ETSU history professor Daryl Carter accepted a position as the new associate dean for equity and inclusion for the ETSU College of Arts and Sciences.

Daryl Carter, ETSU’s new associate dean for equity and inclusion. (Photograph by Nyah Bass/East Tennessean)

Carter is a two-time alum of ETSU, receiving both his bachelor’s degree in political science and master’s degree in history from the university. He received his doctorate in history from the University of Memphis.

Carter is both a political and African-American historian, and his work evaluates how race, class and gender impact American political history.

“I’ve been involved in equity and inclusion work for a long time,” said Carter. “I want everybody- administrator, faculty, staff, student, stakeholders, alumni, and others- to feel welcome, to have a sense of belonging in the College of Arts and Sciences. No matter who they are, they are going be respected as a human being that deserves to be treated as such.”

Carter plans to look at several factors affecting equity and inclusion.

These factors include how to assess equity and inclusion efforts, what qualifies for equity and inclusion, are they doing all they can for both students and faculty when it comes to recruitment and retention, are they providing the resources necessary for success and to gain a sense of belonging and more.

They are looking at providing workshops for new faculty members and partnering with individuals and groups in the community.

With equity and inclusion, a hot topic discussion across the nation, Carter looks forward to building a strong foundation for change.

“Anybody can burn down a barn,” said Carter. “We’re trying to build that barn. We’re trying to build an atmosphere where everybody feels included, everybody has a voice, everybody is respected and everybody has a sense of belonging.”

Carter wants students to know that his door is always open, and they should feel free to contact him via email and schedule in-person meetings.