{"id":30604,"date":"2022-09-08T17:39:19","date_gmt":"2022-09-08T21:39:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/?p=30604"},"modified":"2023-07-31T09:21:14","modified_gmt":"2023-07-31T13:21:14","slug":"latasia-priest-will-continue-championing-diversity-as-the-next-chair-of-t-i-d-e","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2022\/09\/latasia-priest-will-continue-championing-diversity-as-the-next-chair-of-t-i-d-e\/","title":{"rendered":"Latasia Priest Will Continue Championing Diversity as the Next Chair of T.I.D.E."},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n

By Kamilah Heslop<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On July 1, Latasia Priest became the second chair of the Taskforce for Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (T.I.D.E.) within University Advancement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since joining NC State in 2018, Priest has woven diversity, inclusion and equity into her responsibilities \u2014 both on and off campus. In addition to serving as the director of alumni engagement and strategic initiatives for the North Carolina Textile Foundation<\/a>, which is the philanthropic arm of the Wilson College of Textiles, Priest is a member of the college\u2019s diversity, inclusion and equity committee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She has been a member of T.I.D.E\u2019s executive committee since it was established in 2020 and was recently asked to serve an additional term on CASE\u2019s District III Cabinet<\/a>. Through this role with CASE, Priest will become a member of the organization\u2019s 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\u2019s Equity for Women Award<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outside of work, Priest enjoys traveling the globe with her husband, Donnell. In the latest posts to her blog, Around the World in Reality<\/a>, 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we spoke with her recently, Priest shared more about her goals for T.I.D.E., how she\u2019s paying forward her love for traveling and tips for members of University Advancement who want to begin enhancing diversity today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When did your passion for diversity, equity and inclusion start?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I think it\u2019s 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\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did you first hear about T.I.D.E.?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The first time I heard about T.I.D.E. was in Fall 2018. Two of my University Advancement colleagues, Karen Sims<\/a> and Chris Price, had just gone to the CASE Minority Advancement Institute<\/a> 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\u2019s how this exciting conversation started. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How has Karen Sims\u2019 leadership as the first chair of T.I.D.E. served as a stepping stone for you?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Karen is a go-getter, and she\u2019s selfless. I\u2019ve really appreciated watching her and working alongside her. It\u2019s been critical to have a leader who continues to push forward and always remembers the importance of the work that we\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Latasia
Latasia Priest (second from left) was joined by Stephanie Cogdell \u201992, Sterling Frierson, Erica Fuller and Jessie Blekfeld-Sztraky at the 2022 Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity Conference.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Can you tell us about your goals for T.I.D.E.?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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: \u201cDiversity, Equity and Inclusion in Advancement<\/a>.\u201d 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019t have representation, having colleagues and leaders who feel comfortable representing the voices that may not be present. DEI isn\u2019t just a catchphrase, and it isn\u2019t restricted to T.I.D.E. It\u2019s 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\u2019t do it alone.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What can University Advancement members do today to enhance diversity, inclusion and equity?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This may seem small, but I encourage you to connect with a colleague you don\u2019t know, one who has a different background than you or one who doesn\u2019t look like you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I believe Dr. Rupert Nacoste\u2019s five tips for social interaction truly help enhance those connections. In his previous presentation to UA, he reminded us to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n