Shared leadership team: the creation, journey, lessons learned

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Academic Institutions
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB)

Background:

• Drexel University's Dornsife School of Public Health (DSPH) prioritizes health as a human right.
• Addressing racism and discrimination is a core public health priority for DSPH.
• Traditional hierarchical structures can exclude diverse voices in academic settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document the development of a Shared Leadership Team (SLT) and the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) at DSPH.
• To highlight successes, challenges, and strategies for implementing DEIB initiatives.
• To reflect on lessons learned regarding shared power and fostering an inclusive academic culture.

Main Methods:

• Establishment of a cross-unit Shared Leadership Team (SLT) in 2023.
• Founding of the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB).
• Implementation of initiatives such as a school-wide climate survey, shared DEIB definitions, and the IDEA Fellows program.

Main Results:

• Successful establishment of collaborative structures for DEIB initiatives.
• Identification of key successes and challenges in implementing DEIB efforts.
• Demonstrated value of shared power in fostering an inclusive and equitable culture.

Conclusions:

• Shared leadership models can effectively drive DEIB initiatives in academic public health.
• Addressing institutional change and external political shifts requires strategic engagement.
• Sustained commitment to DEIB is crucial for creating a more equitable academic environment.