Dr. Anu Taranath — UW POD Affiliate Consultant
PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT
Hello, I’m Dr. Anu. I’m a speaker, facilitator, consultant, author and educator specializing in issues of diversity, racial equity and social change. I’ve been faculty at UW for 20 years, and teach about race, identity, difference, world literature and global issues in the departments of English and Comparative History of Ideas. I believe in pushing the conversation — without pushing folks away. As a consultant and collaboration partner, I invite people to grapple with the challenges of history and navigate our present with curiosity, honesty and compassion. I am comfortable with discomfort, and hold space for complexity from a mindful and holistic framework. I enjoy cultivating long-term relationships with my clients to see and support them through the many phases of equity work. I bring experience, passion and commitment to my work both at UW and beyond.
Credentials and Awards
- University of Washington Distinguished Teaching Award
- Four-time member of Humanities Washington Speakers Bureau
- Seattle Weekly’s “Best of Seattle” recognition
- Multiple US Fulbright Fellowships to work abroad
- Proprietor of “Dr. Anu Consulting,” a racial equity & DEI consultancy in operation for 15 years.
- PhD (2000), University of California, San Diego
My book Beyond Guilt Trips: Mindful Travel in an Unequal World was published in 2019, and has garnered many awards and honors:
- Washington State Book Award in Nonfiction (Shortlisted)
- Fodor’s Travels best “13 Books to Inspire Your Travels”
- Oprah Magazine’s “26 Best Travel Books Of All Times”
- Foreward INDIES Book of the Year Prize (Bronze Prize Winner)
- Wishing Shelf Awards in Nonfiction (Shortlisted)
- Next Generation Indie Award in Social Justice (Shortlisted).
Partnership Formats
- Conflict de-escalation
- Staff training and professional development
- Faculty workshops
- DEI committee support
- 1:1 coaching and support
- Graduate student support
- Leadership team support
- Town hall facilitations
- Curriculum and pedagogical support
- Keynotes
Areas of Expertise and Offerings
- Trainings on equity, race, identity, belonging and inclusion
- Staff and employee professional development and retreat facilitations on DEI, racial equity and social justice themes
- Facilitate town halls on race, anti-Black racism and compassion-based justice work
- Long-term curriculum building with educators around racial equity and global studies
- De-escalate racial conflict and facilitate dialogues to navigate tension points
- Create more inclusive and diverse spaces in traditionally white institutions
- One-on-one coaching and support with administrators, chairs and leadership teams to navigate difficult situations and/or proactively plan strategy and build skills
- Work with DEI committees on strategic planning and implementation
- Workshops and support around international partnerships given colonial histories and the contemporary manifestations of help, travel and aid.
- BIPOC caucusing and affinity group facilitation
- Pedagogical support for K-12 and higher ed educators on navigating sensitive topics in the classroom
- Training and curriculum development in more than 35 schools, school districts, colleges and universities across the United States and abroad in South Africa, Czech Republic, India, Austria and Ghana.
Selected Clients Within UW
- School of Public Health (various departments)
- College of Arts and Sciences (various departments and centers)
- UW Medicine (various departments)
- School of Social Work
- GEAR-UP Summer Teachers Institute
- Jackson School of International Studies
- The Whole U
- Q Center
- Psychology Dept
- UW Alumni Association
- WWAMI Family Medicine Residency Network (various programs)
Selected Clients Outside UW
- Land O’Lakes
- King County (various departments)
- Puget Sound Clean Air Agency
- Rick Steves’ Europe
- Amazon (various departments)
- Snohomish County Executive’s Office
- WA State Dept of Natural Resources
- WA Low Income Housing Alliance
- Landesa Rural Development Institute
- BECU
- American Institute of Architects
- The Gates Foundation
- The Residency, Macklemore LLC