Date August 6, 2024
All News

A higher education calling: Championing inclusivity through authentic leadership

By Ed Barrows

Brown's Vice President for Institutional Equity and Diversity, Sylvia Carey-Butler, shares her insights on authentic leadership, the importance of fostering an inclusive environment and the transformative power of embracing diversity in higher education.

Sylvia Carey-Butler smiles in front of greenery

Sylvia Carey-Butler knows higher education inside and out. 

For over four decades, she has been an integral part of America's higher education system — from small community colleges to regional powerhouses and historically Black colleges to traditional Catholic institutions. 

Her extensive experience is deeply rooted in her personal history.

On the outskirts of working-class Schenectady, New York, Carey-Butler grew up with eight siblings in a lower-middle-class family. Her formative years were difficult. At the age of two, she lost her father to a drunk driver. Her family lived under the specter of the constant racial tension that characterized much of the 1960’s — an era in America that witnessed the tragic losses of progressive thinkers, both black and white. 

Despite these obstacles, she refused to let them define her. She understood early on what she continues to believe: Higher education is the great equalizer.

Finding her voice — and her path to Brown

After high school, Carey-Butler entered the State University of New York (SUNY)-Oneonta as a first-generation college student. Her early experiences on campus not only inspired her to pursue a career in academia but also transformed her into a lifelong advocate for higher education access and the opportunities it provides. 

In 2013, she found her voice in the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) arena. She merged her academic expertise with her passion for equality as the Assistant Vice Chancellor of Academic Support of Inclusive Excellence at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. From there, her career advanced rapidly, including a stint as the Interim Executive Director of the United Negro College Fund’s (UNCF) Institute for Capacity Building. 

Ultimately, she found her way to Brown.

Carey-Butler now leads the staff of 11 at Brown’s Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity (OIED). Over the last 43 years in higher education, she has learned many lessons and gained a unique perspective on fostering success in diversity, equity and inclusion within organizations.

Here are the key takeaways.

  • Higher education has a higher responsibility

Carey-Butler fundamentally believes that today’s colleges and universities are responsible for providing an environment where students can flourish. 

“If an institution admits a student, it has a moral obligation to do everything it can to support that student and ensure their success,” she says. 

This belief extends beyond the classroom — to the athletic fields and libraries, dormitories and dining halls, too. Carey-Butler believes, “Schools must not accept anyone who cannot be guaranteed to receive the resources necessary to achieve.”

It’s this well-grounded perspective that she says should apply not only to colleges and universities, but to every organization today.

  • We’re better together

Carey-Butler also firmly believes that everyone — regardless of their background — not only deserves a seat at the table, but also brings something unique that benefits everyone.

It’s not just diversity for diversity’s sake. It’s the fact that I’m better because people from different backgrounds, views, perspectives and experiences help me to be better. If a person can bring their whole self to campus, we all learn from each other.

SYLVIA CAREY-BUTLER Vice President for Institutional Equity and Diversity
 
Sylvia Carey-Butler speaks on podium at Brown University.

She points out that — as the name suggests — diversity is about differences, and there are always differences among people. Embracing and learning from these differences contributes to a vibrant environment. 

However, she acknowledges that while embracing diversity and fostering inclusion are crucial, achieving equity remains a challenging task. “Even if you accept people who come from very different, and in some cases disadvantaged backgrounds, you can’t expect people to compete at the same level as everyone else,” Carey-Butler notes. “The reality is things aren’t always equal.” 

This acknowledgment of socioeconomic disparities adds depth to her perspective on diversity, equity and inclusion, highlighting what she sees as a personal responsibility for leaders to ensure equity in today’s workplace.

  • Leaders make the difference

In 2014, Carey-Butler received an honorary doctorate from her undergraduate institution. She fondly remembered an event that significantly shaped her understanding of the impact leaders can have on the lives of those around them.

It was a Sunday, and Carey-Butler had just got back to school for her final semester in college. She heard a knock on her dorm room door and opened it to find Dr. Kay Capo, a communications professor at the school. Capo knew Carey-Butler’s spring semester was full but felt she would be a valuable addition and asked if she could adjust her schedule to enroll in the communications course.  

“The impact of that person coming to me and saying, ‘I want you’ made all the difference for me,” Carey-Butler said with a smile. She described it as a transformative experience that affects how she interacts with people today.

“ There is no student that I interact with that I don’t try to leave them with a nugget that says, ‘you are special’ even when they’re facing trying times. ”

Sylvia Carey-Butler

  • Mission over moniker

People often get caught up in the naming conventions surrounding equity. “Don’t worry about the nomenclature,” Carey-Butler says. “The terms for DEI have evolved over the years from affirmative action to multiculturalism to where we are now.” 

The key? Focus on the mission. 

“Leaders need to focus on their ‘why’ — both individually and within their organizations. When you focus on who you are and what you need to do as a leader given your role, you’ll start asking the kinds of questions that spur inclusive practices,” she says.

  • Leading authentically and celebrating differences 

When leaders focus on developing themselves as principled and mission-driven — both personally and professionally — they begin to attract individuals with the right skills, knowledge and attitudes to foster an inclusive environment. 

“Focus on principles like the golden rule. This has to be at the core of who you are,” Carey-Butler says. “Equity minded leaders are needed to make a difference in the world and each of us needs to be authentic in the way we lead.”

Carey-Butler believes being an inclusive leader is actually simple and practical. “We tend to make it more complicated than it is.”

Given the many challenges we face today — especially regarding mutual respect and appreciation of differences — it's crucial to embrace and celebrate diversity. Doing so creates space for people to thrive and become their best selves. Sylvia Carey-Butler seized that opportunity and made the most of it.

Applied Inclusive Leadership Certificate

Brown University’s Certificate in Applied Inclusive Leadership is a six-week online program that equips you with practical tools to foster a more diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace, ultimately boosting employee engagement, enriching company culture, elevating productivity and increasing overall organizational success.

Learn more

Related stories