Dear Students,
We made it to Thanksgiving, a four-day weekend, with some space for all (I hope) to breathe, process, rest and rejuvenate.
It’s the season for gratitude. With volumes of research showing that expressing gratitude improves mental and physical health, I can’t see a reason not to get into the spirit of the upcoming holiday. Yet I am struggling.
The news of the day is often depressing or enraging or both: yet another shooting last night at a Walmart in Virginia; the attack against the LGBTQ+ community and the murders at Club Q; the ongoing antisemitism and injustice against our Asian, Brown, Black and Native communities in our own city and across the country; environmental destruction and climate change’s existential threat to our small, shared earth; relentless division in our American political system; the ongoing war in Ukraine; the deaths of hundreds of young people who were merely celebrating Halloween in Korea; the shooting deaths of college students in multiple states; the never ending backdrop of Covid-19; and so much more. All this threatens to suffocate my feelings of gratitude and stifle my ability to appreciate the abundant goodness in my life and in the world. The painful events and difficult circumstances in our current context feel nearly impossible to process and are always overwhelming. As Thanksgiving approaches, I realize how hard I am working to push myself into a thankful mindset.
My own tradition is to celebrate Thanksgiving in Brooklyn with a houseful of extended family. The food is always delicious and plentiful as is the laughter and joy. Three generations gather, including family members in their 80s, toddlers, and the folks in between (as well as a few dogs). There is always a low stress and high hilarity talent show. A nine-year-old’s talent last year was showing us his “soccer moves.” Feelings of gratitude are typically abundant and easy to access.
My boys often play guitar and sing, sometimes together, sometimes solo. For weeks now, my younger son has been practicing the song he’s chosen to perform at the talent show. He belts it out in our living room with the unabashed earnestness and sweet ginger-haired charm of Ed Sheeran. The song includes the verse, “Love the girl who holds the world in a paper cup. Drink it up. Love her and she’ll bring you luck.” Those words always loosen something in my heart or quiet the anxiety in my mind or pry something open in me so gratitude can enter. As I listen to my son sing, I picture a young person holding something massive and expansive in a fragile and temporary container, contemplate how something small and simple can be essential, feel inspired to drink up the magnificence of life, and remember to find joy, peace and gratitude in the simple pleasure of loving someone else.
I speak for all my staff and faculty colleagues when I tell you that we are grateful for all of you, for our learning community, for the essential work we try to do together and bring to our shared world. I have witnessed first-hand how you work to create a sense of belonging in the S-OP program; how you lean in to difficult conversations in the classroom about difference and prejudice; how you partner with us and with one another to learn more and share more about equity, diversity and inclusion both here at TC and in the myriad organizations in which you work. Some of the DEIA work of the S-OP community is highlighted in this newsletter. I know it is only a snapshot, and is always a work in progress, but I hope you enjoy reading about it as I have.
I know there is reason for pain, anger and sorrow given all we are facing, individually and collectively. I also know we are lucky to have each other and that we can work to face some of it together. Our current difficult context is exactly why we must keep moving forward to fight injustice, to work for equity, to embrace diversity, and to nurture belonging. Our S-OP community – that’s something to toast to for sure. Drink it up.
Wishing all of you a peaceful and happy holiday weekend.
Warmly,
Sarah J. Brazaitis, Ph.D.
MA Program Director
Current Student Profile
Mo Khan
Mo Khan (he/him) is a second year M.A. student in the Social-Organizational Psychology program. After obtaining his B.B.A. in Computer Information Systems at James Madison University, Mo started his career in the Technology Advisory practice at KPMG US LLP in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area.
Upon engaging in employee resource groups (ERGs), organizational activism initiatives, and inclusive talent partnerships at the firm, Mo pivoted into the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) space, joining a boutique LGBTQ+ EDI consulting firm. At the firm, he worked with clients to co-create inclusion strategies and talent development pipelines for LGBTQ+ professionals across large scale organizations in New York. Most recently, Mo worked in a dual Culture & Inclusion role at a large Creative Advertising organization, leading internal EDI initiatives across the global holding company. In addition to his professional experience, Mo has a passion for organizational research. He served as a Dynamical Conversations Lab Facilitator in Dr. Peter Coleman’s 2021-2022 workgroup and as a Visiting Scholar at the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations in London, United Kingdom this past summer.
Mo currently serves as the Vice President of OHDCC. In his role, Mo has the honor of working with the wonderful 2022-2023 OHDCC Leadership Team, Associates, and greater membership to integrate an EDI lens across the student organization. From the upcoming Mentorship program to tailored community forums, OHDCC is transforming to integrate more fully an EDI lens into its mission and operations.
Alumni Profile
Shannon Kennedy
Shannon Kennedy is a 2022 graduate of the MA in Social-Organizational Psychology program at TC. As a social justice advocate, Shannon is passionate about creating equal access to opportunity and support for marginalized groups within organizations and communities. Shannon has spent her career focused on both human resources and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
Currently, Shannon is the Senior Human Resources Generalist for WDF Inc., a subsidiary of the Tutor Perini Corporation. Tutor Perini is a major construction company in the NY area that has most recently worked on such projects as Hudson's Yards. Shannon specializes in employee relations, recruiting and organizational development. She prioritizes the infusion of DEI practices into HR policies and procedures in order to ensure that equitable practices are being adhered to throughout her organization. Before joining WDF, she managed the DEI program for LXP Industrial trust and prior to that was with Saks Fifth Avenue/Hudson’s Bay Company.
Shannon earned her Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from Kenyon College and is currently earning a certification in Leading Diverse Teams & Organizations from the University of Michigan. Outside of her professional and academic ventures, Shannon is a lover of film and film studies and enjoys traveling the world. She has been to 15 countries and is counting!
You can connect with Shannon on LinkedIn.
Recommended Reading
This article, by our own Dr. Peter Coleman, recent doctoral graduate, Dr. Allegra Chen-Carrel, and Dr. Bodi Regan, discusses 5 modes of action grounded in conflict-resolution theory which can help increase the effectiveness of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in organizations by managing tensions constructively to create and sustain change.
This recent McKinsey report entitled, Asian American workers: Diverse outcomes and hidden challenges, outlines the often invisible challenges Asian Americans face at work.
This NPR article discusses recent antisemitism, its harm within Jewish communities, and what to do about it.
While we've shared this article before, it continues to be of great relevance. Recommended by S-OP doctoral student, Lan Phan, it details about how psychological courage, bravery and safety can help facilitate difficult conversations about social justice.