Alexia Clark, OD, was a student at Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry (NSUCO) during the height of civil turmoil such as the Black Lives Matter protests after George Floyd’s death. During this time, there was no organized diversity, equity and inclusion director. The National Optometric Association (NOA) and a few faculty members managed most of the consolation. Therefore, NSUCO realized the need and created the director position in 2022.
In December 2023, Dr. Clark returned to her alma mater as an assistant professor with an emphasis in pediatrics, vision therapy, and vision rehabilitation and as the Director of Belonging, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, known as BEDI. With her return, she brings a unique perspective and dedication to her role.
THE DEI CONVERSATION
“Being a student when DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) wasn’t necessarily a conversation and there was no one point person, I feel blessed to have the opportunity to come back and contribute to this significant change,” says Dr. Clark. Despite the legislative challenges in Florida, NSU, a private, not-for-profit institution, has provided her with strong support. In 2023, Florida became one of the first states to eliminate DEI-related positions in publicly funded universities and colleges. NSU, however, has kept the gauntlet alive and continues to be a trailblazer in DEI. “The president, dean, and faculty here are all behind me and my role. NSU even expanded the BEDI Council to the whole campus” she says.
Throughout the year, Dr. Clark and the BEDI Council organize events such as the Diversity Summit. “Last year’s summit was a day-long event. This year, it spanned a week with activities, conversations, walks and plays. I promote and organize these events, ensuring everyone is informed through our BEDI website, board and emails,” she says.
B FOR BELONGING
“I hope to make all students feel comfortable, aware that they’re not alone, and reassure them that they’re in a supportive environment,” she says. Dr. Clark aims to create an atmosphere where students from diverse backgrounds feel a sense of belonging from the moment they arrive.
Dr. Clark notes that NSUCO’s student body has become more diverse, as a result of partnerships with historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic-rich colleges. “Many students might not have considered optometry, so we focus on bringing minority students into the fold,” she explains.
Dr. Clark also acknowledges the importance of belonging, a crucial yet challenging aspect of DEI, which is why NSU has chosen to include B for Belonging into the BEDI program. “There are people who will always feel like they don’t belong. However, by opening lines of communication and fostering an open-door policy, we can create a welcoming environment for all students, faculty, and staff,” she says.
The BEDI Council also collaborates with other departments, such as the NSU Medical School, for community outreach. “We did a Pride vision screening and another through a church, demonstrating our support for each other and the community,” she says.
UNDERSTANDING DIVERSITY
Dr. Clark’s commitment to DEI is evident in her efforts to ensure that faculty development includes training on new policies, such as gender-neutral bathrooms. One of her main short-term goals includes enhancing clinical training to prepare students to work with a variety of patients. Some students come from areas without diverse populations. Thus, moving to South Florida where 156 nationalities are represented and about 51% of residents are foreign-born, along with over 100 languages being spoken, can be a daunting task. Therefore, she wants to increase cultural competency to create future optometrists who are compassionate, culturally, racially, and gender inclusive. She knows patients may not be able to find a provider of the same background, but patients acknowledge providers who make them feel comfortable, heard and welcomed. Cultural competency is not linear, and she wants to give students the tools to be able to adapt in patient care.
In this new role, she says that she’s delighted to return to “work at a great institution that supports my position and allows us to make these impactful changes.” Lastly, she emphasizes the importance of DEI in fostering an inclusive environment. “DEI is often misunderstood but uplifting those at the bottom benefits everyone. Disseminating this message is challenging, but necessary,” she says.
Read other stories with diversity, equity and inclusion champions:
-Listen to this podcast with Dr. Ruth Shoge.
