The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee was initiated by the IGG Program Chairs (Drs. S. Burgess and D. J. Segal). Current members of the DEI Committee are:
Faculty/Staff Members:
TBA, Victoria Torres
Student Members:
Kelsey Roberts, Devin Romines, and Tell Mathieu
Vision Statement
Making the commitment to embrace DEI is the first important step in bringing about the changes what we, as a group, would like to see in our IGG Graduate Program. We are cognizant that improving and addressing DEI issues can be complex, and sometimes difficult to talk about. Our major objective is to develop and nurture a graduate Program where all students can reach their maximum potential. Through our work, we hope to empower all IGG members to remove barriers based on sex/gender preference, social injustice, inequality, and racial trauma. This effort marks our strategic framework as a driving force in our enduring commitment to truly embody a forward-looking Program where all (faculty, students, and staff) can belong, contribute, and thrive. We are committed to engaging all our students and faculty to promote equality and inclusion for all.
Our goals and plans are ambitious, and there is a significant amount of work that needs to be done to complete the actions items within our plan. To this end, we welcome all of you at IGG to join the DEI Committee (students and faculty) and/or attend our monthly meetings (every first Monday of the month at 8 am). See below for contact information.
Mission Action Statement
As a DEI Committee, we recognize the significant gap in the education of underrepresented groups, more so in those historically marginalized. In this spirit, we are eager to support and enrich our students, professors, and staff in the following capacities:
- Provide education and training in DEI issues including resources for underrepresented students’ educational plans and professional development
- Advance student diversity and retention into our IGG program through improved mentorship opportunities
- Develop a strategy to sustain DEI efforts within IGG
Updates on DEI
To assess the diversity, equality, and inclusion climate in IGG, we conducted a survey to collect concrete evidence from faculty to keep discussions focused on important DEI issues and plan action items to move forward. The main outcomes of the survey were the following:
- Evaluate the extent to which faculty experience our Program as a safe, caring, welcoming, and respectful place that is fair to all.
- Collect information about IGG’s practices that integrate DEI into classroom activities as well as co-curricular offerings.
- Initiate dialogues about the current DEI practices at IGG.
- Assess baseline strengths, identify areas for improvement, and track progress related to DEI efforts in IGG.