MEMBER FOCUS: James Bland

Tell us a little bit about your day job, and why it’s important to you?

I grew up in Charlottesville, where I was one of very few students of color in my high school. I often felt that I didn’t have the necessary support systems in place — and more often than not, these systems became barriers. I didn't realize it was happening to me personally until I went to college, and that’s when I decided I wanted to do something about it. I asked myself, “How do I make the space better for folks who do not have an advocate?”

I currently serve as Director of the Center for Diversity in Engineering at UVA. In that role, my main focus is to be a support system for students, specifically those from disadvantaged or marginalized backgrounds. In the engineering field, that can include women, racial and ethnic minorities, students from a low socioeconomic background, and more. Engineering has traditionally been a white, male-dominated field, so my role is to find support systems and resources, and create access for disadvantaged students to be successful and thrive. Inside the classroom, we work directly with the faculty to think about inclusive pedagogy to reduce any type of bias that might impede a student from succeeding.

You mentioned inclusive pedagogy — what does that term mean?

Essentially it means that we think of ways that faculty and staff can be thoughtful and strategic about removing systemic barriers, while engaging the community in activities, classroom discussions, or curricula around diversity in a way that is easily accessible and equitable.

It seems that being involved in the community is important to you — is there a cause that is close to your heart that you would like to share with us?

I recently joined the board for the African American Teaching Fellows. Anecdotal as well as statistical data shows that when you have a diverse teaching staff, students from all backgrounds can succeed. I wholeheartedly believe in their mission, and what they are doing for the Charlottesville community is so important. I’m also a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. I joined the Fraternity as an undergraduate student at Longwood University in the fall of 2008. Alpha is the first intercollegiate Fraternity established for African American men in the US and since crossing, my membership in the Brotherhood has allowed me to engage with the community in such positive ways. We have national programs that guide our work around issues like voting, wellness, and youth education and we are striving to make a real impact in the Charlottesville community.

What’s your favorite way to spend a day off?

My ideal day off would be at a music festival. I love live music. Before I knew I wanted to be an educator and work in the DEI space, I wanted to be a musician. I grew up listening to Prince and Stevie Wonder and all those legends. I admired the way they were able to share a story, and you could hear their voice through the music.

What excites you about Common House?

The opportunity to meet new people and be in a space where I’m able to hear a lot of different stories is really interesting. I might meet someone from the same city, or even get to connect with someone from a different country. It's encouraging to have a shared space that allows for that type of community.

Knowing the history of the space and the building itself is also important. Being a black man who grew up in Charlottesville, I understand the story of Vinegar Hill and the way that a lot of African American groups have been pushed out of this area — so reclaiming the building as a space where all different types of folks can come together to share and learn honors what once was in a small way. I think it’s a good opportunity to take responsibility and be really intentional about recognizing the history of this entire community.

Anything else we missed?

I have a podcast that I co-host called Black Kings Connect. We try to create a casual space where we can converse about things that are happening in the news and important topics to help educate others and provide insight. I also just wrapped up my first year as an Ed.D candidate in the Higher Education program at UVA’s School of Education and Human Development. As we discussed earlier, community is very important to me. With that, I attribute much of what I do to those who came before me as mentors and OGs. I’m looking forward to seeing how my research around sense of belonging for underrepresented communities will allow me to honor those who came before me while creating opportunities and better outcomes for those who will come after.