CWU professor presented with national award for diversity leadership

Central Washington University's Kuolt Distinguished Professor of Business Andy Parks received one of the most prestigious honors in U.S. higher education Saturday when he was presented with the 2023 Reginald Wilson Diversity Leadership Award from the American Council on Education (ACE) at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

The award, named in honor of the senior scholar emeritus at ACE and founding director of the Office of Minority Concerns, is presented annually to an individual who has made outstanding contributions and demonstrated sustained commitment to diversity in higher education. ACE is a membership organization that mobilizes the higher education community to shape effective public policy and foster innovative, high-quality practice.

"Throughout his career, Anderson Parks has shown a deep commitment for advancing equity and inclusion," ACE President Ted Mitchell said. "Fusing his vast professional experiences and passion for emotional intelligence, Anderson has led countless efforts to support his students and build a more inclusive campus. I'm glad he's being recognized for his work."

Parks is one of only a few non-PhDs to have received the award, and he couldn't be more proud of everything he and his CWU colleagues have accomplished in the DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusivity, and belonging) space over the past few years."Looking at the past recipients of this award, I am shocked to be included in such elite company," said Parks, who was joined at the ACE ceremony by CWU President Jim Wohlpart and College of Business Dean Jeff Stinson. "It is such a tremendous honor to be recognized for the DEIB work I have been involved in at CWU. This award is truly one of the highlights of my career."

Parks was nominated, in part, for his work with the Washington Employers for Racial Equity (WERE) higher education coalition. The initiative was launched in 2021 and includes representatives from the University of Washington, Washington State University, Seattle University, and CWU.

With participation from 80 of the state's largest employers-including Microsoft, Starbucks, Boeing, Costco, T-Mobile, and Delta Dental-WERE is partnering with the higher education coalition members to help create more equitable, inclusive work environments for people of color statewide. Parks has played a key role in advancing the coalition's goals over the past two years.

"The leadership training initiative we started is the first of its kind in the entire country," Parks said of the 12-week program that concluded in late March. "Having these large employers on board gives us a lot of momentum and confidence in the curriculum we have developed."

Parks also was recognized by ACE for his unique approach to antiracism work, using mindfulness and emotional intelligence (EQ) as a vehicle to help people change long-held behaviors and mindsets.

"My approach is more introspective and self-reflective because this kind of work is so emotional," he said. "It's very difficult work, and I believe it needs to be grounded in mindfulness."

Parks began teaching at CWU in 2017 after more than 30 years of leadership in the consumer package goods industry, including about two decades overseeing global management efforts with The Coca-Cola Company.

He is the co-founder and instructor of "Emotional Intelligence for Professionals," a course offered to CWU students and supervisors and emerging business leaders, and he is a strong believer in the role that EQ, mindfulness, and organizational awareness play in personal, leadership, and career success.

Parks also has led efforts to create a more inclusive campus through a variety of workshops and trainings. Following the nationwide racial justice protests in 2020, he was instrumental in creating and leading diversity trainings for faculty and staff. Building on this work, he has helped develop a university-wide anti-racism training that will be made available to all faculty and staff.

In addition, Parks offers free quarterly workshops targeted for Black and Indigenous people that focus on a key EQ competency to build leadership capacity. He frequently conducts workshops with corporate employee resource groups, such as Boeing's Black Employee Association, Blacks at Microsoft, Africans at Microsoft, and Amazon's Black Employee Network.

Parks has served as the keynote speaker at several events, including the Kappa Alpha Psi Western Provence C. Roger Wilson Leadership Conference and the Washington State Student Senate Engagement Network. In 2022, he was a panel guest on a Harvard Business Review IdeaCast episode, where he discussed EQ and its importance in DEI work.

"The Reginald Wilson Diversity Leadership Award and the Harvard Business Review podcast are the two highlights of my career so far," Parks said. "It means so much to know that your colleagues think so highly of you. I am truly humbled."