Pittsburgh Technical College

Office of the President

DEI Articles

What is Imposter Syndrome?

In recognition of World Mental Health Day, I want to shed light on Imposter Syndrome. Throughout my participation in various committees, online courses, and even PTC’s DEI meetings, Imposter Syndrome (Phenomena) has been framed as an “underrepresented in college issue.” The underrepresented may be affected in greater numbers, but imposter syndrome is real across all demographics. It is defined as an internalized fear of being a fraud. When people have earned recognition for their skills, talents, and accomplishments yet deep inside question whether they are deserving of the recognition, or are afraid of being exposed as a fraud, they may be suffering from Imposter Syndrome. 

Watch a TED talk from Elizabeth Cox titled “What is imposter syndrome and how can you combat it?”

Lee Cottrell

Lee Cottrell

Faculty – School of Information Systems & Technology, DEI Taskforce Co-Chair

    City of Asylum an Employee Recommendation

    The City of Asylum is a unique place in the North Side, their mission is as follows:

    “City of Asylum @ Alphabet City is a hub for Pittsburgh’s readers and writers, jazz and small-scale music and performance, and artistic experimentation. It is a home for diverse voices from around the globe—a place where Pittsburgh meets the world, and the world meets Pittsburgh. And it is also a home for many partnering artists and organizations in our own community.

    By establishing a haven for writers and artists who voice ideas that are new, different, or provocative in a diverse urban community, we encourage new lines of communication, cultural exchange, and collaboration. Sharing one another’s narratives can transform the lives of both residents and artists and combat intolerance and exclusion.”

    Visit alphabetcity.org for more information.

    Shane

    Shane McGarvey

    Assistant Director of Resident Life

      What’s in a name? The significance of gender pronouns

      Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare is arguably one of the greatest romance stories in history. It is the story of two star-crossed lovers destined for heartbreak because they were not supposed to fall in love. One of the most famous scenes in the play is on the balcony when Juliet says, ‘A rose by any other name would smell as sweet’ (Act 2, scene 2).

      The Montagues and Capulet’s were enemies, so the forbidden romance of Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet added to the complexity of young love and to what the perceived meaning of the quote meant at that time. As we think about names today, we recognize an emotional attachment to our names for one reason or another. So, would a rose by any other name smell as sweet?

      Well, if we never knew the name of the flower emitting such a lovely fragrance, chances are, we might not care what the name of the flower was in that context because the scent remains the same. However, today, words matter more than anything. And people are more sensitive about how their names identify them.

      Conversations around gender pronouns are gaining momentum. And whether you agree with using them, you cannot ignore the gravity of one’s self-identification as it relates to a person’s name. I have what some might say are three first names. Marsha Natalie Lindsay, but it is my name, and I love it! My parents explained my name, and it is forever a part of who I am. So, I respect the fact that many people in the LGBTQ+ community want to feel respected and accepted by whatever they choose as their identifier. 

      As an advocate for self-expression, I find myself wondering when and if I have inadvertently made someone uncomfortable by not addressing that person correctly. So, to help put not only my mind at ease, I identify as she/her/hers and reflect my gender pronouns on my social media profile and now on my professional email.  

      I know who I am and feel comfortable with my gender pronouns. Many may perceive it as not necessary, but if I can in any way break down perceived barriers and be more approachable, I am happy to share my gender pronouns.  

      I encourage everyone to learn more about gender pronouns and consider sharing yours. And if you choose not to, do not discourage someone else from sharing theirs. 

      To learn more about gender pronouns, here are some resources:

      Glossary of Terms – HRC

      Microsoft Word – gender neutral pronouns.doc (forge-forward.org)

      Marsha N. Lindsay

      Marsha N. Lindsay

      Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer

        Futureproofing through Digital Accessibility

        I have noticed even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road.
        – Stephen Hawking

        Change, especially when it comes to technology, is inevitable. Software updates occur daily. We expect yearly new releases for our favorite phones and laptops. Gaming systems become more immersive and interactive with each new iteration. So how can we possibly keep up when we don’t know what will come down the road next?

        I believe that the answer lies in digital accessibility—the inclusive practice of creating content without barriers so that it is usable for people with all types of abilities. We sometimes refer to this kind of design as universal design or inclusive design. I like to think of it as the process of creating liquid content that can be poured into hundreds of different kinds of containers.

        The process of futureproofing our content is surprisingly simple. We can use a company’s website as an example. On the homepage of the site are a collection of images, text, and interactive elements. The web developer is responsible for labeling each element accordingly. Ideally, the page will be organized in an outline format with clear headings that can be labeled H1, H2, H3, etc. Paragraphs of text will be labeled as body copy, and important sections may be noted with bold or italics. Images and interactive elements (forms, videos, links, etc.) are labeled, too.

        These distinctions may be obvious to some. Our eyes may tell us that pictures are different from text. Our ears may hear background music or error alert notifications. And we may be able to use our mouse or touch screen to interact with these elements as we encounter them. But, for those of us who may not have sight, hearing, or touch, this digital labeling system is invaluable. When labeled properly, blind users can rely on hearing to get a description of the image. Deaf users can rely on printed captions. And those with limited motor skills can rely on voice activation or headset technology for navigation.

        Currently, a website with proper labels is accessible from a variety of devices: computers, laptops, tablets, and cell phones. But what about a braille book, virtual reality headset, or smart refrigerator; or, even more futuristic, what about the smart flying car, prosthetic limb, or health device that hasn’t been invented yet? Will those devices also be able to use our content?

        Just as users with a range of abilities rely on these digital labels to help them understand and interpret content, so will future technologies. Because we have standards like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) that teach us to label things effectively, we’re giving the future inventors of the world access to futureproofed content. Books that were once static on printed pages can now be heard through speakers, translated into reusable braille, or even interpreted as a painting. A printed poster can be autogenerated from a website with no human interaction. Liquid content, like a properly labeled lesson plan, can even be inserted into a game so that children can do their homework between quests.

        So how can you start futureproofing your work? Simple things like using proper heading styles and adding alternative text for images can ensure that your content is navigable for all types of devices, present and future. To get started, see the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for some wonderful resources on making accessible Microsoft Word Documents, presentations, and PDF’s. Through these digital accessibility principals, we can keep pace with the ever-changing information highway.

        Kimberly Norris

        Kimberly Norris

        Digital Marketing Director
        D.H.S. Section 508 Trusted Tester

          Safe Spaces in a Name

          I’ve gone by many names in my lifetime: Mercedes, Sadie, Major, Jean. I first changed my name when I was adopted, and I’m sure I’ll change it again when I’m married.

          Working in student affairs and being a Black woman, I’ve noticed that names are extremely important in recognizing a person for who they are in a specific setting and creating a safe space for them.

          As a child, if someone called me Mercedes, they likely were a teacher or an unfamiliar adult. That meant I needed to be polite, quiet, unopinionated, and agreeable. If I was called Sadie, I was around friends and family and I could let my guard down. I could speak my mind without being judged, and I felt safe. In college I went by Major, and this was when I was truly the most confident version of myself. I had recreated who I was and aligned that with the person I wanted to be.

          These moments permit me to empathize with the peers and students I have met who have transitioned and renamed themselves. Their chosen name is not only a reinvention of themselves but a call to action for others to see them as they want to be seen and ensure that they are welcomed and respected in a space.

          When living in New York, I never saw a problem with my first name, but as I applied for professional positions in other states, I became concerned that my name may read too ethnic, and employers may disregard my application before ever seeing my qualifications. This is not an unusual concern for Black Americans or immigrants. My college roommate from Liberia was given the name Susan as to make her more hirable in America. Thus, I started to use my middle name, Jean, on some job applications.

          The struggles I have had to feel safe in the spaces I occupy have reminded me how important it is to use my privilege as a figure of authority in the field of Education, and call students by their preferred name. Details like using proper pronunciation, remembering a nickname, and not using a trans student’s deadname are necessary in creating a safe zone and sense of ally-ship. It is in these safe zones that our students can become the person they want to be.

          Mercedes J. Major-Brunson

          Residence Coordinator

            Welcoming All Genders to the Classroom

            When responding to a recent student email questioning how to calculate averages in a database, I almost made a big mistake. The mistake wasn’t in the calculation, but in the presentation. I had planned to demonstrate how the data, in this case average student grades, could be grouped by gender, which I had classified as Female and Male. That is when I realized that limiting the table to two binary gender choices is no longer appropriate. A recent Gallup poll found that 1/6 of the Generation Z adults identify as LGBTQ+ (Schmidt, 2021). That is about 17% of our student population which means it’s time to rethink how we approach the topic of gender.

            A portion of PTC students no longer identify as purely Male or Female. Significant thought has helped them determine their gender identity. As faculty, it is not necessary to understand our students’ choices, we must simply respect them. Respecting gender identity is one way to make the classroom more inclusive.

            In addition to respecting the students gender identity, we need to respect the entire gender discussion. In 2014, a meme circulated with a picture of a US Apache Helicopter and the phrase, “I sexually identify as an attack helicopter” (I sexually identify as an attack helicopter, 2014). Quite often, humor is designed to belittle an attribute of a person or group. This meme may offend those who have decided on a gender that is different from their biological sex. In the classroom, if the topic of gender is broached, be sure to handle it delicately and respectfully.

            The need to recognize and respect gender identity extends beyond schools and the faculty who teach in them. It is the responsibility of all people. In support, the United States has added a third gender choice on American passports: Male, Female, or a non-binary choice listed as X (Passports, 2021). A citizen no longer needs to provide medical documentation supporting the gender decision.

            After my near mistake with the email mentioned above, I switched the example to average by US state. Instead of two lines of averages, I had 50. The example was just as clear as with gender, but without the potential to insult or alienate my students. I then wondered whether an official list of gender terms exists.

            I started with a simple Google search: “officially recognized genders”. After hours of attempted refinement, I found that a concrete list was not available. The terms varied by source and while deemed acceptable in one location, were offensive in another.

            I then took my search to the medical professionals. The American Psychological Association proved to be a good resource for understanding gender identity, defining it as “a component of gender that describes a person’s psychological sense of their gender” (Gender, 2021). They elaborate that the gender identity is often a “deeply felt” sense of their gender identity. Each person’s gender identity is unique, and there is no correlation between gender identity and sexual orientation. To learn more, visit https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/bias-free-language/gender.

            The results of my research did highlight certain consistent terms. The source, MasterClass (Morse, 2020), provided a brief list of terms that I paraphrase here:

            Cisgender: This is what my grandmother would call “traditional.” A person who identifies with the biological sex assigned at birth.

            Gender-fluid: This gender identity is not fixed, may change over time, and at times an individual may identify with multiple genders at once.

            Non-binary: Someone who does not follow the “traditional” Male-Female binary choice. This person may identify as male, female, both, or neither. Often the term “genderqueer” is a synonym.

            Questioning: A person who is attempting to discover their gender identity. Considering our student body, these students are the most fragile and require lots of support and understanding from the faculty and staff. It is a tough time.

            Transgender: A person whose gender identity does not match the biological sex assigned at birth. Some transgender individuals choose to undergo treatments to change their bodies to match the gender with which they identify.

            There are many more terms. If a student presents a term that you are unfamiliar with, gently ask the student to define it in their own words. Assure the student that your questions are only designed to help you better understand them and treat them with respect. More than likely, if properly approached, the individual will happily help you to understand their gender identity.

            I never want to intentionally alienate or insult anyone, and am glad I recognized my flawed gender example before sending the email response. I will be more mindful of my examples and my use of gender in the future. Where appropriate I will include different gender identities in my sample data, and in my assignments. I encourage others to do the same.

            Lee Cottrell

            Lee Cottrell

            Faculty – School of Information Systems & Technology, DEI Taskforce Co-Chair

              References

              Gender. (2021, 7 31). Retrieved from apa.org: https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/bias-free-language/gender

              I sexually identify as an attack helicopter. (2014, March 17). Retrieved from knowyourmeme.com: https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/i-sexually-identify-as-an-attack-helicopter

              Morse, E. (2020, December 7). Gender Identity Guide: 15 Gender Identiy Terms Defined. Retrieved from masterclass.com: https://www.masterclass.com/articles/gender-identity-guide#15-gender-identity-terms

              Passports. (2021, July 31). Retrieved from transequality.org: https://transequality.org/know-your-rights/passports

              Schmidt, S. (2021, February 24). 1 in 6 Gen Z adults are LGBTQ+. And this number could grow. Retrieved from washingtonpost.com: https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/02/24/gen-z-lgbt/

              Sopelsa, B. (2021, June 30). US to add third gender option to American passports. Retrieved from nbcnews.com: https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-politics-and-policy/us-add-third-gender-option-american-passports-rcna1314

              Native American Day – An Uncelebrated Holiday

              September 24 is Native American Day. It is a day designed to celebrate the culture of the Native Americans and their contributions to states and our country, and it is a holiday celebrated in several states across our country, but not in Pennsylvania.

              Our country has historically marginalized and neglected our Native American and Indigenous populations. We have systematically attempted to eradicate their culture through forced schooling and migrations. Recently, entire groups of Indigenous Americans faced the pandemic without access to running water. A Native American household is 19 times more likely to not have running water than a white family, and 14% of Native American house-holds lack electricity. Comparatively, the lack of Internet access in disadvantaged Pittsburgh neighborhoods may be front page news, and nationwide athletic teams and streets have been renamed, but our Native American brothers and sisters are still faced without access to basic human needs. 

              The fact that September 24 is not celebrated nationally reflects our country’s continued neglect of these people. We are making strides towards inclusion but still fall far short of actual recognition. November was first named Native American Heritage month in 1994 and each year since, the sitting President has continued to announce its recognition, but it has not yet been written as a federal law.  However, progress is being made at the federal level. President Biden appointed Deb Haaland, a Native American, to serve on his Cabinet as the Secretary of the Interior which is the first time an indigenous person has been named to such a distinguished position within our nation’s government.  

              In Western Pennsylvania, many of our townships and geological features retain an ‘Indian’ name or have roots in a Native language. For instance, Aliquippa Township, Hopewell Township, the city of Punxsutawney, and the names of all three rivers in Pittsburgh retain roots in our Native American history. It is imperative that all Americans understand the important role the Indigenous people played in the history of our country and do more to allow their descendants to fully participate today. 

              Lee Cottrell

              Lee Cottrell

              Faculty – School of Information Systems & Technology, DEI Taskforce Co-Chair

                History of the Black Heritage Flag

                Black and red flag with a gold sword and ring of fig leaves at the center

                For centuries people around the world have waved the flags of their countries, often to display a sense of pride for where they came from.

                As a child, Melvin Charles attended a parade where he witnessed numerous floats upon which organizations represented their home countries, and the flag that most captured his eye was the American Flag. However, during the 1960’s Black Americans did not wave the American Flag. It was at that time that the Civil Rights Movement took place, and the Black Panthers, Dr.King, Malcolm X, and others took the stage to stand up for Black rights in America.

                And so, at that time, Melvin Charles and Gleason T. Jackson, knowing Black Americans were losing their connection to Africa, felt a flag should exist that symbolized the Black Culture that was created in America after the Atlantic Slave Trade that took place between the 16th and 19th centuries. Charles and Jackson created a design representing resilience, power, and unity, and the time and love that went into developing America’s Black culture. The Black Heritage flag embodies what Black Americans created in the United States even in the midst of difficult times.

                The Black Heritage flag continues to be proudly waved by Black Americans today and each piece represents the culture’s importance, power, and history from the red and black diagonal lines to the fig leaf that surrounds a blunt edge sword.

                To learn more, visit https://youtu.be/aRmBarI34TM for a video of Melvin Charles talking about the story and meaning behind this flag.

                Crystal Santiful Headshot

                Crystal Santiful

                Admissions – Outreach/Success Advisor

                  Depression

                  When I woke up this morning, I did not see the sun. I thought I was dreaming. I closed my eyes and opened them to realize it was not a dream. My depression kidnapped the sun and is holding it for ransom.  

                  Depression said, “even if you pay the ransom, you’ll never get the sun back because you no longer matter. You have given your power to me, and I am not letting you get it back.” 

                  I feel my organs begin to disintegrate due to the loss of light and water. But, I cannot muster up enough tears to try to fertilize the cracks of my heart and soul that are malnourished from constant darkness and lack of attention.  

                  I have people around me who see me smile and think everything is fine with me. But, when they ask how I am doing, they do not take the time to wait for a reply. I wonder, is it because they are not prepared for the truth?

                  I hide my scars of inadequacy, fear, self-doubt, and insecurities behind the smile I borrowed from the images my mind replicates to distract even myself from admitting I am not doing well. I exist in the abyss of loneliness. I need help! I’m depressed and don’t know how much longer I can hide behind the facade of happiness.  

                  I want to scream, but my vocal cords are atrophied, so I cannot make a sound. I drown my sadness with the noise of my paranoia ringing in my ears. Depression is like a toxic relationship. You know it’s not good for you, but you are so accustomed to the volatility, you are unsure you can live without it.  

                  I want to free myself from my depression, but I’ve lived with it for so long, if I allow my thoughts of happiness to escape, I believe I’ll suffocate and die. I want to live and not just exist, but who will listen and help me overcome my fears and anxiety?

                  I decide to take a rest from all of the noise in my head. I close my eyes, and when I open them, I see the sun shining. I wonder again, was it all a dream? I then realize someone took the time to ask me how I was doing and waited for a response; depression surrendered, and I am alive because someone cared enough to listen.  

                  Marsha N. Lindsay

                  Marsha N. Lindsay

                  Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer

                    Juneteenth

                    Juneteenth Celebration
                    Stephenson, Mrs. Charles (Grace Murray). [Emancipation Day Celebration, June 19, 1900], photograph, June 19, 1900; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth124053/m1/1/: accessed June 17, 2021), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Austin History Center, Austin Public Library.

                    Freedom. I am of the position that freedom is more a state of mind than a state of being. It must therefore be celebrated regularly to be actualized in the life of the free and exercised by means of shared celebration with and among the community of the free.

                    The right to celebrate. While not granted nor guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, it is indeed an inalienable right that, when celebrated, is protected. 

                    Sunday, 19 June 1865, enslaved Black people in Texas and all over the South in particular, arose, bathed, dressed and went to Church under the watchful gaze of plantation owners, confederate soldiers, and other whites, but, on this day, something was different. Although they had not been informed, within their spirit they knew something, although unclear and unknown, was different.

                    Upon arriving to their houses of worship, they heard a message that informed them that nearly two-and-a-half years prior, President Abraham Lincoln had passed the Emancipation Proclamation outlawing slavery in the United States of America. Without radio, television, or the Internet, and all of the associated services that we enjoy today (email, social media, free International [VOIP] and domestic calls on our smartphones), news traveled very slowly; particularly since it (the news) was controlled by the “ruling class”. They heard that Major General Gordon Granger had proclaimed in Galveston, Texas, in General Order Number 03, “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.” The entire text can be found here The End of Slavery in Texas: A Research Note on JSTOR.

                    Nothing much changed on the outside. Plantation owners and slave masters had the power to decide when and how to release the information. Many waited until government agents arrived to enforce the proclamation. Many sought to force, now freed Black people, back to their unpaid labor. But freedom, once known, cannot be put back in the jar. The secret was out! It must be celebrated. 

                    June 19, June Nineteenth…. June Tenth! Yes, that is it. JUNETEENTH!

                    One year later, in 1866, former slaves in Galveston, TX, exercised the right to celebrate, for they indeed had received a long-awaited prize. One that was hoped for, yet unexpected. Freedom, and it must be celebrated! It had to be. Justice had prevailed! It was their right to transform that day, June 19th, into a celebration, and they exercised it. 

                    The celebration was almost lost until the Civil Rights Movement, one hundred years later. Since January 1980, Juneteenth has become an official State Holiday in Texas and in many other states, but it all began in the state of Texas, in the city of Galveston. In the face of hostility, freedom’s hope cried out in celebration, and it continues today. Freedom, individual freedom, must be celebrated, every day, to have real meaning beyond what others think it is.

                    JUNETEENTH reminds us that there is cause to celebrate the complexity of the Black experience, the diversity of our nation, and the dynamic of today’s world.

                    Michael Russell headshot

                    Mike Russell

                    Faculty – School of Information Systems & Technology, DEI Taskforce Co-Chair