Teaching Diversity Relationally

This book offers process-oriented guidance for negotiating the psychological and relational challenges inherent in teaching about race, privilege, and oppression. Grounded in the philosophy of Transformative Education, it presents concrete strategies for effectively teaching diversity and social justice courses.

By centering emotional and relational dynamics in the classroom from a social justice perspective, Kim, Donovan, and Suyemoto engage the reader in a conversation about teaching diversity and transformational learning. More specifically, the authors personally invite those who have been hesitant to participate in this work, as well as those who have been doing this work for years, to join the conversation. The ongoing dialogue between the authors and their readers makes these discussions especially approachable, interactive, and humanizing. All faculty who read this book are certain to find new ways of thinking about their teaching and learning, their students, and themselves.

Tara L. Parker, Chair, Leadership in Education and Professor, Higher Education, University of Massachusetts Boston

An excellent thought-provoking publication that challenges educators to transform themselves to transform their pedagogy! This work is timely and essential given the shift in the sociopolitical climate, as state legislators approve bills that prohibit the study of critical race theory in education settings. With a social justice lens, this book inspires pedagogical strategies to be informed by relational, developmental, and emotion-focus processes and are critical in education reform.

Tiffany R. Williams, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Tennessee State University

Teaching Diversity Relationally intersects the fields of clinical psychology and critical studies to advance an anti-racist education with a focus on social justice and grounded in the pedagogy of being human, in relationship and vulnerable. The text is an invitation to a collegial conversation of care and connection framed around the developmental arc of the academic semester and the educator learning "how" to do this work well and with heart. It is a text that partners with the reader, educators and leaders, to lean into their vulnerability toward their liberation in justice-centered teaching and learning practices to cultivate a parallel liberatory process for our students and ultimately our society.

Wendi S. Williams, Dean, School of Education, Mills College

Grace S. Kim is Clinical Associate Professor in the department of Counseling Psychology & Applied Human Development at Boston University.

Roxanne A. Donovan is a licensed psychologist and Professor of Psychological Sciences jointly appointed in Interdisciplinary Studies at Kennesaw State University.

Karen L. Suyemoto is Professor of Psychology with affiliations in Asian American Studies and Critical Ethnic and Community Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston.