko Nakamura  provided insight into the six-year developed program. The workshop was packed with a three-layered breakdown for faculty and staff to better educate themselves on the difficulties of facing diversity.

Nakamura said that it is important to be mindful of diversity and inclusion as there is still help needed to explore the nature of implicit bias and discover strategies to minimize bias in the classroom and in the workplace.

“We all make mistakes but knowing by implicit bias or other concepts can shy away from those mistakes,” said Nakamura.

Nakamura is the only representative of the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology Foundation of Diversity and Inclusion seminars at the university. She says that she tackles tough questions involving culture, identity, and responsive teaching in a friendly, non-threatening environment. In particular, Nakamura teaches a seminar called “See White” which takes a deeper look at whiteness.

It is more focusing on the whiteness aspect of it and how people are not aware of whiteness because of everything,” said Nakamura. “It highlights different aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion.”

There are more seminars taught by Nakamura through the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology for the rest of the semester.