Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Department of Biology is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe it is our responsibility to redress inequities present in our department and to foster a community in which every member feels welcome, safe, and appreciated. To that end, our diversity committee—comprised of faculty, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and staff—works to increase diversity and equity and build a safe, inclusive departmental community.
Recent activities include the following:
- Increased paid parental leave for graduate students
- Required a diversity statement for faculty applications
- Made the GRE optional for graduate admissions
- Compiled diversity and sexual harassment resources to be included in course syllabi
- Added posters addressing disability issues to our hallways and common areas
- Posted a map celebrating the diverse geographic origins of our department members
- Petitioned for, constructed, and furnished a lactation room in Hutchinson Hall
- Created a consolidated brochure of University resources, which is now given to every new department member
- Organized a department-wide Safe Space training
- Created an .
Diversity Statement
We in the Department of Biology value integrity and workplace inclusivity. We strongly believe that our ability to excel in research and educating students is deeply rooted in engaging a diverse community. Therefore, we welcome and value students, faculty, and staff who represent all axes of diversity. We are committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for everyone—including undergraduate and graduate students, researchers of all levels, staff, and faculty—to learn, work, and go about their daily business. We believe that we all have a role to play in building and maintaining a respectful environment and we do not tolerate discrimination or harassment. For more information about the 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳’s policies on diversity and inclusion, please visit .
Diversity Committee Members
- Jennifer Brisson, faculty, co-chair
- Elka Gaydash, graduate student
- Aaron Lewis, staff
- Brenna Rybak, staff, co-chair
- Elsie Shogren, postdoc
- Floria Uy, faculty
Our diversity committee is always looking for new perspectives and ideas about how to promote an inclusive, supportive environment in the Department of Biology. If you have suggestions, please feel free to contact any of us individually or contact us anonymously with the button below. All suggestions will be reviewed by the committee. If you would like a response, please include your contact information.