Marking its 20th year, Boston College’s University Affiliates Program is preparing for a new cohort of 14 employees that will begin the professional development series in November.
Administered by the Department of Human Resources Office for Institutional Diversity, the Affiliates Program aims to enable members of underrepresented groups to enrich their professional skills and build connections with colleagues throughout the University. Through the program, African American, LatinX, Asian, Middle Eastern, and Native American professional staff have opportunities to expand their understanding of critical issues in higher education.
The group meets nine times throughout the academic year to get a broader view of the University’s work and mission, develop career and leadership skills, and hear from University leaders about their roles and responsibilities. Affiliates also are paired with a mentor—either a member of senior leadership or an alumnus of the Affiliates Program—whom they meet with once a month.
One hundred and eighty-five employees have completed the program since its inception and 130 are still with the University.
“When you have people who love being at work and love being in a space that appreciates and wants to support them and help develop them, you get the best out of them.”
A member of last year’s cohort, Fabiola Aguilera, assistant director for communication and events in the Roche Center for Catholic Education, said the program gave her a better understanding of the mission of the University. “It helps to feel like you are part of something bigger and it gives more purpose to your work.”
“We want folks in this program to feel like they are part of the BC community in every way,” said OID Associate Director of Diversity and Inclusion Damita Davis. “When you have people who love being at work and love being in a space that appreciates and wants to support them and help develop them, you get the best out of them. And when you get the best out of them, that enhances what we’re able to do across the University for our faculty and staff, for our students, for visitors to the community.”
For more information, visit www.bc.edu/affiliates.
Christine Balquist | University Communications | October 2019