A Step forward in Belonging

Secretary and Vice President for University Life Kimberly Goff-Crews ’83, ’86 J.D., is a leader who is advancing Yale’s vibrant community life while honoring its rich past. She leads the university’s vision and strategy to advance and support a university environment in which students, faculty, staff, and alumni experience a sense of connection, well-being, and belonging in their pursuit of excellence and in service to the university’s mission. Among her responsibilities is Belonging at Yale, which promotes a campus community in which everyone feels a sense of belonging. YourYale recently spoke with Secretary Goff-Crews about Belonging at Yale and the pivotal role of Cultivating Conversation, a new Belonging at Yale initiative that aims to amplify and promote openness and curiosity toward differing perspectives and people of all backgrounds and beliefs, and how Yale community members can actively contribute to this environment.

What does it mean to oversee university life at Yale, and how do staff fit in?

Serving in this capacity is an honor, as it involves supporting the diverse needs of everyone at Yale. My approach is centered on recognizing the crossroads and intersections of what these groups and individuals need; not just one—but all. When I talk to staff, students, and faculty across campus, I get to discover what drives and inspires them in their work, studies, research, and scholarship. By listening to their passions and motivations, I begin to understand what they may need now, how those needs may change in the future, and imagine how to provide support to help them thrive in their pursuit of Yale’s mission.

One of the things that I appreciate about Yale is that we have long-serving staff who are very active on campus. It is important to recognize all the people who comprise the Yale community, particularly staff, because they help drive the culture and environment for us to do our best work. It’s gratifying to know that what our office is doing to support one group will have ripple effects across the broader community, enriching the university experience for all.

You lead Belonging at Yale. What are some proud moments for Belonging at Yale over the last year?

There are so many! The significant milestones are marked by growth in the hiring and retention of diverse faculty and staff and partnerships with historically Black colleges and universities, and I’m thrilled about the expansion of military and veteran support. I must also add that the Yale and Slavery Research Project was a very special experience for me as I represent a bridge between my ancestors and predecessors in my role.

Among the numerous moments, I think back to when we launched Belonging at Yale amid the pandemic, and I appreciate its seamless integration as part of the fabric and infrastructure of the university. I find joy in seeing how the broader concept of belonging plays out in specific ways throughout the various areas of our community, such as in different colleges, schools, business units, and administration. In the last year, 27 units developed plans aligned to the initiative, and they are nearing 70% completion on those plans.

Teams, offices, and affinity groups often share their progress with me: “We just launched a new program tied to Belonging [at Yale];” “Our team increased the diversity of our faculty and staff year over year;” or “In support of Belonging [at Yale], we were able to update our policy.”

We’re only in year three of our university five-year action plan, and the growth has reflected an increasingly widespread commitment and investment in our sense of belonging and in our pursuit of excellence for the university.

Can you tell us about the Cultivating Conversation initiative, and how it builds upon the work of Belonging at Yale?

When creating the Belonging at Yale framework and action plan, we talked to many Yale community members, including staff, students, faculty, and alumni, to inform the foundation of this work. What we heard consistently from nearly every individual was that Yale would be an even better place if we, as a community, are more willing and equipped to converse and engage with each other. We took this feedback and crafted, under Belonging at Yale, the new Cultivating Conversation initiative to amplify and promote openness and curiosity toward differing perspectives and equip our community with the tools and support to communicate freely, exchange ideas, and better connect with each other. Multiple efforts and activities are underway to create intentional and embedded opportunities for everyone at Yale to learn about and participate in this initiative.

Why is it important for us to focus on Cultivating Conversation?

In the discovery phase for Belonging at Yale, President Emeritus Peter Salovey and his colleagues in psychology helped us develop a definition of belonging for the Yale community. Part of the definition is about being in shared environments and interpersonal relationships where you feel connected and accepted for who you are. This sense of connection can be enhanced through feeling seen and heard, which we hope will be one of the outcomes of the work we are doing together through Cultivating Conversation. Focusing on Cultivating Conversation is important because enhancing a culture of openness and engagement leads to increased connection and sense of belonging. So even though Cultivating Conversation is fairly new, its foundations are core tenants of Belonging at Yale, identified at its inception.

And we are not only thinking about the most challenging topics. On this subject, much of what I’ve heard from our community centers on everyday relationship matters: “How do I have a conversation in a group setting when I don’t agree with what’s being said or have a different perspective?” or “How do I talk to my manager if power dynamics are at play?” And further, “How do I create and maintain welcoming environments for new employees?”

Part of what we are creating with our university partners for staff are expert-led opportunities to engage with practical guidance on the “how”—addressing respectful dialogue, building authentic relationships, freedom of expression, and conflict resolution, to name a few.

How do you envision Yale community members—students, staff, faculty, and beyond—contributing to and engaging with this initiative?

Our Yale community has already contributed so much, and I’m excited to see how that commitment continues to evolve. What we envision and encourage is the willingness to be in conversation at both individual and group levels, demonstrating respect for one another, and remaining open to various perspectives and viewpoints. There is also a wealth of monthly opportunities highlighted on the Belonging website for individuals to get involved all year long. With increased awareness and understanding, we can continue to put programming in place to sustain engagement within our campus community. When we are encouraged to pause and think about what belonging looks and feels like, we can bring those visions to life.

We all benefit from this work internally—but it also means that when things happen externally, we are prepared as a community. Belonging at Yale and Cultivating Conversation are really creating a way of being where everyone can thrive. We are constantly engaging, actively listening, and sparking dialogue by asking, “What else can we do to support you at Yale?”