What is your current role at Yale University?
I am a Diversity Program Coordinator for Human Resources in the Office of Diversity & Inclusion. For me, it’s about providing diverse student and employee communities with highly valued professional and personal educational/life-changing programming opportunities. I love to use public relations skills to connect our communities through storytelling and community outreach initiatives such as: networking, curriculum development, and leading DEIBA initiatives campus-wide utilizing intersectionality cross points through professional and personal development.
What are your main responsibilities?
My major responsibilities are split into two major aspects of the D&I work. I serve as the operational and direct liaison for Yale’s nine affinity groups, also known as employee resource groups. I am also a D&I practitioner for our internal and external communities.
What do you like most about your work?
Our office produces over 300+ annual events around four key pillars of career, culture, community, and excellence. For me, I like to add innovation and be a createpreneur for new ways of looking at D&I. To answer this question, I’d say it would be freedom and professional oversight of curriculum development and operational oversight of many projects, and being a project manager to think, implement, and execute ideas to aid in the brand recognition of Yale University’s Office of Diversity & Inclusion.
How does your job affect your general lifestyle?
Before coming to Yale, the idea of worklife balance meant little to me. I was always under the impression that I need to “work hard to earn my keep” and or “be grateful for opportunities that I’ve been awarded.” Here at the university, I came in with extreme imposter syndrome and trying to understand who I am now that I am here at Yale. When I came to Yale, I was able to not only be myself, but was highly encouraged to do so. Coming to work as my whole authentic self is a rare find and having supportive and encouraging managers, I couldn’t have asked for something greater. I’ve had a history of working with and under so many amazing people, so to answer the question, my job affects every aspect of my everyday lifestyle. Working in D&I doesn’t end when you clock out, it’s all about who you are and interacting with people. I love being able to create brave and supportive spaces for those that may or may not be able to do so and learning.
How did you begin your career?
Working in the D&I field started when I was a pre-teen going into my teenage years. My father, Earl McCoy, Sr., would bring me to Toastmasters classes and D&I conversations in telecommunications in New Haven, CT. Seeing the way he spoke and brought about change, as well as my mother and father having a very active non-profit business called Making A Difference Foundation, molded me into the person I am today. Furthermore, my senior year in college, I was planning to go to law school, and I believe I took the LSAT twice. Before I started applying to school, Uncle Waite told me “You should get your MBA in Human Resources instead bow tie.” I listened to him and have been in the transferable Human Resources education field since 2019.
What steps would you recommend one take to prepare to enter this field?
In human resources, study hard and get an internship that would allow a rotational program for your foot in the door. HR has a way of only allowing those in HR to enter HR. For D&I, turn on the television, read articles online, look at yourself in the mirror, and then ask if you genuinely have/want to move in this field. It’s an enriching and unforgiving field at times and could be lonely and separate you from many people. If you don’t have the resilience and ability to stand on your own two feet, this may not be the field for you. Most importantly, the most precious thing we have in life is our time. Choose wisely where and who to spend it on.
What skills, abilities, and personal attributes are essential to success in your job/this field?
Charisma, emotional intelligence, being an individual, brave, clever, intelligent, written and oral communication, non-verbal communication, interpersonal skills, data tracking (KPIs), jargon, lifetime learner, comfortable being uncomfortable, and a strong back.
If you could do it all over again, would you choose the same path for yourself? If not, what would you change?
I might have chosen psychology and become a therapist. I do a lot of consulting and coaching now, and I see the field moving in that direction post-pandemic. Also, I would love to be and cultivate a mentor or enrichment space for those navigating the world. And through psychology, I believe helping those past their invisible barriers would be the most ideal.
What does YAAA mean to you and how have you contributed as a member?
Being a member of YAAA is a way of being connected to the people. As a Black-American, my history and lineage are something hard to find and point to. Finding community is also as hard due to the scarcity and post-slavery mindset still plaguing our society as a Black-Brown Community. Since joining Yale and being a part of YAAA, it truly feels as though I can just truly relax and relate to likeminded Indvidual’s through shared experiences and understanding.