Inclusive Excellence Academy

What is the Inclusive Excellence Academy?

Cornell University's Inclusive Excellence Academy offers programs designed to advance an inclusive educational environment and workplace. The IEA features customized seminars designed for participants at all stages of their understanding of diversity, inclusion, and belonging. Specific seminars, prioritized based on the university's needs, are offered each semester. Our programs incorporate personal narratives from experienced speakers that encourages participants to engage in dialogue, self-reflection, and the development of action-oriented skills that foster a culture of belonging. 

Upcoming Learning Sessions

New Resource: An Inclusive Approach to Leadership – A Toolkit for People Leaders

Research cited by the Harvard Business Review shows that “what leaders say and do makes up to a 70% difference in whether an individual reports feeling included.” Transforming leadership practices can create more inclusive experiences for staff, boosting retention and organizational performance.

Designed for any Cornell employee in leadership roles—permanent or temporary—this toolkit helps reimagine how we apply the Cornell Leadership Skills for Success in a diverse workforce. Instead of treating “inclusion” as a separate skill, it offers practical examples, strategies, and resources to apply an inclusive approach to demonstrating each leadership skill.

The toolkit covers:

• Why inclusive leadership matters
• Traits and behaviors of inclusive leaders
• How to embed inclusivity into each leadership skill
• Reflection questions for leaders and teams to foster a culture of inclusion and equity

Based on the Inclusive Excellence Academy course DIB IEA 1006: An Inclusive Approach to Leadership, this guide is a practical companion for developing inclusive leadership skills. 

Explore the Toolkit

For more information on DIB IEA 1006 or guidance on using the toolkit effectively, contact inclusion@cornell.edu.

Workshops Available Upon Request

The following workshops were offered to all staff throughout 2024.  If you missed the opportunity to participate in one before, and would like to engage in one or more with your fellow employees this Summer or Fall, DIB can facilitate these sessions upon request for any college, unit, team, or work group interested.  

A minimum of 10 participants is required, and the workshops can be facilitated either virtually or in person (on Ithaca-based campus with requestor arranging the location). 

DIB IEA 1006 An Inclusive Approach to Leadership

“Inclusion is not a strategy to help people fit into the systems and structures which exist in our societies. It is about transforming those systems and structures to make it better for everyone.” – Diane Richler, chair of Inclusion International’s Catalyst for Inclusive Education. 

Transforming how we approach leadership can result in more inclusive experiences for staff, thereby increasing organizational performance. In this session, we’ll reimagine leadership by moving beyond seeing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging as mere checkboxes on our to-do list. Instead, we’ll focus on applying an inclusive mindset to all aspects of our daily work and engagement with others.  

This interactive session will:

1. Discuss evidence-based reasons why embedding an inclusive approach in leadership and management styles will enhance employee engagement and retention;
2. Explore the traits and behaviors that reflect leading with an inclusive style; and
3. Generate tangible ways to apply an inclusive approach to demonstrating each of the Cornell Leadership Skills for Success. 

This course is ideal for anyone who leads individuals or groups in some capacity (i.e. supervisor/people leader, project manager, shift or unit lead, committee/work group/board chair, etc). 

Bias Recognition, Intervention, & Impact Management Workshop Series

Each interactive workshop is 1 hour.   You can request one, two, or all three workshops, or request a combination of 2 or 3 of the workshops in one extended offering. 

DIB IEA 1003: What Was THAT? How can I tell if bias is showing up?

Need a better understanding of what “bias” really is and looks like?  This course will define and illustrate concepts such as bias, unconscious bias, and microaggressions. Through looking at some scenarios, we will explore and discuss the ways biases can show up in our everyday life and work.  

DIB IEA 1004: What Now? I know that was a problem, now what do I do?

Need guidance on what to do when you hear or see something that may have been influenced by bias?  This course will describe various ways to intervene when you hear things said, or observe actions, that appear to be influenced by bias. We will also consider what to do when it is you who said or did something that may have been bias informed. 

DIB IEA 1005: What Next? The incident is over, what can I do moving forward?

Want ideas for how to constructively move forward afterwards?  This course will discuss ways to manage and minimize ongoing negative impact of bias-influenced situations on work and teams, and present tools and resources for recognizing and interrupting one’s own unconscious biases more proactively going forward. 

Interested Cornell employees should complete the DIB Request for Services or email inclusion@cornell.edu with questions. 

IEA Learning Goals

1. Participants will develop an understanding of the business case for diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
2. Participants will develop a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of identity groups outside of their own.
3. Participants will learn more about their own identities in relation to others.
4. Participants will learn concrete action steps they can implement in their department and/or unit to create a culture of inclusion and belonging.

"Break & Learn" Sessions

The IE Academy Break and Learn (B&L) sessions aim to elevate the voices and lived experiences of employees while also providing colleagues and people leaders tangible information and ideas they can apply to their everyday work life. 

Previous Break & Learn Sessions

1. A Deeper Understanding of the Indigenous Experience (Recorded on November 29, 2022)
2. Honoring Black History Through Collaboration and Celebration (Recorded on February 23, 2023)
3. A Discussion Across Diverse Asian/Asian American Experiences (Recorded on May 4, 2023)
4. Exploring Ableism (Recorded on June 15, 2023)
5. Celebrating Local Latinx/Hispanic History (Recorded on October 13, 2023)
6. The Value of Veterans in the Workplace (Recorded on November 16, 2023)
7. Women Uplifting Women in the Workplace (Recorded on March 19, 2024)
8. Workday and Benefit Updates in Support of LGBTQIA+ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (Recorded on June 25, 2024)
9. Leading Yourself: No Title Required (Recorded on March 27, 2025)
10. Wellbeing and Inclusion for Remote & Hybrid Employees (Recorded on May 8, 2025)

See a workshop you want to bring to your department or unit?  Contact the Department of Inclusion and Belonging at inclusion@cornell.edu.