Dr. Matthew Telleen, assistant professor of communications, recently received the Faculty Award for Contribution to Diversity and Inclusion for his promotion of fair treatment of all individuals while teaching at Elizabethtown College.
“Diversity and inclusion have been an important part of my life,” Telleen said. Growing up with culturally aware parents and a sister adopted from Korea, Telleen understood from a very young age that exposure to diversity is not always sought out but should be appreciated regardless. “I feel very fortunate to have had experiences that have made me open to the concept of diversity and to the values that you get from being exposed to people of different backgrounds.”
His diversity-rich upbringing inspires him daily in the classroom; Telleen, who teaches media law and multi-cultural communications, received the award because he is able to integrate the oft-overlooked value of diversity and inclusion into his teachings. His goal is to help all of his students “appreciate the diversity of viewpoint and the diversity of socioeconomic status and the diversity of ambition [in addition to aesthetic differences],” he said. “If you see value in that diversity, you should know that that is the value in all diversity.”
Telleen affirms that universal inclusion will never be possible unless institutions like Etown take steps that are small, imperfect and incomplete. It is the ambition that matters most, and Telleen believes that the Etown faculty members can play a large role in impacting the attitudes of students. “My concern is for the students I currently have, and what I can do for them is to make them aware of the value of diversity so it’s something they seek out with some intention,” Telleen said. He encourages faculty members to lead by example, putting into practice small ways that students can understand those who are different than them. “Understanding how people are different helps you understand what makes you unique and helps you to reinforce your own ideas about yourself,” he said.
Continuing a lifetime of exposure to diversity, Telleen is married to an African-American woman and has a daughter with Down syndrome. “My family has now found a whole other level of acceptance and understanding of differences,” Telleen said. Receiving this diversity award is a true testament to the very open life that he has lived thus far and now promotes in the lives of his students. He encourages members of the Etown community to get to know people for who they are on the inside. Telleen’s life is one of admirable acceptance; being recognized for his tolerance and goodwill only solidifies his mission to teach his students that the world will be better off the more diverse it is.
