This week, Miami University’s online Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion course earned bronze from the Telly Awards, the world's largest honor for video and television content across all screens, in the Online Series - Education and Discovery category. 

The self-paced, online course seeks to empower individuals to lead and support diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces and communities by providing fresh insights and best practices from experts. The breadth and depth of the modules, which range from microaggressions to anti-racism to ableism and to ageism, reflect Miami’s holistic and intersectional approach to diversity.  

"Winning a Telly award is truly an honor," Miami University President Gregory Crawford said. "However, being recognized for our DEI efforts and the innovation and collaboration it took to develop this series is particularly humbling and an extraordinary achievement. Inclusive excellence is infused throughout Miami University. This award enables us to make a broader impact and create more awareness of DEI's importance on a national and global level.”

Through 10 in-depth, 45-minute modules, course participants learn from distinguished Miami faculty and staff experts as they tackle essential topics such as: bias, stereotypes, and microaggressions; race and anti-racism; LGBTQ+ identities; ableism and inclusion; cultural intelligence; strategies for workplace inclusiveness; intercultural communication in a globalized world; healthcare inequities and inclusion; age and ageism bias; and allyship and advocacy.

“Rather than providing a one-size fits all approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion, we designed these modules with those in leadership roles in mind,” said Cristina Alcalde, vice president of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion. “We sought to help empower those in leadership roles to actively build workplaces and communities that are intentionally inclusive. Our approach has been to make sure the modules not only provide participants with an understanding of specific topics but that they, perhaps even more importantly, equip participants with tools to model specific practices and strategies connected to each topic.” 

Spearheaded by the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, the microcredential course features instruction from faculty and staff across Miami — Cristina Alcalde, Rodney Coates, Gillian Oakenfull, Denise Taliaferro Basszile, Carol Olausen, Darryl Rice, Madelyn Detloff, Ashley Johnson, Melissa Thomasson, Kate de Medeiros, and Suzanne Kunkel. 

The course is a collaboration between the Office of the President, Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, and Miami Online.

“Miami Online and Professional Education welcomed the opportunity to participate in this project with open arms, and I’m thrilled that the media team’s incredible work has been honored with a Telly Award in a field that includes global media brands,” said Greg Brainard, senior director of Miami Online.

The award-winning video content was filmed and edited by Miami Online - Oxford’s team of media professionals, including producer Rachel Valerio, editor Joshua Smith, and videographer Philip McDaniel. The course was developed by Elizabeth Farrar, associate director of online learning, and Katherine Marusic, professional education learning designer.

“We are so fortunate to have the faculty and staff expertise and the Miami Online team,” Alcalde said. “This series represents one way we can, as an institution, put our knowledge to action and collectively contribute to building more inclusive spaces — whether in higher ed, the corporate world, in healthcare, or another space.”

The DEI course launched its free pilot this spring to 865 alumni, faculty, staff, and graduate students. Registration for this microcredential will open to a wider audience of learners later this year. Those interested in participating can fill out this interest form to be notified when enrollment opens. 

Lecturers and content creators include: 

• Gregory Crawford, president of Miami University
• Cristina Alcalde, vice president for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion
• Gregory Brainard, senior director of Miami Online
• Rodney Coates, professor of Global and Intercultural Studies
• Gillian Oakenfull, professor of Marketing and director of the Center for KickGlass Change
• Denise Taliaferro Baszile, professor of Educational Leadership and and associate dean for Student Services and Diversity
• Carol Olausen, director of the American Culture and English Program
• Darryl Rice, assistant professor of Management
• Madelyn Detloff, chair and Professor of English and professor of Global and Intercultural Studies
• Ashley Johnson, senior clinical lecturer of Educational Psychology and Inclusive Special Education program coordinator
• Melissa Thomasson, professor of Economics and associate dean of the Farmer School of Business
• Kate de Medeiros, professor of Sociology and Gerontology
• Suzanne Kunkel, executive director of Scripps Gerontology Center and University Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Gerontology 
• Kristine “Krissy” Smith, Miami Online Professional Education program manager
• Elizabeth Farrar, associate director of Online Learning
• Katherine Marusic, Miami Online Professional Education learning designer 
• Rachel Valerio, producer and Miami Online video production specialist 
• Ben Kitchen, Miami Online learning and communications operations manager
• Joshua Smith, editor and Miami Online post-production specialist
• Philip McDaniel, Miami Online videographer and media production associate