It takes the proverbial village to advance diversity—and in your case the heart of the village is your campus. Think creatively about engaging colleagues, not only in your school but across your institution in the diversity mission. Their ideas will prove invaluable, and their practical assistance will help you extend the reach of what you hope to achieve.

• Gather information. One of the best things you can do to support your own work is to gather as much information as possible. That means getting out on campus. Don’t just stay in the business school “bubble.” Attend meetings all across campus that might have a diversity angle. Network as much as you can. Get to know others on campus—and let them get to know you. Speak up and be visible.
• Be active in your school’s diversity advisory board. Many universities have formal diversity advisory boards. These groups may operate at several functional levels above your own campus rank, but ideally you will have a seat at that table. Advisory boards open doors for work with administrators, faculty, high ranking staff, and sometimes even trustees—and offer a venue for you to promote your work, and yourself.
• Build your own group of advisors. Apart from connections with official diversity boards, many diversity officers create their own informal advisory groups. Colleagues across the business school—or better yet, across the university—can act as your sounding board for new ideas and as consultants for problem solving. Find these colleagues, then schedule time to meet regularly for lunch, away from office distractions.
• Be open to partnerships. You never know when you might find someone on campus with whom you can collaborate on diversity activities. If your university is large enough, for example, you might be able to partner with peers in other professional schools to advance mutual goals—such as marketing programs to diverse audiences. Be alert to such possibilities. When you find a like-minded colleague, act fast to start a collaboration.

One colleague's perspective:

• Sponsor campus conversations. Campus dialogues can help energize campus work around diversity. Don’t wait for one to happen though—go out and sponsor your own campus conversation.
• Find a mentor. Perhaps you’re new to a campus, or new to your diversity responsibilities. Find a mentor who can help you learn who’s who at your institution and how to get things done. A good mentor can also help you brainstorm and assess whether your strategies are on the right track.
• Current students. Don’t forget about current students—they’re usually highly motivated and more than willing to help you advance diversity. Students can also help you gauge whether strategies you’re thinking about would resonate with their peers. Create an advisory group of current students. Tap their ideas for insights. Engage student help on projects.

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