HSCommunity: Diversity & Society

In a newly developed course, West Virginia University undergraduate and graduate students will have an opportunity to expand how they think about diversity, power, oppression, social justice and more. 

Course instructor Toni Owens says Health Sciences students can especially benefit from the subject matter in Diversity & Society, DSGN 493B, which is open to all academic majors. There are no course prerequisites. 

Students will be introduced to the many dimensions of diversity, including but not limited to differences in age, race, gender, sexuality and ability, and how belonging to one or more of those populations can have implications mentally, emotionally, physically and economically.

“Health Sciences students will likely be working with people — be it patients, clients or coworkers — who will be different in many ways. To be able to pause and consider those differences will help you be of better service to them,” says Owens, a licensed graduate social worker. 

Throughout the course, students will hear from Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) professionals. Owens said through their expertise, the course material will come to life. Further, students will emerge themselves—virtually for now—in a community with a mission to enhance diversity or social justice. Students will learn what the organizations do and how they do it.

And as students pursue their careers, Owens said being aware of any implicit biases will help them be better professionals. Rather than “treating everyone the same,” Owens encourages everyone to embrace their differences. 

“If you erase the differences, you erase individuality. You erase struggles, pain, obstacles, experiences and history, which is giving you a false sense of who people really are. To meet people where they really are, the answer is not to erase history, but to appreciate and acknowledge it, so we can respectfully coexist. Don’t allow discomfort to stunt your growth.” 

Owens says the class will be rooted in respect: “We’re aiming for an atmosphere of understanding and inclusion. It’s OK to make mistakes. This is a safe space for learning.” 

Having the base knowledge and awareness that the class provides can be a catalyst for change, Owens says. As students interact with their classmates or participate in clinicals, they may see real-life situations playing out based on what they’ve learned in Diversity & Society. 

The three-hour credit course, offered through the WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, is scheduled for the spring semester on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., but Owens does not want the meeting time to be a barrier for enrolling. To discuss further, Owens asks interested students to email her at toni.owens@mail.wvu.edu.  

Owens, who is currently working on her Ph.D. in Human and Community Development at WVU, previously served as an assistant for Kansas State University’s former Associate Provost for Diversity, Dr. Myra Gordon. Owens also helped advise the K-State Black Student Union’s Freshman Action Team. 

The Diversity & Society course was developed with assistance from J. Spenser Darden, WVU Director of Diversity Initiatives and Community Engagement.