Seen, heard, and valued: DEI Director Tekita Bankhead leads with intent to include

Tekita Bankhead is the director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at Gies College of Business. She has extensive experience in DEI work and mental health advocacy, directing teams and developing programming at the University of Illinois and across the US.

She serves as an educational consultant in the private and nonprofit sectors and is also a registered nurse. She received the 2024 Egretha Award for Educational Equity and Impact in recognition of her work in educational equity at Gies Business.

We sat down with her to learn more about her career path and purpose.

Q: You've had a fascinating and expansive career journey thus far. How has that broad experience impacted your perspective on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)?

A: I didn't know necessarily that I would be in DEI when I started my career, but in every professional role, the work always seemed to find me. I knew that I loved working with college students even while I was pursuing my nursing degree. That was what prompted the shift from nursing to higher ed – and ultimately, the counseling-based side of higher education. I wanted to see people be better, feel better, and get what they need.

Because I started in a helping profession, I think I sit nicely at the helping piece of higher ed. My lens is very much focused on the intersection of well-being and DEI; that’s how I frame a lot of the DEI work that I do.

Q: Throughout those experiences, there seems to be a through-line of passion for education. Why are you passionate about education?

A: For as long as I can remember, I have always loved school. I was a self-proclaimed and very proud nerd. I was the student who made straight As every year. I come from a family of educators and my mother was a Head Start (preschool) teacher for over 30 years. In elementary school, she would come to every awards day ceremony and present me with a VTech laptop [an educational laptop for children]. I loved learning. I still love learning.

Even when I was in my nursing program, nursing education was what I naturally shined in, and those patient interactions were what I enjoyed the most. I also believe that coming from Mississippi – coming from a place where education has been both a tool to oppress and a tool to liberate – I have a very special relationship with education. I have a deep reverence for its power and feel very protective of it.

Q: What role do you believe educational institutions possess in making higher education more accessible to groups and communities that have not always been granted equal access?

A: I think the role of educational institutions is creating a space where multiple perspectives are entertained in a way that is not harmful. I believe there needs to be a genuine investment from educational institutions about how they create a place that learning will always be accessible and safe for all. And that means learning about all types of things – things you agree with and things you don't necessarily agree with – so we can challenge ideas and create new knowledge together.

I think that if educational institutions remain true to the commitment of generating new knowledge, then they will stay invested in making sure that everyone has a chance to do that, especially individuals who have historically not had that opportunity. 

Q: In your opinion, what are some of the toughest challenges organizations face in implementing DEI initiatives?

A: In general, I think there's misinformation about what DEI even is. There’s often this underlying belief that broadening access to groups who have historically been excluded means restricting access for others. But really, broadening inclusion for one group broadens inclusion for all. That lack of understanding can be a huge barrier for organizations and businesses alike.

Another challenge that is somewhat related to that misinformation is a level of fear or hesitation to meaningfully engage with the work. And while it’s admirable to not want to cause harm, it’s also not realistic to think that you won’t make any mistakes. Part of the beauty of learning is that some things are meant to fail so you can learn to do them differently. The core of DEI work is embracing humanity, and to be human is to be imperfect sometimes.

Q: You helped develop the College's DEI statement. How did you and your team approach that work?

A: If there's one word to describe how our team does anything, it’s “intentional.” We wanted to make sure that every single word of the statement signaled a place where anybody in Gies College of Business, or anyone who interacts with the College in any way, can see themselves in the DEI statement.

This statement felt like an anchor to how we'll continue to build out programs, services, and things that feel very signature to the office while also helping the College understand that we are meant to support everyone.

Q: What sorts of collaborations are you planning with others in the College?

A: Tons of things. To name a few:

This fall, we launched an LGBTQ+ student affinity group, Pride at Gies – we’re excited about that. Our learners are so talented, and we are excited about expanding the ways that we enhance their sense of belonging at Gies.

One of the many ongoing initiatives that we're working on is increasing DEI content in the business core curriculum. And we are also equipping our faculty and staff DEI liaisons with more tools and developmental trainings to help them increase their knowledge and skill building around DEI concepts at large – whether it’s how to support different types of student populations or how to utilize inclusive pedagogies and inclusive classroom techniques. I’m particularly excited about some of the DEI industry leaders we will be hosting this year and can’t wait to engage in powerful discussions about infusing innovation into our inclusion efforts from every angle.

We’re also collaborating with partners within Gies to develop programming to help underrepresented students be aware of all the resources that exist and how they can get plugged into spaces where they feel supported. We work really closely with the Access and Multicultural Engagement team, graduate programs, and academic departments to make sure that underrepresented students have somewhere where they can see themselves as seen, heard, and valued.

DEI is the responsibility of everyone at Gies, and we are committed to embedding those equity-minded principles into the very fabric of our College.

This interview has been edited for length.

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The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is located on the second floor of the Business Instructional Facility (2019 BIF) and will move to Wymer Hall in 2025. If you have questions for the DEI team, you can reach out to inclusion@business.illinois.edu.