|
|
November 2020 Volume 1, Issue 8 |
|
WELCOME TO THE OFFICE FOR DIVERSITY NEWSLETTER! |
This month we feature outstanding scholarship, achievements, and community engagement. Learn more about the interdisciplinary research program of Dr. Adrienne Carter-Sowell, Associate Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences. Discover how mentorship helped inspire the career of Whitney Douglass ‘09, Director of Business Development at Crabtree Interpreting, to serve others and facilitate access for students with disabilities. Read about how the Office for Diversity held speed consultations to support the DOC members in writing the 2020 accountability reports.
This month, we continue to develop our calendar of events to facilitate engagement and highlight opportunities for professional and personal development. Additionally, we feature the Student Spotlight to showcase what makes the Office for Diversity Learning Community outstanding! Please enjoy this month’s the newsletter and be sure to visit diversity.tamu.edu to learn about the opportunities and resources shared in this issue. Happy reading!
|
|
Texas A&M University has received the 2020 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award for the second year in a row. The College of Dentistry and the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences have also won this prestigious award. Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) recognizes outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion, and is awarded by the INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest diversity-focused publication in higher education.
|
|
PRODUCING OUTSTANDING SCHOLARSHIP |
|
Dr. Adrienne Carter-Sowell |
|
What is the inspiration for your research?
My research interests have always stemmed from a sense of double consciousness.
|
|
ADVANCING OUTSTANDING SCHOLARSHIP |
|
ACES FELLOWS APPLICATIONS OPEN
Texas A&M University’s Accountability, Climate, Equity, and Scholarship (ACES) Fellows Program is a faculty pipeline initiative that connects those advancing outstanding scholarship with relevant disciplinary units on campus. The ACES Fellows Program is a two-year (24 month) fellowship for early career Ph.D.s. Applicants should have earned their Ph.D. (or appropriate terminal degree) between January 1, 2017 and July 1, 2021. Fellows will begin their appointment in fall 2021. The ACES Fellows Program is funded by the Office of the Provost, and administered by the Office for Diversity at Texas A&M in partnership with the College of Engineering and the College of Science. Applications are due on December 1, 2020 by 11:59 p.m.
|
|
CONNECTING THOSE ADVANCING ACCOUNTABILITY |
|
Dr. Iris Carrillo, she/her/hers/ella, Assistant Director of Diversity & Inclusion and Licensed Psychologist at Counseling & Psychological Services, presented on the connection between mental health and social justice during the October meeting of the Diversity Operation Committee. The presentation focused on the importance of self-care in social justice work. Dr. Carrillo explained how self-care works against the negative impact of racism, marginalization, and oppression; combats racial battle fatigue and race-based traumatic stress; and eases the stress that our bodies have soaked up over time, reducing physical tension and pain.
The Diversity Operations Committee (DOC) is a university-wide committee that serves as an advisory body to the Vice President and Associate Provost for Diversity.
|
|
|
INNOVATIVE PRACTICES:
VIRTUAL SPEED CONSULTATIONS
Virtual speed consultations were held on October 6, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on October 9, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. More than twenty members of the Diversity Operations Committee (DOC) participated in the virtual consultations led by Dr. Jennifer Reyes, Assistant Vice President for Diversity and Dr. Robin Means Coleman, Vice President and Associate Provost of Diversity. The sessions offered DOC members an opportunity to ask questions and share best management practices for the completion of their units' Diversity Plan Accountability reports. The objective of these reports is to provide campus-wide units with a platform to present information and key data regarding their successes and challenges advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in 2020, as well as their strategies and plans to continue to do so.
As our Texas A&M community adapts to this new environment of learning, teaching, working, and connecting virtually, it is imperative that our Diversity Plan goals of accountability, campus climate, and equity remain at the forefront of all our decisions. To put a finer point on the issue, particularly in times of crisis, we must ensure that all existing and planned policies, operations, procedures, and major plans for organizational change continue to be pursued with careful attention to their impact on our diversity, inclusion, and accessibility goals. Diversity Plan Accountability reports were submitted on November 5, 2020.
|
|
FACILITATING ACCESS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES |
|
|
|
Whitney Douglass '09 is the Director of Business Development at Crabtree Interpreting. We interviewed Ms. Douglass about her role as a sign language interpreter, how she became interested in the field, and strategies to become better advocates. This year marks 30 years since the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
What is the inspiration for facilitating access for students with disabilities?
My inspiration started with a blessing. When I was growing up, I really had...
|
|
OFFICE FOR DIVERSITY LEARNING COMMUNITY STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
|
|
Darby Salge '19 is a school psychology doctoral student in the College of Education and Human Development. She is from Houston, Texas, and graduated from Texas A&M in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, a minor in Neuroscience, and a Certificate in Diversity. She will graduate with her Master of Education this December. Darby is passionate about mental health advocacy. Her research interests include the psychological effects of social justice work, school-based mental health, and academic socialization. She currently serves as the 2020-2021 Treasurer for the Student Affiliates of School Psychology (SASP).
|
|
|
At present, Darby is working on a research study is titled, "The Connection Between Between Racial Justice Activism, Burnout, and Psychological Well-Being." This work is designed to explore experiences of racial justice activists, and what factors either contribute to, or protect them from, the negative effects of burnout. This research is important because racial justice activists often cite burnout and poor mental health as two of the main reasons for leaving and/or disengaging from a movement.
|
|
Nov. 15 - Soulfood Sundays - 4:30 to 6:00 P.M. – “Do young Black Americans still feel connected to Africa?” Guest speaker, Dr. Jeffrey Opaleye of Prairie View A&M - MSC WBAC
Nov. 19 - Moving Through the Portal: Pandemic Pedagogy. - 5:00 P.M. - Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings, Hagler Fellow, Hagler Institute for Advanced Study, TAMU - Zoom Information
Nov. 20 - Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil - 6:00 P.M. - LGBTQ+ Pride Center Facebook Live and YouTube
Due Nov. 30 - Black History Month: Call for Events - Form - Black Student Alliance Council (BSAC), TAMU
Dec. 9 - 12 - Study in the Pavilion - 8:00 A.M.- 5:00 P.M. - Enjoy the Gardens’ ambiance as you study for finals!
Send January events to Crystal Carter by December. 2nd for consideration in December newsletter.
|
|
Texas A&M has issued COVID-19 guidance to enhance the safety of those returning to campus. Free testing is available for all students, faculty, and staff who have symptoms or have been in close contact with known or suspected cases. The tests provided through this program are mouth swab tests that do not require assistance. More information can be found at the Student Health Services website.
|
|
Texas A&M University
Office for Diversity
Jack K. Williams Administration Building
1360 TAMU
College Station, Texas 77843-1360
Phone: (979) 458-2905
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
