An Introduction to the M.A. in Advocacy & Equity Studies

Dr. Shaniece Criss, the director of Furman University’s new Master of Arts in Advocacy and Equity Studies program, explains the role that the program will be playing in the community through partnerships, student work, student career paths, and its unique advantages. 

 

What do the words “advocacy and equity” mean to you?

Advocacy means that you want other people to know about an issue, you feel the awareness will help the community, and you want to see a change and you’re working towards that change.

Equity means that you create a system where everybody has access to opportunity. 

 

What do you see as the need for a program like the Master of Arts in Advocacy and Equity Studies in our city, region, and nation?

People often wonder how they can get into this field and how they can make a difference. Furman’s Master of Arts in Advocacy and Equity Studies will be a natural pipeline to that path. I see this as an opportunity to work in many areas – nonprofit leadership, social responsibility in corporate America, governmental relations, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work. This program is not just for one sector, it’s for people who want to advocate for something they care about and want to make sure that we create an environment where everybody can thrive.

 

How will this program seek to actualize the work students are doing in the classroom to manifest real change in our local and regional communities?

One thing I love about this program is the thesis-in-action component. Students will focus on a topic they’re passionate about and actually work in the community to address it. It could be local, state, or federal, it could be social media, or it could be worldwide. Regardless of how students define community, they can apply their passion to the community, and they will have a professor to guide them along to think about the skills they learned from their classes and how to move forward. I’m hoping there will be people who walk away with a tangible product where they can say they did it in this master’s program, and that it made a difference.

 

How is this program unique from other similar programs around the nation and around the world?

First, there’s not many programs like this one. Furman is innovative and willing to ensure that we identify advocacy and equity studies as important topics. There are many people who want to do more in this area, and we’re going to provide this excellent program as a space where people can be equipped. 

Our geographic location sets us apart from other programs. We are in South Carolina, and there is not a program exactly like this one in our state. Greenville, South Carolina is a prime location because there are many organizations and corporations. There’s a lot of synergy that can happen. Every geographic region has a beauty to it, and there’s a real beauty to being here and doing this work.  

 

What types of students are you hoping to draw into the program?

This is an interdisciplinary degree, so you can come from any background, as long as you have an issue that you want to advocate for, and you are committed to making sure whatever space you work in is equitable. 

People may want to address education or criminal justice issues. There’s so many different areas that people could pursue. We will have sessions to help students explore the multitude of jobs in this area.

Personally, I love health equity. My background is in public health, and literally any job can have public health in it. I feel the same about advocacy and equity because they are foundational issues that should be included in every arena. 

 

What are the partnerships that we facilitate and where could they take our students?

It is all driven by student interest. When a student comes into our program interested in a specific area, we are going to make sure they have a partner within that area. 

We are in a position where we can partner with all our great institutes on campus. We can work with the Institute for the Advancement of Community Health, especially if a student is passionate about health issues. We also have the Riley Institute that focuses on advancing social and economic progress in South Carolina  

We have the Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities, which would be a great partner for students concerned about environmental issues. This institute is also focused on research and education that support sustainability.

We have the Hill Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, so having advocacy and equity students work with an innovative lens is going to be paramount. With regard to community organizing, new approaches are always emerging, and we have to be ready to utilize platforms to move society forward. I see a partnership with all of our different communities on campus. 

 

How will students experience mentorship in the Program?

Students coming into our program are going to have wonderful mentorship opportunities.

The first mentorship opportunity will be with the professors and learning in the classroom. It’s important that students know they are contributing to classroom learning as well. Adult learning theory says it is most useful when students take their experiences and share them with their colleagues and find ways to apply them. So, I would like to create an atmosphere where we are learning from each other, and our goal is to have people from all stages of their career in this master’s program. 

We will also have guest speakers come into the classroom, which will also be opportunities for mentorship. 

Also, people will cultivate mentorships through the practicum process. When they do a community based project, they will be working with people at partner organizations, and those will be relationships that will turn into future work relationships and partnerships.

 

How might our students directly impact equity concerns within our communities? 

There will be a whole class dedicated to students working on an issue. The electives will provide options so that our students can hone their specific interests. Students could literally spend one, two, or three semesters actively working on a project that they care about in the community.

 

What are some directions you see our students taking this program in their careers?

There are many avenues students can take with this program. It can equip students to pursue a range of careers in private, public, and non-profit sectors – in the U.S. and internationally. In government, they can create programs to address certain issues. In the corporate setting, they can work on community initiatives. In non-profit and advocacy groups, they can set the policy agenda. For foundations, they can ensure that everybody has the opportunity to access funds to improve their communities. There are many countless possibilities in this field.

 

Are you interested in careers influencing positive societal change?

Furman University’s new Master of Arts in Advocacy and Equity Studies program will provide students with the necessary problem-solving skills to find beneficial solutions for communities. For more information about Furman University’s Master of Arts in Advocacy and Equity Studies program click HERE.