J. Goosby Smith, vice president for Community Belonging and chief diversity officer, said she recognizes this imperative to learn to navigate cross-cultural interactions with humility. She led the fourth DUNAMIS seminar in the Fireside Room on Feb. 22, and there were about 20 attendees.
“DUNAMIS” stands as an acronym for “Developing Cross-Cultural Adaptability and Cultural Humility,” encapsulating the core mission of the seminar series, according to the Community Belonging website.
These modules and seminars are part of a seven-part series that began in fall 2023, according to the Community Belonging website.
The seminar aimed to equip the attendees with the tools and insights necessary to foster cultural competency within themselves and their organizations.
The seminar kicked off with an atmosphere of anticipation as attendees gathered in the Fireside Room. Goosby Smith set the tone for the session by emphasizing the importance of humility in cultural interactions.
“One challenge is not addressing cultural humility,” Goosby Smith said. ” [If] the cultural humility isn’t there, that deters cultural competency efforts.”
DUNAMIS represents a comprehensive approach to fostering cultural competence and humility among individuals and organizations. Through engaging lectures, interactive workshops and practical strategies, DUNAMIS aims to equip attendees with the knowledge, skills and mindset necessary to navigate diverse cultural landscapes with sensitivity and respect, according to the website.
Throughout the session, Goosby Smith drew from her wealth of experience to highlight common challenges faced by individuals and organizations striving to become more culturally competent. One such challenge she identified was the tendency to approach cultural differences superficially without addressing underlying biases.
Goosby Smith said she cautioned against the pitfalls of tokenistic gestures.
“They [people] come in with all these behaviors and knowledge areas to know, but if the cultural humility isn’t there, it’s just performative,” Goosby Smith said.
Moreover, the seminar underscored the importance of aligning cultural competency efforts with organizational objectives.
“When you don’t connect it [cultural competence] to the bottom line of the organization, you can’t lead people you don’t understand,” Goosby Smith said.
This strategic approach resonated with attendees, who recognized the potential of cultural competence to drive meaningful change within their respective spheres. Many of the attendees were from Pepperdine’s HR department and shared this sentiment during small break-out discussion groups.
The seminar’s interactive format facilitated lively discussions and self-reflection among participants. Goosby Smith encouraged attendees to question their assumptions and norms, urging them to recognize the socially-constructed nature of cultural norms.
She gave numerous examples of students in college and claimed this is the best place to cultivate a cultural humility mindset.
“Do you really want to pay all this money to come out [of college] no more educated than you entered?” Goosby Smith said.
In addition to exploring theoretical concepts, the seminar provided practical strategies for promoting cultural competence in everyday interactions. Goosby Smith shared anecdotes and examples to illustrate the importance of cultural humility, drawing from her own experiences as a global citizen.
As the seminar progressed, she offered a glimpse into the upcoming modules in the lecture series, each designed to address specific aspects of cultural competency. They consist of removing barriers to inclusion to becoming an upstander. Goosby Smith said these modules can equip attendees with actionable insights for fostering diversity and inclusivity within their communities.
Reflecting on the effectiveness of the seminar, Goosby Smith said she recounted instances where participants utilized concepts learned during the sessions, affirming the impact of the seminar on their cultural awareness.
“People come back to a workshop and say ‘I picked up something else,’” Goosby Smith said.
Looking ahead, Goosby Smith said she is committed to providing workshops in various locations, including virtual sessions, to reach a wider audience. She said it is important to continue efforts in promoting cultural competence and humility.
Goosby Smith said she envisions a future in which individuals and organizations embrace diversity as a source of strength rather than division.
She said these modules will hopefully reach and connect to students next year in an optional format.
The “DUNAMIS” seminar series gave the attendees knowledge and skills needed to navigate today’s multicultural landscape through insightful discussions, practical examples and interactive activities. Upcoming seminars can be found on the website.
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Contact Victoria La Ferla via email: victoria.laferla@pepperdine.edu or by instagram @vlf_insider
