Page 30 - BEQ Magazine Iss 23 FINAL v3

EQUITABLE FUTURES

Richard J .
Helldobler is
the President
of William
Paterson
University and
Board Co-Chair
of LGBTQ
Presidents Gen Z Grads to Future Employers:
in Higher
Show us your
Education .

commitment to equity

By KJ WARD

uch of the current DEI conversation – particularly as it relates to access and
opportunity – is framed as a matter of justice or morality. And, while DEI may
M certainly be the “right” thing, a focus on the morality of access and inclusion
can miss the fact that it also brings a competitive advantage to companies with clear commit-
ments and visible track records of promoting equality within and outside of their organiza-
tions. According to the Institute for Education Science’s National Center for Education Statis-

tics, nearly 2 million bachelor’s degree are projected to be conferred in 2022. And, according
to education-insights company EAB, equality is the most important issue for the vast majority
of these graduates.

Richard J. Helldobler is the president of William EQUALITY IS THE PRICE OF
Paterson University, the first openly gay president of ADMISSION
a New Jersey public university, and Board Co-Chair of
LGBTQ Presidents in Higher Education. In a recent Businesses need the talent, perspective and cre-
speech to the New Jersey Pride Chamber of Com- ativity of a young and diverse pool of recent college
merce LGBTQ Business Resource Group Roundtable, graduates – graduates who prioritize the justice
Helldobler described a “college-to-career pathway for orientation of the companies they work for. Citing a
LGBTQ graduates” that is as much an imperative for report from education-insights company EAB, Hell-
businesses as it is an opportunity for job seekers. dobler impressed upon the audience that “72% of

30 SUMMER 2022 BUSINESSEQUALITYMAGAZINE.COM