Managing Diversity Flashpoints in Higher Education

Joseph E. Garcia is the Bowman Distinguished Professor of Leadership Studies and director of the Karen W. Morse Institute for Leadership at Western Washington University. He is president of the Management Faculty of Color Association and serves on a number of editorial boards in the fields of management and management education. Karen J. Hoelscher is professor of elementary education in the Woodring College of Education at Western Washington University. In 2001, Hoelscher received Western Washington UniversityOs Diversity Achievement Award.

• 1 Preface2 Introduction3 Diversity Trends: Implications for Campuses4 Diversity-Friendly Campus Climates5 Learning6 Communication7 Understanding Diversity Flashpoint Situations8 Going Local9 Anticipating Future Challenges10 Appendices11 Index

Garcia and Hoelscher have given us, not only an erudite and insightful analysis for understanding diversity-driven communication difficulties, but also provided us a utilitarian tool for addressing these difficulties. The book is a well-researched and well written work that takes an action-based approach to handling difficult situations. Wisely, the authors have couched their advice in the tradition of professional development, rather than character improvement. Going from problem to theory to action, Garcia and Hoelscher provide insightful ways of thinking about diversity-related strain and turn those into methods to improve 'diversity self-efficacy.' This book should be on the shelf of every administrator and manager in institutions of higher education as a resource and training tool.