Cornell University's Inclusive Excellence Podcast

Feb 28 2025 93 ep. 38 mins 34
Cornell University's Inclusive Excellence Podcast artwork

Join Erin Sember-Chase and Toral Patel from the Department of Inclusion and Belonging as they dive into discussions on topics related to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. They will interview colleagues throughout Cornell who are working to build spaces of belonging for all Cornell employees and provide information on how you can begin building these spaces today.

  Education
RSS feed Share
Copy RSS


Subscribe on Podcast Addict


Episode 93: From Policy to Practice: Rethinking Campus Wellbeing

Feb 28 2025 49 mins  
Julie Edwards, Assistant Vice President for Student Health and Wellbeing at Cornell, joins Erin and Toral for a powerful conversation about building a health-promoting campus. She shares how the adoption of the Okanagan Charter is shaping Cornell’s holistic approach to wellbeing, why fostering a culture of health is a shared responsibility, and the real impact of systemic changes

Episode 92: The Road Back: On Reentry, Work, and Resilience

Feb 11 2025 46 mins  
In this episode, Erin and Toral sit down with Thomas Jones (he/him/his), fair employment practice specialist at Cornell, to explore the transformative impact of the Restorative Record Project. Thomas shares his personal journey from incarceration to higher education and his role in helping justice-involved individuals highlight their skills and potential in the job market. Thomas d

Episode 91: Exploring Spiritual Diversity and Wellbeing on a College Campus

Jan 16 2025 62 mins  
What does it look like to create spaces that welcome all forms of spiritual exploration on such a diverse campus? Join Joel Harter (he/him/his) and Saorsa Wissman (she/her/hers) from Cornell’s Office of Spirituality and Meaning-Making as they dive into the intersection of faith, identity, and belonging. Reflecting on their personal and professional journeys, they share the challe

Episode 90: From Laboratory to Leadership with Eve De Rosa

Dec 08 2024 48 mins  
Join Erin and Toral for a compelling conversation with Eve De Rosa, dean of faculty at Cornell, as she reflects on her journey to the university and her impactful work fostering inclusivity. Eve shares insights into her role, her commitment to equity and belonging for faculty at all levels, and the importance of involving staff voices when designing inclusive systems and cultures.

Episode 89: Embrace Discomfort and Do It Anyway

Nov 17 2024 51 mins  
In this episode, Erin and Toral welcome Alexis Boyce, manager of Cornell’s Asian American Studies Program and co-chair of the A&S Staff Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Committee. A recipient of the Employee Assembly Award for Staff Inclusion and Integrity, Alexis shares how her committee’s initiatives are driving meaningful change. She reflects on her commitment

Episode 88: Bridging Campus and Community with Cornell and Ithaca Police Chiefs

Nov 08 2024 58 mins  
In this episode, Erin and Toral welcome Cornell Chief of Police Anthony Bellamy and Ithaca City Chief of Police Thomas Kelly. The chiefs discuss their paths to leadership, guiding philosophies on policing with empathy, and efforts to build trust within Ithaca and Cornell’s diverse communities. With a unique mix of a small-town atmosphere and a large student population, they explo

Episode 87: Today’s Child Care Desert – A Community Challenge

Oct 25 2024 60 mins  
In this episode, Erin and Toral sit down with Ruth Merle-Doyle, Work Life Program Manager at Cornell, and Melissa Perry, CEO of the Child Development Council of Central New York, to discuss the urgent issue of child care accessibility. With the nation – especially Tompkins County – facing a severe shortage, they explore the impact on working parents, available resources, and wh

Episode 86: Breaking The Silence: How to Support Colleagues Experiencing Domestic Violence

Oct 11 2024 51 mins  
In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Erin and Toral are joined by Michelle Artibee (she/her), director of workforce wellbeing at Cornell, and Lyn Staack (she/they), director of education at the Advocacy Center of Tompkins County. Together, they discuss the critical resources available for employees experiencing domestic violence, consider various factors that impact

Episode 85: Thanks Bert! A Farewell to Our Sound Engineer

Sep 27 2024 35 mins  
In this heartfelt episode, Bert Odom-Reed, director of Cornell Broadcast Studios, shares an announcement with our audience. As he celebrates his seventh season producing the Inclusive Excellence Podcast and 35 years at Cornell, Bert takes us down memory lane, highlighting his favorite episodes and the most impactful moments along the way. He leaves listeners with inspiring words of

Episode 84: What Does Inclusive Excellence Really Mean?

Sep 13 2024 17 mins  
In the season 7 premiere, the Inclusive Excellence Podcast returns with hosts Erin Sember-Chase and Toral Patel reflecting on their summer and sharing an exclusive preview of what’s to come. In this episode, they take a closer look at the foundation of the podcast by exploring the true meaning and history of the term “inclusive excellence.” Plus, don’t miss their special me