Mixing Diversity, Equity and Martial Arts

Name: Robert "Bob" Crouch

Position: Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Office for Institutional Equity

Years at Duke: 10 

What I do at Duke: The Office for Institutional Equity covers three areas: affirmative action and equal opportunity; harassment prevention and gender equity; and diversity, inclusion and equity. Within the area of diversity, inclusion and equity, my role is to partner with Duke University, Duke University Health System and other organizations to provide workshops and retreats that address diversity and inclusion. These consultations help participants to create an inclusive environment where people across differences and similarities - whether based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or other issues - can feel respected. 

If I had $5 million, I would: First, I would help close family members with their needs and wants and help my church financially. My next act of kindness would be to provide assistance to a public service program that I coordinate, the North Carolina Re-entry Action Project (NCREAP), which provides resources such as employment, education, housing, etc., for young men and others who have experienced incarceration to assist their re-entry into society.  

My first ever job: My dad was a building contractor so I would help him out occasionally.  However, my first paying job was at Belk.  It was good to have money in high school. 

What I love about Duke: The people.  Building and cultivating relationships is important. I also love Duke sports. 

To start a conversation with me, ask me about: Sports, definitely; particularly basketball. I'm a LeBron James, Miami Heat, fan.  I played basketball and football in high school. I'm also a news junkie-electronic media, newspapers, etc. I enjoy talking about current news events and adding my perspective.

The best advice I ever received: It may not be the best but it has stuck with me:  "between stimulus and response is choice." This helps me in my personal and professional life because it makes me more aware of my behavior, my actions and how I "show up" as I am interacting with others.  

If I could have one superpower, it would be: The ability to heal. In some science fiction movies when a person gets shot and the hero comes and places his hand over the wound and heals the person, wow, I wish I had that power. 

Something most people don't know about me: I practice Aikido, a Japanese martial art. I hold a Black Belt. I wear hakama pants, which are similar to a long skirt which hides your feet from the opponent in order to conceal your next movement. I was attracted to Aikido because at its highest form seeks not only to promote self-protection but also to prevent serious harm to the attacker. It teaches how to redirect the aggressor's energy in a conflict physically and interpersonally. 

A movie I like: My favorite movie is "The Godfather". I know there are a lot of vices and bad stuff in the movie, which I don't condone, but the story itself, which promotes family, love and bond, I find interesting and even heart-warming at times.