A Message from the Dean: Community of Support

Dear Poole Community,

Yesterday we learned of the verdict of the trial related to George Floyd’s murder. This trial has been challenging for many of us to listen and watch and has brought out many difficult feelings including anger, pain, and exhaustion. These feelings will take time to process and address, please take time to deal with your feelings and have compassion and understanding for those you work with. What is clear to me is that we have much more work in front of us. 

As mentioned in the Chancellor’s statement yesterday, as a campus we will continue to provide our faculty, staff, and students opportunities to guide conversations that will be difficult but necessary. Resources highlighted in the Chancellor’s statement include:

• NC State Counseling Center for students
• Faculty and Staff Assistance Program for faculty and staff
• Virtual drop-in spaces hosted by NC State Prevention Services

Watch for additional opportunities forthcoming from our partner offices in Multicultural Student Affairs, Women’s Center, GLBT Center and African American Cultural Center.

In the past year at Poole, we have been working toward creating a culture that is not only inclusive but also compassionate. We must continue to work together as a community to listen, learn, and grow from each other. 

The verdict does not bring back George Floyd to his friends, family or our world. I hope that this verdict will help to eliminate terrible deaths like this in the future and one day our colleagues of color can feel as safe and valued as I do in this world. We all must commit to learning and growing to bring to light our own lack of understanding on how inequalities are perpetuated so that they finally are eliminated. As a college we will continue to stay committed to building and nurturing our diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment.

Best,

Frank Buckless
Stephen P. Zelnak Jr. Dean

This post was originally published in Poole College of Management News.