As a woman in Lighting, my undergraduate and graduate educations have enabled me to appreciate the importance of educators, mentors, and designers who foster an inclusive atmosphere. This has helped me to allow all students to access the tools they need to be successful in their field and provide an equal-opportunity environment that fosters respect and communication across gender, racial, or other cultural communities.

The courses I teach allow me to expose students to various types of artists with assorted backgrounds. I have actively promoted diversity in the classroom by being proactive with my subject materials. Making sure that students are exposed to a variety of voices from different perspectives. I acknowledge that I have a responsibility to continually evaluate and review my choices of course materials, and have a duty to my students to share narratives that are only sometimes covered. It is important to spend time focusing on people of color, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals to celebrate those voices.

Students must encounter diversity within their class content as well as their artistic practice. I make it a point to have discussions on Black artists, including plays that are centered around BIPOC issues, and share works by Queer artists. Having lectures on topics that the students can see themselves in is imperative to an inclusive environment. As a new instructor, I intend to serve as a mentor for inspiring students from underrepresented groups.