Excellence in ED&I Award 2021: Success for Dr Kirsten Harris
We are proud to share the news that Dr Kirsten Harris, Associate Professor in Liberal Arts and Deputy Head of the School for Cross-faculty Studies, has been awarded a Commended certificate at the inaugural Excellence in Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (ED&I ) Award 2021. The commendation recognises Kirsten's outstanding contribution to the enhancement of equality, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to building more inclusive environments and experiences through everyday behaviours at the University of Warwick.
What is the Excellence in ED&I Award 2021?
The Excellence in ED&I Award 2021 was launched to acknowledge commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion and to share best practice. This new award recognises an individual or team who have contributed to the enhancement of ED&I at Warwick by delivering a specific project, initiative, and/or by actively demonstrating a commitment to building more inclusive work/study environments and experiences through their everyday behaviours.
Find out more about the award.
Why Dr Kirsten Harris?
Kirsten was nominated for her transformational efforts in the Liberal Arts Department and in the School for Cross-faculty Studies.
Driving our Athena SWAN Bronze Award submission
In her former role as School’s Equity and Inclusion Officer, Kirsten led a successful Athena SWAN Bronze submission, demonstrating significant commitment and leadership. She ensured that the process of reviewing the School's activities was not just a 'tick-box' exercise and instead acted as a springboard for improving practices and processes around equity in the School for Cross-faculty Studies.
Integrating student voice
To ensure student voice is an integral part of our ED&I work, Kirsten helped develop additional standard module feedback questions to help establish a foundation. She also met regularly with our Student-Staff Liaison Committee members to provide her expertise and support our departmental efforts to encourage students to take up project-based roles on ED&I activities.
Additionally, in her former role as the School’s Equity and Inclusion Officer, Kirsten led a consultation with students about a range of equity issues. A major component of this was a survey that went out to all students in the School. Read the School for Cross-faculty Studies Student Equity Report 2021 here.
Embedding gender and racial equity across the School
Kirsten has been instrumental in embedding principles of gender and racial equity across a wide range of the School's processes, including:
- Supporting the formation of a permanent Equity and Inclusion Committee;
- Conducting a comprehensive review of student-facing activities;
- Improving recruitment and shortlisting practices; and
- Reviewing practices around staff Personal Development Reviews and communication on promotion criteria.
"Kirsten's work has been truly inspirational for all of us within the School, as well as key in making sure our practices reflect the University’s ED&I values."
Professor Stéphanie Panichelli-Batalla, Head of the School for Cross-faculty Studies
“Well articulated case and clear evidence of important and impactful work driving forward the Athena SWAN agenda.”
The judges of the Excellence in ED&I Award 2021
Liberal Arts Equitable Education
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Read the School for Cross-faculty Studies Student Equity Report 2021
