By Kamilah Heslop
On July 1, Latasia Priest became the second chair of the Taskforce for Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (T.I.D.E.) within University Advancement.
Since joining NC State in 2018, Priest has woven diversity, inclusion and equity into her responsibilities — both on and off campus. In addition to serving as the director of alumni engagement and strategic initiatives for the North Carolina Textile Foundation, which is the philanthropic arm of the Wilson College of Textiles, Priest is a member of the college’s diversity, inclusion and equity committee.
She has been a member of T.I.D.E’s executive committee since it was established in 2020 and was recently asked to serve an additional term on CASE’s District III Cabinet. Through this role with CASE, Priest will become a member of the organization’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee. In April, she was recognized for her commitment to creating opportunities for women and named the 2022 recipient of NC State’s Equity for Women Award.
Outside of work, Priest enjoys traveling the globe with her husband, Donnell. In the latest posts to her blog, Around the World in Reality, she details her trips to Colombia, South Africa, Panama, England and Amsterdam. To date, she has traveled to four continents, but she hopes to touch down on the remaining three by 2025.
When we spoke with her recently, Priest shared more about her goals for T.I.D.E., how she’s paying forward her love for traveling and tips for members of University Advancement who want to begin enhancing diversity today.
When did your passion for diversity, equity and inclusion start?
I think it’s always been in me, but my life experiences helped to shape and expand my view of it. I was a small-town girl, who lived in a town of 3,000 and went to a high school where we only had two people of color in our 100-person graduating class. When I went to college at the University of Tennessee, it was a bit of a culture shock that I was excited to embrace. While there, I had the opportunity to interact with people from different places and different backgrounds. Being able to connect with them and build friendships gave me a different worldview. Moving to Atlanta, I experienced diversity and inclusion in a way I hadn’t before. It was powerful. The university where I worked at the time, Emory University, also had a diverse student body and that energy was incredible. DEI has really become a part of my life and not necessarily something that I went out looking for.
How did you first hear about T.I.D.E.?
The first time I heard about T.I.D.E. was in Fall 2018. Two of my University Advancement colleagues, Karen Sims and Chris Price, had just gone to the CASE Minority Advancement Institute and returned with a wealth of knowledge. As a result, they were ready to mobilize a group of individuals who were interested in moving the needle on diversity, equity and inclusion within University Advancement, and I was invited to join that group. It took some time for us to formally become T.I.D.E. However, that’s how this exciting conversation started.
How has Karen Sims’ leadership as the first chair of T.I.D.E. served as a stepping stone for you?
Karen is a go-getter, and she’s selfless. I’ve really appreciated watching her and working alongside her. It’s been critical to have a leader who continues to push forward and always remembers the importance of the work that we’re doing. I really admire her enthusiasm, her character and her intentionality. I hope to continue to build on the foundation she has created within T.I.D.E. and keep her by my side along the way.
Can you tell us about your goals for T.I.D.E.?
My primary goal is rooted in the DEI maturity model that we were presented with during our most recent T.I.D.E. book club reading: “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Advancement.” As we look at where I perceive us to be currently, we have an organization that is aware of our opportunities and challenges as it relates to diversity, equity and inclusion.
My goal is to develop a plan that moves University Advancement from awareness to changed behavior. I recognize that, in my tenure, I may not be able to see that through completely because changing behavior takes time. However, I look forward to developing a plan that helps our team maintain focus and execute strategies and tactics that lead to change.
This would manifest in updates like evaluating policies and procedures to create a more equitable environment; creating that critical sense of belonging; and having opportunities for our colleagues to engage with one another on a regular basis. It looks like having representation in places that we may not currently have representation. And, if we don’t have representation, having colleagues and leaders who feel comfortable representing the voices that may not be present. DEI isn’t just a catchphrase, and it isn’t restricted to T.I.D.E. It’s an opportunity we all have to create a culture in which our colleagues and community feel seen, valued, heard and connected. T.I.D.E. is here to help lead the change, but we can’t do it alone.
What can University Advancement members do today to enhance diversity, inclusion and equity?
This may seem small, but I encourage you to connect with a colleague you don’t know, one who has a different background than you or one who doesn’t look like you.
I believe Dr. Rupert Nacoste’s five tips for social interaction truly help enhance those connections. In his previous presentation to UA, he reminded us to:
- Never try to interact with a person as a representative of a group.
- Go slow.
- Live with the anxiety.
- Agree to disagree.
- Have learning conversations.
By using his tips to build relationships, you may gain access to additional layers from the individual you’re getting to know. It’s a privilege, not a guarantee. You don’t always get automatic access to people’s lived experiences and their identities. When you build authentic relationships, though, you’ll be surprised by how quickly people may be willing to share more with you. I hope our Pack on the Go lunches can help in doing just that.
Additionally, I think the Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity’s resources landing page is very overlooked. I encourage you to visit it and find one thing to explore.
What’s an area within the DEI field that you want to learn more about?
I’m interested in learning more about accessibility. I was proud to represent NC State at the 2022 Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity Conference, hosted by the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce. It was wonderful to see our University Advancement team supporting such an important initiative. One panel I attended that day featured women who either had a disability or supported people who had disabilities, and it was powerful. I’m not as exposed to those who may have disabilities as I am to other underrepresented groups. As a result, that’s one area I would like to grow in and learn more about.
How do you spend your time outside of work?
I love to cook, and I’m an avid sports fan. Many of you know that my husband works in Athletics here at NC State. We are rooted in the Wolfpack, but my heart bleeds orange as a loyal University of Tennessee alumna.
I also love to travel, and I’ve been to 11 countries, five of those in the last six months. Traveling has opened my eyes to cultures beyond my own. When I went to Barcelona with the Wilson College of Textiles in 2019, it was my first intercontinental trip and was really an eye-opening experience because I didn’t travel or study abroad when I was younger. As a result, that sparked my interest in exploring the world and being more exposed to different cultures.
I’ve been fortunate and blessed to be able to create an endowment at my alma mater, the Latasia And Donnell Priest Study Abroad Endowment, which ties everything together with my love for travel and giving others experiences that I didn’t have in college. This is really important to me because that’s one way we can inspire young minds to go out into the world and make an incredible difference.
How can we reach you and stay in touch?
In my role as chair of T.I.D.E., I want to be accessible to all members of UA. If anyone wants to connect with me individually, please contact me to have lunch or just continue the conversation.
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