Meeting Structural Determinism with Inclusive Excellence in Higher Education
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In seeking to create a culture of care, concern, and belonging for an increasingly diverse constituency, many institutions of higher learning have sought ways to embed inclusive excellence across their infrastructure. However, given the sociopolitical context of institutionalized identity-based exclusion, as well as increasingly nuanced understandings of social identity development and expression in the United States, many colleges and universities struggle to offer seemingly “authentic” modes of support for the populations they seek to serve. This discussion focuses on ways to define and identify structural determinism in practice and pedagogy in an effort to cultivate pluralistic learning environments that are holistically beneficial to campus communities.
Learning Outcomes
- Gain a working definition of structural determinism and interest convergence.
- Explore how structural determinism emerges in higher education.
- Consider recommendations for promising practice in creating welcoming learning environments.
Shawna Patterson-Stephens, Ph.D.
Vice President for Inclusive Excellence and Belonging
Central Michigan University
Dr. Shawna Patterson-Stephens (she, her, hers) is an award-winning scholar-practitioner with 20 years’ experience in higher education. Dr. Patterson-Stephens serves as the Vice President for Inclusive Excellence and Belonging in the Office for Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at her alma mater, Central Michigan University (CMU). Providing vision and oversight throughout her division, Shawna is instrumental in collaborating across divisions, alumni, external organizations, and broader communities throughout the region to encourage transformative social change through advanced education. The Office for Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at CMU notably provides strategy and direction toward achieving institutionalized inclusive excellence.
In addition to her commitments at CMU, Dr. Patterson-Stephens teaches for New England College. Shawna’s research interests include Black and Latinx issues in higher education, media influences in the postsecondary sector, and critical theory in higher educational contexts. She also experiments with various modes of knowledge dissemination to ensure scholarship remains accessible, evidenced through projects like the podcast, "Scholar Tea". Dr. Patterson-Stephens serves as the PI for the Central Michigan University NSF Aspire Alliance for Inclusion and Diverse STEM Faculty Grant. Shawna is currently a co-PI in a national project examining the experiences of Black doctoral women in higher education (Black Women Doctoral Students). Additionally, she is co-editor of "Advancing Inclusive Excellence in Higher Education" (Information Age Publishing).
Dr. Patterson-Stephens enjoys participating in community outreach. In addition to her responsibilities as a board member for the Dr. Melvin C. Terrell Educational Foundation, Shawna contributes to the research writing bootcamp committee for the Sisters of the Academy. Furthermore, she is a board member of CMU’s Black alumni chapter, the CMU Research Corporation, and recently concluded 4 years of service on the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) governing board. Dr. Patterson-Stephens is a proud member of NCNW, the NAACP, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, The Links, Incorporated, and Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated.
