When we make it a habit to share pronouns we create an environment where we learn not to assume, based on someone’s appearance, what a person’s gender is or how they want to be referred to in the third person (what pronouns they use). Whether or not any one of us might ourselves be worried we will be misgendered, proactively offering ours is a meaningful practice to cultivate a community of inclusion and belonging.

Great news for our virtual experiences! The most recent upgrade for Zoom makes it possible to add pronouns so they always show up in your profile. Make this change. 

Also, an upgrade to make pronouns visible in Blackboard and Starfish is also coming soon, and we have drafted a proposed policy on pronouns. Take a moment to read the proposal and share your feedback.

— Jen Harvey, Associate Provost, Campus Equity and Inclusion