Leading with gratitude: Applying Robin Wall Kimmerer’s philosophy to CEHD

In her essay ‘The Serviceberry— Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World’—Indigenous scientist Robin Wall Kimmerer provides a compelling reminder that all flourishing is mutual. The Serviceberry’s relationship with the natural world embodies interconnectedness and gratitude. The tree distributes its abundance—in this case, sweet juicy berries—to meet the needs of its community. Kimmerer describes long histories of Indigenous peoples organizing, in part, around cultures of gratitude, where ways of life recognize earthly resources—the stuff of life—as gifts requiring recognition and responsibility. Failure to show gratitude dishonors the gift.

I am Frank Symons, the current interim dean for the College of Education and Human Development. As many of you know, Michael C. Rodriguez is currently serving as the U of M Morris chancellor. I worked with Michael in my role as the associate dean for research and policy for the past 5 years and prior to that in the same role with our former Dean Jean Quam for another 7 years; and, all told, I have been a member of the CEHD community for the past 26 years with my faculty home in the special education program of the Department of Educational Psychology. While I am not a 5th-generation Minnesotan, as Michael would say, my family and I consider St. Paul and Minnesota to be our home, and we are grateful.

And, in the roles and opportunities I have had—because of Michael and Jean, and because of the University of Minnesota—I am grateful. When I consider the interconnectedness of the CEHD community, the abundance of its resources, I think of the stories in these pages as both gifts and as our gratitude for the individuals and the communities we serve; for those who have invited us in; and for those who have trusted us—we owe a debt of gratitude and responsibility. And, as discussed by Kimmerer, while gratitude may be the first response to a gift, the second is reciprocity—to give a gift in return—and that is what we as a community—CEHD—intend to continue to strive for—to give a gift in return—to not be transactional but reciprocal—because gratitude and reciprocity have the wondrous property of multiplying with every exchange. So, please, enjoy in some small way our gifts—our stories—and remember—all flourishing is mutual.

–Frank Symons
CEHD Interim Dean, Distinguished McKnight University Professor, Department of Educational Psychology

Photo by Jairus Davis