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MESSAGE FROM THE CBMG DEI COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS

We hope that everyone has had a great semester! As the effects of the covid pandemic begin to fade and we can return to a form of normalcy, it is a good opportunity to contemplate what we want “normal” to look like. The CBMG committee for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) has been charged with “creating an educational and work environment that is rich in diversity, inclusive, and supportive of all students, faculty, and staff” (see http://cbmg.umd.edu/diversity for the full mission statement). Toward that end, the committee has developed materials and sponsored events that celebrate the diversity within our Department, and that give us an opportunity to get to know each other a little better. For example, the Dia de los Muertos event gave us an opportunity to learn some cultural traditions from Mexico and elsewhere in Latin America, celebrate the lives of those we have lost in recent years, and try some really excellent food. We are already looking forward to the Lunar New Year event early next semester! We also instituted this newsletter, which helps everyone in the Department to stay informed, and to learn a little about our colleagues. A big thank you to everyone who has worked so hard to make these things happen!

However, fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion is not only about celebrating our existing diversity, but also finding ways to expand it and welcome talented people who may have been excluded in the past. To address this, we will be having regular meetings, starting this Spring semester, to study the literature on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Biological Sciences, Wednesdays 4-5 PM in 3101 BRB. We will follow the format of a graduate seminar, identifying one or more articles each week to study and discuss. All are welcome! Students will be able to register for the class to receive seminar credits, and Faculty and Staff are also strongly encouraged to participate. There are great benefits to be gained from creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment, but it doesn’t just happen passively; let’s work on learning how to do it!

Charles Delwiche and Caren Chang | CBMG DEI Committee Co-Chairs

FEATURE

PERSONAL STORIES

FACULTY & RESEARCH

AWARDS

CBMG EVENTS

BIAS INCIDENTS

The following bias incident was reported to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion Bias Incident Support Services (BISS) since the last newsletter: None

You can monitor the campus climate for yourself at BISS Dashboard. To learn more about BISS visit their webpage or watch their introductory video. Remember, to report a bias incident, you may email biassupport@umd.edu or submit a report online. You may make a report anonymously, or if you prefer you can ask any member of the DEI committee (or any other member of the campus community) to make the report on your behalf. If you see a graffito, it is best not to try to remove it yourself, but to cover it up and contact BISS. If you are comfortable doing so, you can upload a photo of the graffito as a part of the report.

WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!

We are also interested in hearing about YOUR DEI activities. If you have supported, led, or hosted an event, program, or research that promotes diversity, equity, and/or inclusion within science, our classrooms, or the community, please complete this form so that the DEI Committee can be informed of your efforts!

We are grateful to alumni and friends whose generosity supports current and future students. To learn more about how you can make a difference, please visit go.umd.edu/cbmggiving.

The CBMG Diversity Newsletter is prepared by Priyanka Vengataraman; the Personal Stories feature is developed and edited by Erin Tran.

Current DEI Committee members: Caren Chang (co-chair), Chuck Delwiche (co-chair), Grace Igbinosun, Edgar Moctezuma, Aurelie Niyongabo, Errica Philpott, Teresa Thompson