William Zhou, Ph.D, Assistant Professor of Management, was named a North Star Collective (NSC) fellow, a prestigious recognition for faculty dedicated to advancing racial equity in higher education.
The North Star Collective is a group of colleges and universities in New England that supports black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) faculty through mentorship, professional development and leadership opportunities. Zhou, who joined the SHU faculty last year, said he is very excited to be part of the program.
Source: Jack Cavicchi and Daniel Passapera, Sacred Heart University
“I think this initiative is very important because it provides opportunities and resources to learn a more effective strategy to interact with our BIPOC students,” Zhou said. “We share the progress our university has made in better supporting BIPOC faculties and we talk about problems we’re faced with and how we can solve them together as a community.”
The NSC fellowship aims to address challenges that BIPOC faculty often face in higher education, such as career advancement barriers and lack of institutional support. Through the program, Zhou will have access to mentorship and workshops designed to strengthen leadership skills and expand research opportunities.
According to the Sacred Heart University website, other SHU faculty members have received the NSC fellowship previously. Assistant Professor of Management, Seung Whan Ryu, Ph.D and Jonix Owino, Ph.D, assistant professor of psychology, completed the fellowships before Zhou.
“Before the NSC fellowship, I was aware of our university’s efforts, but the fellowship enabled me to experience those values firsthand,” Ryu said. “The fellowship provided a meaningful opportunity to see how the university actively invests in fostering an inclusive environment. The experience made me feel more valued, accepted and supported within our community.”
Owino shared similar insights of enthusiasm and gratitude about her experience with the NSC fellowship.
“The NSC fellowship was a transformative experience, broadening my academic horizons and enriching my research with marginalized communities,” Owino said. “I am deeply grateful to the university for providing this opportunity and for fostering ongoing support that continues to enhance my professional development as faculty.”
Students who took Zhou’s courses echoed similar praise. Junior Anwar Tahir implied that Zhou’s mentorship has made a lasting impact.
“With this fellowship, Dr. Zhou is able to improve his research on mainly minority entrepreneurs and will make a further impact on the entrepreneur ecosystem,” Tahir said. “Also, his teaching is able to strengthen diversity, inclusion, and belonging-related content in his teachings, which will improve the student experience at SHU.”
Tahir expressed his admiration for Zhou’s distinct qualities as a professor and mentor. Along with those qualities, he believes Zhou’s teaching methods and engagement with his students make the NSC fellowship well-deserved.
Maurice Nelson, SHU’s chief diversity and inclusion officer, implied that Zhou’s hard work and dedication earned him this fellowship.
“Dr. Zhou’s selection for this prestigious fellowship reflects his outstanding contributions to entrepreneurship, scholarship and innovation. We are incredibly proud of his achievement,” Nelson said in a statement to Sacred Heart.
Nelson emphasized the work the university does for its faculty and the importance of the NSC fellowship.
“At Sacred Heart University, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment where all faculty, especially those from historically underrepresented backgrounds, can thrive,” Nelson said. “The NSC fellowship is a vital initiative that not only provides professional development but also creates a space for mentorship, healing and community building for BIPOC faculty.”
Zhou’s fellowship is expected to strengthen SHU’s initiatives in faculty development and diversity. He believes his role as an NSC fellow will have a strong impact.
“The NSC fellowship will provide more diverse opportunities and resources to enhance my teaching and make it more effective,” Zhou said.
