EEB has a Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Committee and a variety of programs that seek to enhance diversity and equity and build a just and inclusive community, not only in our own department, but in society in general. Our philosophy is that the fields of ecology and evolutionary biology are enhanced when practitioners represent the full range of human experiences. We also feel that addressing present inequities is the responsibility of all academic fields. For this reason we have a series of formal activities that seek to build an inclusive climate where all members can do their best work and to redress the historical inequalities present in our society.
Department Liaisons
2023-24 JEDI Committee: Catherine Badgley, Tom Duda (chair), Jo Kurdziel, Diana Carolina Vergara, Rory Walsh, and Grace Zhang
LSA Community of Practice (Unit-Level DEI Planning): Nate Sanders and Justin Hopper
Rackham Faculty Ally: Tom Duda
Recent activities:
- 2024 JEDI Awards were presented to Abrianna Soule and the bI/O Program team for their work bridging the gap between academia and incarcerated individuals at the Parnall Correctional Facility in Jackson, Michigan, by providing a rare educational experience.
- Workshop on Microaggressions by LSA's Jessica Garcia hosted in April 2024
- Workshop "You Don't Belong Here" hosted in March 2024
- Trans-Inclusive Graduate Mentoring workshop in January 2024
- Community Conversation on the GEO strike held May 4 2023
- 2023 JEDI Award presented to the BioBlitz Planning Committee for organizing and planning the annual University of Michigan BioBlitz event.
- Diversity 101 workshop held in November 2022
- Participation in the U-M President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, a collaborative partnership with the University of California to offer postdoc opportunities to candidates whose research, teaching and service will contribute to diversity and equal opportunity in higher education. We were pleased to welcome André Green, as our first U-M Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow, to EEB. He joined us as an assistant professor January 1, 2020.
- Participation in the LSA Collegiate Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, a major initiative aimed to promote a diverse scholarly environment, encourage outstanding individuals to enter academia, and support scholars committed to diversity. We were pleased to welcome Luis Zaman, LSA Collegiate Postdoctoral Fellow, to EEB. Zaman joined our faculty Sept. 1, 2019, as an assistant professor.
- In August 2020, EEB held a virtual Race Talk Workshop with Dr Bedlia Richards
- "It's in the Syllabus and Other First-Generation College Student Experiences" workshop held in October 2019
- In March 2019, EEB held a departmental town hall meeting on student mental health called "Let's Talk About Stress," led by Wolverine Wellness
- "Helping Students in Distress" workshop led by CAPS held February 2019
- In January 2019, EEB introduced a new DEI library
- January 2018, the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching Players performed a skit called “Cuts: Responding to Student Climate Concerns” that explored the many forces that shape campus climate with an eye toward developing or refining skills to be able to respond productively and compassionately to individuals who have negative experiences at the university
- Department-wide workshop on mediating skills, "Change It Up: Bystander Intervention Workshop," held in January 2017
- Department-wide town hall meeting to discuss DEI issues held in January 2016
- A change to the faculty hiring process in the department that includes consideration of a candidate's commitment and experience with DEI.
- A department climate reporting dropbox
- The creation of a rainbow colored "You Belong Here" logo that can be found throughout the department on office and lab doors and on our website. Read more about the YBH campaign in EEB>>
Diversifying EEB
FEATURE
The Frontiers Master's Program is designed to attract a diverse student body interested in research within the fields of ecology and evolutionary biology. Read more about the program>>
- Diversify EEB:
Professors Gina Baucom and Meghan Duffy have set in motion a rapidly growing list of female and/or underrepresented minority researchers in ecology and evolution to help balance the numbers of speakers at scientific seminars and symposia. Follow on Twitter @DiversifyEEB - Sustainable Food Systems Initiative:
Professors John Vandermeer, Catherine Badgley, Mark Hunter, and Gina Baucom are active members of this initiative, which seeks to incorporate diversity issues to food studies (food sovereignty, food deserts, urban agriculture, international relations). The recent course “Food Literacy for All” is taught by both a U-M professor and food activist from Detroit and is broadcast to the U-M Detroit Center. - M-STEM Academy:
The mission is to increase, strengthen and diversify the number of U-M undergraduates pursuing baccalaureate degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. - Ecological Society of America's Black Ecology section:
Professor Nyeema Harris and recent alumni Senay Yitbarek and Jasmine Crumsey were founding members of this new section.
Community outreach
FEATURE
Jill Myers is working with colleagues from the Museum of Natural History on the Biodiversity Lab Partnership through EEB's Public Enagagement Program, training scientists to educate the public. Read more>>
- EEB's outreach news
Read all about it! We continually gather information from our faculty and students to keep our community informed of DEI activities within the department, the university and society at large. - EEB’s outreach videos:
We have compiled a series of videos on our YouTube channel emphasizing EEB’s participation in outreach activities and encouraging underrepresented minorities to join us. See one below.
- EEB's 2017 social justice report
- The EEB Social Committee plans events to better serve a broad diversity of interests and availability, including our long-standing holiday party and spring picnic. The committee works to make events accessible and interesting. For example, at the holiday party, the committee has developed themes, provided games, and included a variety of music genres, to serve many interests of the department.
- LSA's DEI 2.0 Strategic Plan
- U-M DEI
Do you have something you'd like us to add? Email eeb-webinfo@umich.edu
