Building Community Through Personal Narratives with Domenico Grasso

21/04/2025 40 min

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Episode Synopsis

In this episode of Beyond the Quadcast, hosts Katy Abrams and Misty Evans engage with Domenico Grasso, Chancellor of the University of Michigan-Dearborn, discussing the importance of storytelling in promoting inclusive excellence within higher education. Grasso shares his journey in academia, the integration of storytelling into university programs, and the establishment of the Office of Holistic Excellence.The conversation highlights the transformative power of storytelling in building empathy and community among students and faculty. In this conversation, Katy Abrams and Misty engage with Domenico Grasso on the importance of personalizing inclusion, belonging, and access, emphasizing the significance of community building and its direct impact on student success. The conversation also touches on the importance of measuring belonging and mental health and practical steps institutions can take to foster inclusive excellence.Key Takeaways: Personal narratives help students reflect on their identities.Empathy is developed through shared experiences.Curiosity about others enhances community engagement.Storytelling can bridge the gap between disciplines.Communication skills are essential in STEM fields.Transcript, blog post, and more show notes on the website.