Diversity runs deep through Campus Services. Our employees provide an incredible variety of different services, they work all hours of the day and in every corner of the campus, some are office based while the vast majority are on the frontline, and we’re the most culturally diverse workforce at the University. Ensuring that everyone in our organization feels connected, understands our shared mission, and has the resources to do their best work is not an easy task. Campus Services recently hired Ranya Brooks as the Director for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EDIB). Ranya brings a wealth of experience to this role and she will partner with our business units to help build upon the work that’s already being done, organize new strategies, and implement best practices. During a recent conversation, we got to know Ranya and better understand some of the things she’ll be focusing on.
Tell us a little about yourself. Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Manassas, Virginia, near Bull Run River, which is an area probably best known for its association with the U.S. Civil War. I have six incredible siblings of whom I’m so proud. I am also a proud “dog mom” to my toy poodle McNugget. I moved to Cambridge in 2017 to attend the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) where I earned a master’s degree in international education policy.
What influences, if any, helped guide you towards the work you’re doing today?
When I reflect on what brought me to this work, I immediately think of my parents. My dad was the son of sharecroppers who moved North from Virginia during the Great Migration to pursue the possibility of a safer and better life. He shared stories about finding himself one of few, if any, Black folks in his educational and professional contexts. My Arab mother was displaced twice in her lifetime due to armed conflict and eventually found her way to the U.S. She recognized that to make it here, she had to learn not just English, but also Spanish as she eventually found herself in California. They were both aware of what they needed to do, or who they needed to be, to survive, let alone thrive. So when I think about EDIB, I’m thinking about how we can learn to reimagine ourselves and others as equally deserving of opportunity regardless of our backgrounds and histories. And further, how can we learn to value and celebrate these backgrounds and histories as assets to our teams and communities.
As you mentioned, you’re a Graduate School of Education alum. How did that experience influence your desire to work here?
I’ve felt connected to the Harvard community since I stepped foot on campus in 2017. This is a place where I’ve grown immensely as a person and a professional. I wanted to come back to do this work at Harvard because this was the institution that gave me the tools to analyze policies and practices through an equity and inclusion lens. The international education policy program in particular equipped me with frameworks to assess and design strategies that account for the diversity of our lived experiences and the unique needs of individuals. As a teaching fellow at HGSE, I had the wonderful opportunity to work with so many incredible future thought leaders, dedicated to making the world a more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and just place. I’m grateful to be back and again surrounded by this incredible community and I’m particularly excited to be part of Campus Services.
What are some of the things you’re focused on right now?
Right now, I’m focused on listening and learning. Before we can build strategies that will strengthen the Campus Services community, it’s important that I understand it and frankly become part of it. My main short-term goal is to learn as much as I can about the functions of each business unit. It’s a pretty complex organization so I’ll be out meeting lots of people and asking lots of questions to really understand the lived realities of employees across Campus Services.
How has your previous experience prepared you for this role?
My work at Boston Plan for Excellence allowed me to think tactically about implementing strategies aligned with EDIB goals in a complex professional and educational environment. It also showed me that the best and most sustainable strategies are those designed and implemented in partnership with others. Given the complexity of Campus Services, I am seeing ways in which my prior experience cultivating partnerships will be an asset to our strategic planning.
I’ve also had the opportunity to work with clients across different sectors – from higher education to manufacturing/operations, financial services and more. I learned a lot about the unique needs of businesses, and their employees, and also developed frameworks that can be applied on a consistent basis. In the short time I have been with Campus Services, it’s become clear this will help us create cohesive strategies across different departments while still accounting for the unique aspects of each business unit.
Big picture, what does EDIB mean to you?
I like to say, “all work is people work.” So when I think about EDIB, I’m thinking about how to make a workplace where people are equipped and empowered to do their best work. This requires us to understand the diversity of our community in terms of social identities, backgrounds, experiences, functions, etc.; recognize that differences within our community might necessitate unique support systems and structures; and ultimately create a culture where people feel they belong. No matter how we define EDIB for ourselves, we should operate in a manner that is highly consistent with the University’s values and vision for Inclusive Excellence.
Any closing thoughts?
I would really like to acknowledge and thank the current EDIB committee members across Campus Services for their efforts over the past few years. Each person has modelled a commitment to advancing EDIB in the workplace and invested time and energy into amplifying this work within their units and across the department. I look forward to partnering with these and other members of the Campus Services community to build off the momentum they have already generated.
Photo: Ranya Brooks (front row center) and members of the Campus Services Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee