Patrice Abner - Director of Student Inclusion, Jacksonville University
Patrice is the inaugural director of student inclusion at Jacksonville University, where she’s responsible for creating a more inclusive and just campus for all JU students. She does so by supporting underrepresented student organizations, working to create inclusive policies, providing training to faculty and staff, and so much more. The Student Inclusion Center opened in 2017 and Patrice has since spearheaded the department and created a safe, supportive and comfortable space for all who need it. She leads with the motto ‘diversity is not just my job, it’s everybody’s job.’
The Basics:
Hometown: Jacksonville, FL
Current city: Jacksonville, FL
Alma mater: Nova Southeastern University, University of North Florida
Degree: B.S., Communications; M.S. College Student Affairs
Very first job: Cashier, Publix
Hustle: Director of Student Inclusion, Jacksonville University
The Interests:
Babe you admire and why?
I’m really fan-girling on Stacey Abrams. She is the definition of turning lemons into lemonade. After Stacey ran for governor in the state of Georgia and lost to Brian Kemp, she continued to work toward change against voter suppression. In 2018, she founded Fair Fight Action to promote fair elections. I believe this was part of the reason for the historic Black turnout for the 2020 Presidential election. Her fortitude and tenacity gives me the push when the work I am doing to create change gets hard.
What’s your favorite way to start (or end) your weekend?
Laughing with my friends. Most times, it happens to be over brunch.
Favorite place you’ve traveled?
I loved traveling to Paris and Rome with one of my sorority sisters in 2015.
What albums do you have on repeat right now?
I’m really into the R&B Now playlist on Apple Music, which features artists like like H.E.R., GIVEON, Jhene Aiko and Bryson Tiller.
The Hustle:
Tell us about your hustle, providing a summary of your roles and the work you do daily.
I serve as the inaugural Director of Student Inclusion at Jacksonville University. Though it sounds fancy, my goal is to create a more inclusive and just campus culture for students. I support underrepresented student organizations, work to create inclusive policies, provide training to faculty and staff, among many other things.
Tell us about the Student Inclusion Center. What has the evolution of the department been like since you created it, and what was the most important piece of your vision for it?
The Student Inclusion Center started in 2017 when I joined the Jacksonville University community. At that time, there had been diversity initiatives, but there was no one person dedicated to doing the work. I believe the evolution has been that my motto of “diversity is not just my job, it’s everybody’s job” is starting to ring true. I feel there are more conversations happening campus-wide, and changes are being made than ever before. The most important piece of my vision was two-fold. First, I wanted to support underrepresented students. As a product of a predominately white institution, I know the impact of having faculty and staff that look like you. Two of the people I think about most from my collegiate experience were Black women. Second, I wanted campus to be moved toward change. We have gender neutral restrooms, campus-wide committees on diversity and inclusion and continued assessment through an annual climate survey.
What’s your relationship like with your students? What's your approach to building a level of trust while maintaining the necessary emotional boundaries of your role?
I phoned a few friends to help me answer this question. A lot of my students think of me like their cool auntie. They know that I’m invested in their development. I support them but I also challenge them. I teach them to advocate for themselves. I try to bring out the best in them and in turn, they bring out the best in me. My approach to building a level of trust is really being my authentic self and being transparent. When things are happening and I can talk to them about the why, I will. When I am struggling, I tell them.
How have your past professional and academic experiences and lessons prepared you for the work you do today? How have they not prepared you?
My previous role at the University of North Texas taught me how to best support the students I work with, how current social issues can impact the college experience and how I wanted to supervise/be supervised. Nothing prepared me for the emotional toll the work can take on oneself. I feel like when working in diversity, equity and inclusion, the work doesn’t stop when you leave the office—it’s on social media, it’s in the news, it’s always in view.
How has being a woman impacted your professional experiences? What can we collectively do to support and empower women in your industry today?
I have been blessed to work and connect with some amazing women. We can support and empower women by providing them the space to be their best authentic selves, challenging them to be better and hearing them even when they aren’t speaking.
How have your job, roles and industry differed from what they looked like before the pandemic?
I think higher education has truly seen the impact of the pandemic, and I believe the college experience is forever changed. Though we were physically on campus for the Fall semester, we did not have any large in-person programming, and some classes had a hybrid model. I have also seen position eliminations, pay cuts, changes to benefits, etc. at schools across the country. It has definitely been a challenging time, especially in student affairs, when we are used to doing more with less. College professionals are stretched thin.
What’s one thing you’re proud to have accomplished in your career thus far?
The Student Inclusion Center feels like the home I never knew I needed to provide. Students feel like the space is warm, inviting and a place they want to be. I truly believe the Center is making a difference, and serving as a key part of retention for underrepresented students.
Who are some women in your field that you look to for inspiration?
I look to Dr. Sandra Miles at Flagler College and Sheila Spivey at the University of North Florida for inspiration locally.
Career and/or life advice for other babes?
Listen to your body. Take care of yourself. Nobody can take care of you like you. Do not let the work become you. If you leave tomorrow, your organization will find someone to do your job.
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