Shaping DEIB at Quinlan
"It is important for us as a university to understand how we can do good for our wider communities," says Assistant Professor Arilova Randrianasolo.
Assistant Professor Arilova Randrianasolo is Quinlan’s first director of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). Fueled by his passion for equity and his research on inclusion, he is committed to fostering a greater sense of belonging at Quinlan in this new role.
Below, Randrianasolo describes his role, his research, and how he is prepared to make a positive difference in the Quinlan community.
What excites you about your DEIB role at Quinlan?
As the director of DEIB, I get to examine the processes and structures within Quinlan and look at how diverse we are, how equitable and inclusive those processes and structures are, and how we can better foster a sense of belonging for faculty, staff, students, and alumni.
I think it is highly important for Quinlan to have a dedicated person to understand where we are at, what we do well, what we don’t do so well, and how we can improve. Such dedication can help get everyone on the same page in terms of understanding and strategy.
What is your main goal for DIEB at Quinlan?
I am most excited to attempt to move the needle regarding a sense of belonging for all at Quinlan. We need to be diverse and have equitable and inclusive structures and processes but most of all we want to create a place where people feel like they belong. This is the challenge I am taking on and the one I am most excited about seeing some success in.
How does your research aid your role?
I have long studied cultural intelligence as well as inclusive intelligence, and I’m excited to apply these concepts to our mission at Quinlan. Cultural intelligence is the ability to effectively function across different cultures. We know that many of us come from and belong to many different cultures. Understanding cultural intelligence can greatly influence how we all can reach our goals together.
Inclusive intelligence is the ability to identify barriers to the presence, participation, and achievement of all, and to adopt behaviors that advance the removal of such barriers. I think anyone working in the DEIB space should have some understanding of both cultural and inclusive intelligence.
I’ll also add CSR, which encapsulates how organizations seek to advance social good within their communities. It is important for us as a university to understand how we can do good for our wider communities. This not only touches on the functions of DEIB but also the mission of the university as a Jesuit institution.
How do you integrate research findings into your teaching at Quinlan?
I’m not the kind of academic who may think that research is inherently separate from what I teach in the classroom, so in that regard, I feel like what I learn from the findings of my research is what I apply in the classroom. In this profession, creating knowledge through research is just upstream in the value chain of disseminating knowledge through teaching.
I don’t keep research findings only within the realm of my research papers; I use them to better enhance the classroom experience. This allows me also to stay current on important phenomena in our world and how we can learn from such phenomena in the classroom.
What drew you to Quinlan?
What drew me to Quinlan were two things. First, I thought the people at Quinlan (faculty, staff, students, leadership, etc.) were brilliant. Not just with their work, but they seemed very brilliant in that they fostered a great environment for knowledge.
Second, I am very much drawn to the Jesuit mission that Loyola practices. I love that social justice is one of the cornerstones of this mission. I went to school at a Jesuit institution, and I value working within this realm.
Describe Quinlan in 10 words or less.
Brilliant people and a great place for opportunities!