Episode 10: Eww, Networking.

No one wants to hand out cards at a mixer. It's just a fact! Luckily, there are other forms of networking out there for you to explore – and that will help prepare you for your job search. We turned to Dr. Bedelia Richards to learn more about new ways to think about networking, why it's crucial for students and faculty of color – and how we can all move beyond the dreaded small talk.

A little about our guest:

Bedelia Nicola Richards, PhD is an Associate Professor of Sociology in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Richmond. She is also the founder of RaceTalk LLC. RaceTalk LLC provides workshops and other consulting services to academics, administrators and student groups on issues related to racial and socioeconomic equity in higher education institutions.

 Dr. Richards received her doctorate in Sociology from The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. As a race/ethnicity, immigration and education scholar, she interrogates the role of educational institutions in reproducing institutionalized racism and classism. Consistent with this interest, Dr. Richards has worked in organizations that advocate for underserved and racially minoritized youth in furthering their educational and occupational goals. She has also co-edited a volume, Clearing the Path for first generation college students which focuses on practical and effective approaches for addressing the opportunity gap between first-generation college students and students with college-educated parents.

Dr. Richard’s scholarship also examines inequities in higher education that manifest in the classroom experiences of women faculty and faculty of color. Her goal to produce knowledge that can inform the professional development and mentoring of underrepresented and underserved faculty is reflected in her essay “Faculty Assessment as Tools of Oppression.” Dr. Richards has also published her work in Ethnic & Racial Studies; Sociology of Race and Ethnicity; Social Problems, Black Women, Gender and Families; and International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. Dr. Richards is available for consulting with institutions on how to create inclusive and equitable environments on college campuses. She can be reached at [email protected].