I sat down with the Assistant to the President for Mission & Culture, Willie Hucks. In this interview, he talks about his motivations for taking up the role of diversity officer along with his goals for culture and inclusion for Andrews.
Can you tell us a bit about your background and previous experiences at the Andrews Seminary that led you to this point in your career?
I was born into a family that had a strong sense of Adventist Christian mission and social consciousness. It came as no surprise to anyone that many years later, my dissertation focused on the intersection of social consciousness, preaching, and community engagement through personal presence and the preaching event. Immediately upon my arrival at the Andrews Seminary in 2016, I was asked to serve as Chair of the Ethnicity, Race, and Social Justice Committee (ERSJ). Among the tasks we accomplished, one was organizing the Congress on Social Justice which – through its plenaries and breakout sessions – addressed topics that included environmental care, female genital mutilation, and sex trafficking. We also developed a document titled “The Seminary and Race: A Way Forward.” Voted by the Seminary faculty, “Seminary and Race” addressed seven areas for continued growth in terms of policy and/or practice: Advancement, Curriculum, Employment, Fellowship, Finances, Pedagogy, and Worship. I also have served on AU’s Diversity Council for the past seven years, which has opened my eyes not only to campus-wide issues, but also to the commitment that students, staff, faculty, and administration bring to the table as it relates to creating a stronger university culture.
What motivated you to join the Andrews faculty, and how do you feel about taking on the role of the diversity officer? Were there any defining moments or experiences that influenced your decision to accept this role?
From 1999 to 2006, I served as a full-time faculty member at Southwestern Adventist University, teaching general religion classes and several pastoral ministry courses. Higher ed. teaching was my dream, dating back to my undergraduate studies; my wife was shocked that I took a call to serve in the General Conference Ministerial Association from 2006 to 2016. I knew I would one day return to the classroom and when I was asked to come to AU, the timing was right. I believe I had accomplished as much as I could as Chair of the ERSJ Committee and I was looking for new challenges, although I admit I was never interested in this role until several faculty members and others – and I believe no one person knew that the other person was speaking to me – would say to me “Have you ever considered….?” or I think you would be good for that position because….” Through prayer and conversations with trusted advisers, I decided to explore these possibilities.
What specific aspects of the diversity officer position at Andrews appealed to you, and how did it align with your professional goals and values?
Honestly, having a bigger seat at the university table appealed to me. As stated earlier, I have sat at the Seminary table and have been a part of the university’s Diversity Council. After prayer and conversations, I was convinced that it was time to experience a broader platform that allows for elaboration upon what it means to be created in God’s image. Regarding the other portion of my job title, Mission and Culture, what I just alluded to from Genesis 1 neatly fits into mission and culture. When someone knows who they are in the eyes of God, they better understand their role in God’s plan as it relates to living for God and serving humanity. This understanding of Imago Dei has driven my life and ministry for as long as I can remember.
As the diversity officer, what goals do you have for promoting diversity and inclusion within the Andrews community? How do you plan to collaborate with students, faculty, and staff to foster a more inclusive and equitable environment on campus?
I have theological and academic frameworks for promoting diversity and inclusion. But because I lack the understanding of university-wide issues, I can’t yet say that I have a fleshed-out practical framework. One of my first orders of business is to engage in a listening tour, during which I want to hear from the Spiritual Life team, student groups, faculty and senate officers, and others. As one who served as a congregational pastor for the first 14 years of my ministry, I learned the importance of communicating to have smooth-functioning board and business meetings, as well as (more importantly) having a beneficial evangelistic and life-transforming footprint on the communities we served. Furthermore, for the past six and a half years, I have served as Chair of the Practical and Applied Theology Department in the Seminary. Dialogue and collaboration have proved pivotal in fostering an environment that has resembled a family, and not just a workplace. I plan to bring this same approach to this new responsibility.
In your view, what are some of the key challenges related to diversity and inclusion that Andrews currently faces, and how do you plan to address them?
Accessibility to buildings has long been a challenge for those who need mobile or other assistance. These challenges are exacerbated in light of older buildings or inclement weather. To what degree can resources be secured or reallocated to address these challenges? That deserves additional conversation and action. Student housing falls within the same category. Much of our housing is occupied by international students whose other options are limited. They need space that allows them to fully feel like a part of the community, and such inclusion not only contributes to a healthy learning environment but also fits with the mission as they are better positioned to experience shalom (well-being) and spiritual growth. AU’s student population diversity has been well-touted. Faculty and staff diversity has lagged. A strong spiritual and academic environment can be strengthened when students have a broader diversity of faculty who stand before them in the classroom and support staff who assist them. As rightly inferred from Dr. Calvin Rock’s March 9 Q&A at PMC via Zoom, this also contributes to a sense of mission.
Can you share a personal experience or story that has shaped your perspective on the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in educational settings?
There is not enough space in this interview for me to answer that question. But since you asked for one, I will share only two. Thirty-five years ago, while studying to earn my Master of Divinity degree in the same building where I work, I inquired of the then-director of the Ph.D./Th.D. program about what it would take for me to be academically prepared to pursue a Ph.D. in Old Testament studies. I had already done my homework so my speaking with him was hopefully going to confirm that I was proceeding as planned. Let’s just say that my impression of his response was that he was not completely forthright with me. At the same time, I was taking a homiletics class. After the sermon of one of my fellow seminarians, we took time to commend the strengths of the sermon and its delivery, as well as offer helpful critiques. I disagreed with his exegesis of Amos 5:24 because he took a Western law and order approach to justice, and not a biblical one. The next thing I knew, my solid A in the class turned into a final grade of B. When I asked the professor why I got my final grade, his response to me was, “I can’t give everyone an A in this class.” Both of those episodes have gone a long way toward fueling my passion for advocating for students and treating them with the fairness they deserve.
What aspects of your role as the diversity officer are you most excited about, and what positive changes do you hope to see during your tenure? Offer any guidance or final thoughts!
There are two roles that excite me. The first is to practically affirm the love that God has for every person, regardless of their background, pedigree, or any other marker we tend to place upon them. The second is to be a thought influencer as it relates to policy and practice on campus and in the wider society. Combining these two, I believe I will meld the twin foci of diversity/inclusion and mission/culture.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.