SEED Grows Understanding, Empathy at UAMS
| In a time of division in American society, the SEED program at UAMS cultivates understanding and empathy among the university community’s students, faculty and staff to erase those dividing lines.
SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) does it through once-a-month training sessions, which start in October. This year will mark its fifth year at UAMS, and applications are being accepted through Sept. 30.
SEED is an eight-month program designed to address educational equity and diversity. Participants are divided into groups that meet for about two hours and journey through sometimes complex social topics. Participants explore their own understanding and education in relation to race, gender, socioeconomic status, religion, sexual identity, disabilities and age.
“It’s an opportunity to learn more about people who are different from you,” said Edgar Meyer, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Neurology and Developmental Sciences. “It makes you better at communicating effectively with them and working with them. The research shows that organizations that are more diverse are more creative and more innovative and efficient.”
Members of a SEED seminar gain new insights into how the world works and how they can make their institutions more inclusive and fair. They also examine the implications these dimensions have directly and indirectly on UAMS.
“I gained a lot from participating in SEED. It was really insightful to sit with a group of my UAMS peers and learn about their points of view,” said Westley Ashley, J.D., assistant director for Conflict of Interest.
Mildred Randolph, DVM, retired in 2020 as director of the Division of Laboratory Animal Medicine, but she still serves as adjunct faculty and director of SEED.
While doing some online research a few years ago to prepare for a discussion panel in which she had been invited to participate, Randolph discovered online the work and writings of Peggy McIntosh, Ph.D., who founded the SEED Project at the Wellesley Centers for Women at Wellesley College in Massachusetts.
Randolph saw that the SEED national program was offering 60-hour, weeklong summer sessions for leadership training at the University of Washington at Seattle. She wanted to attend and received support for her effort from campus leaders including Lawrence Cornett, Ph.D.; Billy Thomas, M.D., MPH; Jeannette Shorey II, M.D.; and Stephanie Gardner, Pharm.D., Ed.D., senior vice chancellor for academic affairs, provost and chief strategy officer
“Anything that would improve relationships and harmony among the diverse people doing research, we thought would be an asset to the university,” Randolph said. “It was about training for people to go back to their institutions to start SEED communities.”
That’s exactly what she did with continued support from the university. Since then, several people at UAMS have received the same leadership training Randolph did.
The SEED curriculum at UAMS varies from class to class. Randolph said in one session, the group might watch a video with structured prompts for discussion. For another, each participant might be asked to write about their upbringing and the household in which they grew up. All of the program is directed toward building understanding between people with different backgrounds and fostering empathy.
“It’s allowed people who work here a chance to know their co-workers on a level they would not have otherwise,” Randolph said. “SEED offers a framework for conversations about topics they typically would shy away from. It’s a safe place. The philosophy of the program is that no matter where you are in your understanding of any marginalized people, different sexual orientation or ableism, no matter where you are in your thought process, it’s OK.”
Not only has SEED been a success at creating a safe place for honest, open dialogue, it has kept working for many participants beyond the classroom.
Faculty and researchers have told Randolph they have become collaborators on research and projects with people they previously wouldn’t have reached out to.
“You can legislate things but that doesn’t change people at heart. SEED pulls on the heart strings,” Randolph said. “We really have so much more in common, but if you don’t have the opportunity to get to know people, then it’s really fear that defines perspectives. It’s easy to stereotype people when you don’t know them. I think SEED sets up the opportunity to see people more completely.”
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Attendance is important so consider the times and dates prior to submitting your application to the SEED program. Please do not apply if you foresee being unable to attend 80% of the classes.
Information about the SEED schedule and how to register.
Watch a four-minute video about SEED.
For more information, you also can email Marlo Thomas at mkthomas@uams.edu.