Coe is committed to diversity

The Gazette recently published an open letter to the Coe College board of trustees regarding an incident that took place in the fall of 2021 (“An open letter to the Coe College Board of Trustees” March 13). The authors noted the extraordinary record of success that Coe has established in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), but then moved on to criticize the search process that led to the selection of David Hayes as President. The concerns focused on personal disagreements that led two trustees (out of 40) to resign from the board when the large majority of trustees had a different opinion about the best course of action.

Unfortunately, the open letter inaccurately presents this as a question of Coe’s commitment to diversity. Coe’s exceptional achievements in DEI required the support of the entire campus community and the board of trustees as well as many partners in Cedar Rapids and the region. When I served at Coe I received steadfast and enthusiastic support for the college’s diversity initiatives from the individual trustees as well as the collective board. They endorsed the strategic DEI plan, they voted unanimously for additional diversity initiatives in 2020 and they have personally supported new DEI programs with their time and money, including the establishment of scholarships. I always felt that the board’s commitment to diversity was one of Coe’s greatest strengths.

I continue to serve on the board following my retirement and its devotion to DEI has not wavered one bit. The same is true of President Hayes. I am disturbed by the fact that two disgruntled former trustees are attempting to make a policy issue out of what was essentially a personal disagreement, and in doing so may actually set back Coe’s progress on the very principles they claim to espouse. The open letter went so far as to name one of the trustees with whom they disagreed, but did not present a fair or complete picture of that person’s work on behalf of DEI and the college, or her efforts to reconcile the personal conflict. This personal attack is not in the spirit of inclusion, communication, and collaboration that characterize successful DEI work.

Above all, trustees and the president must work on behalf of students, including helping to create a diverse and inclusive community, and I have seen that at every turn from the Board and our highly qualified new president. I know that the authors of the open letter are also genuinely committed to the college and to DEI, and I am sorry to see a personal disagreement distract from that vital mission.

David McInally is president Emeritus of Coe College.