The NCA Health Communication Division recognizes the inherent value of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity (DE&I) Committee was created as an ad hoc unit following deliberations at the unit’s 2019 NCA business meeting. This committee collaborates with the NCA Health Communication Division’s Executive Committee officers to ensure the division cultivates an organization in which all members are valued, respected, enabled, and supported to achieve their professional goals in teaching, research, and service. The committee works towards:
- Increasing attention to and acceptance of all the ways that people differ, with particular attention to those groups who experience disenfranchisement on the basis of historical and structural inequities, including but not limited to the categories of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, ability, nationality, geographic location, religion, socioeconomic status, veteran status, relationship status, institution status, and their intersections.
- Formulating and implementing strategies that continually enhance inclusivity in our division and discipline, in order to promote equity and bring a variety of voices with different backgrounds, perspectives, and ways of knowing to discussions and programming.
- Challenging exclusionary practices in the Association, division, and in our research, teaching, and service and working to eliminate barriers to equitable services, spaces, resources, scholarship, and publication.