DEI Committee Chair | Georgia Tech

Overview

I led the operational audit of the ISyE department’s hiring procedures, standardizing recruitment workflows and advising department leadership on strategic DEI goals for the FY25 planning cycle.

During the 2023-2024 academic year, I served as Chair for the DEI Committee, shifting the focus from general advocacy to process improvement. My mandate was to identify systemic gaps in how the department attracted and retained talent. I was responsible for auditing existing hiring procedures and bridging the communication gap between student needs and executive leadership. My goal was to operationalize diversity efforts, ensuring that hiring protocols were standardized, transparent, and aligned with the department's long-term strategic vision.

Learning and Growth

This role was a masterclass in Qualitative Research and Process Engineering. The first phase involved conducting structured interviews with high-level faculty, including Deans and Chairs, to map out the existing recruitment lifecycle. I learned how to navigate complex organizational hierarchies and gather requirements from senior stakeholders who often had conflicting priorities. I identified that "hiring challenges" were often rooted in inconsistent data collection and non-standardized evaluation metrics.

A large portion of my time was spent auditing and standardizing these workflows. I reviewed historical hiring documentation to pinpoint bottlenecks and bias points. I synthesized these findings into a strategic presentation on "DEI Hiring Challenges," which I delivered to the faculty board for FY25 Planning. This wasn't just a critique; it was a roadmap. I also led the execution of department-wide events to foster community, managing the logistics and budget to ensure these initiatives supported our broader operational goals.

Takeaway

I learned that systemic change is a logistics challenge, not just a cultural one.

Leading this audit taught me that "process" is the most powerful tool for equity. By standardizing how we hired and how we planned for the next fiscal year, I saw firsthand how Industrial Engineering principles—like standardization and quality control—apply to human capital. I gained confidence in auditing complex systems and presenting critical strategic feedback to executive leadership.