Lyssa Palu-ay MFA, ‘01, MassArt alumna and Dean of Justice, Equity, and Transformation invites us all to ask hard questions, engage with different perspectives, and imagine what might be.

I earned my MFA in photography from MassArt, but actually started my creative career a little late. My bachelor’s is in political science — as an undergrad, I didn’t even know where the art department was! But I finally gave myself permission to pursue photography and see where it would lead me. It brought me to MassArt, where I found a place to play creatively and ask questions. I felt so supported and welcomed here. Through my work in the Justice, Equity, and Transformation (JET) Office, I want to extend that welcoming feeling that I experienced.

Bringing equity to every corner of MassArt 

With JET, we’re seeding equity through the whole institution. That means we’re making explicit efforts to support and create a sense of belonging for BIPOC students and community members. And bringing awareness to the challenges these students may face while navigating a curriculum that — in some cases — is still very Eurocentric.

We work to support our BIPOC community through programming like artist residencies that bring BIPOC artists, scholars, and writers to campus, but that learning is for everyone. Our aim is to create spaces that are open to multiple perspectives to help our entire community find a new way of looking at things. Once we’ve fostered a place where everyone feels like they belong — even if they don’t always agree with one another — it becomes easier to embrace different perspectives. So as an institution, let’s create a learning space where people are free to engage in ideas and gain a deeper understanding of each other.

That type of change doesn’t happen overnight. Fostering equity is a process that begins with a willingness to ask hard questions and be vulnerable. It’s not: “Okay, we did that one thing and now we check off that box.” We want the community to understand that everyone has a role to play in this work. And it can’t be done in isolation, either…Folks can engage with our work through things like the JET Liaison Program. Our liaisons come together to ask questions or noodle through a policy or practice that they’re wondering about. Together, we’re workshopping ideas and building relationships on a foundation of trust.