Fall Mizzou
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Inclusion, Diversity, & Equity

for Anti-Racism and Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (IDE)

Department of Psychological Sciences STRIVE approach for addressing anti-racism and Inclusion Diversity, and Equity (IDE)

The Department pledges to actively foster a climate of inclusion and belonging as we acknowledge, address, and combat racism. This pledge is about striving to reach our potential; to respect that each of us approaches this goal from a different place; to understand how history, power, and privilege shape our thinking; and to engage these imperatives with openness, humility, and compassion. The acronym STRIVE is used to capture our recognition that these are ongoing and evolving efforts.

S – Support

for BIPOC students, faculty, and staff for mental health, coping, and resilience on the heels of racial trauma; support for faculty, staff, and students to actively participate in education and training.

What is the department doing?

T – Training

and education for undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, and staff about discrimination and disparities based on race, gender, sexual orientation, and other aspects of human diversity

What is the department doing?

  • Building on mandatory university IDE training with the expectation for our faculty and staff to engage in continuing education and transparently reporting, in aggregate, on the completion of such training.
  • Requiring Training Area Inclusion Improvement Plans for areas to recruit incoming graduate students
  • Expanding course offerings on racism and/or multiculturalism for undergraduate and graduate students
  • Implementing semesterly dedicated IDE area brown bag seminar program Semesterly Seminar IDE Discussion Program
  • Housing a variety of diversity and inclusion reading and discussion groups
  • Utilizing Area seminars to invite speakers who focus on diversity science

R – Representation

improving the recruitment and retention of diverse faculty, staff, and students within the department and in our approach to research

What is the department doing?

  • Prioritizing the ability to mentor diverse students and diversity expertise in faculty searches
  • Participating in recruiting as part of MU’s Preparing Future Faculty -Faculty Diversity - Development program
  • Developing strategies to improve the diversity of the graduate applicant pool; participating in TigerVIew Campus Visitation Program.
  • Educating faculty on holistic graduate student admission review
  • Continuing support and improvement of, and seeking funding for, the undergraduate research scholars program; supporting the mentorship of diverse students through the McNair program and other such opportunities
  • Providing support funds, like the Department Support Fund for Underrepresented Participant Recruitment, to facilitate the recruitment of BIPOC research participants in psychology research studies
  • Ensuring that training experiences represent diverse perspectives of the professional community

I – Instruction

enhancing our ability to teach the science of psychology with inclusive pedagogies

What is the department doing?

  • Offering constructive syllabi review for instructors
  • Requiring Teaching Evaluation Questionnaire items that focus on assessing inclusive pedagogical practices
  • Providing resources and support for instructors to invest in inclusive teaching content and approaches.
  • Encouraging utilization of additional resources through MU’s Teaching for Learning Center

V – Voice

an encompassing goal of keeping anti-racism and anti-discrimination at the forefront of collective attention, providing avenues for listening, understanding, and constructive dialogue

What is the department doing?

  • Providing quarterly department IDE updates to ensure that goals and progress are disseminated and monitored
  • Including one representative from each of the five department areas on the department Committee for Diversity and Inclusion
  • Expecting area-wide involvement in the continued development of Training Area Inclusion Improvement Plans
  • Conducting periodic climate surveys to examine departmental climate for different diverse groups
  • Utilizing a communications committee to send messages of support and resources.
    • Establishing an action plan and internal review process for departmental responses to racial injustices.

E – Evaluation

how to evaluate and assess the success of the aforementioned efforts for improving anti-racism and IDE

What is the department doing?

  • Requiring annual monitoring and revision of Training Area inclusion improvement plans
  • Conducting and undertaking discussion forums for sharing insights from department climate surveys t
  • Supporting College led effort to recognize IDE work in P&T and annual faculty evaluations

Diversity in the Department 

A diverse department is one in which faculty, staff, and students represent differing cultural, gender, gender identity, political, racial, socio-economic, and sexual orientation backgrounds. A diverse department offers a rich environment that leads to greater knowledge, understanding, acceptance, and mutual respect. We celebrate diversity and encourage cutting-edge diversity science.

The department's commitment to diversity is consistent with the university’s Diversity Initiative that fosters a diverse and inclusive campus environment for students, faculty, and staff.

Faculty Mentors

Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Students – Laura King

Gender Issues – Amanda Rose

International Students – Yuyan Luo

Minority Students - Ann Bettencourt

Students with Disabilities – Lisa Bauer

Committee of Diversity and Inclusion

Committee on Diversity & Inclusion

Clinical – Lisa Flores

Cognition & Neuroscience – Scott Frey

Developmental – Jordan Booker

Quantitative – Clint Stober

Social – Ann Bettencourt (Chair)

Faculty - Etti Naveh-Benjamin (Teaching Faculty)

            Graduate Student – Courtney Jorgenson

            Graduate Student – Yonca Cam

            Graduate Student – Chris Sanders

Clinical Area ​Diversity Enhancement Committee

Faculty

Debi Bell

Erin Bullett

John Kerns

Jenna Strawhun

Erika Waller

Graduate Students

Kelly Boland

Hayley Clocksin

Genevieve Dash

Lindsey Freeman

Courtney Jorgenson Bernardin

Kelsey Irvin

Rylee Park

Amelia Pellegrini

Desmond Spann

Kellyn Spychala

Siena Tugendrajch

Tayler Vebares

Olivia Warner

Andrea Wycoff

Department Communications Advisory Group

Chair: Jamie Arndt             

Faculty: Jenna Strawhun

            Faculty: Ann Bettencourt

            Graduate Student: Olivia Warner (GASP Senior representative)

            Graduate Student: Brittney Bishop (GASP Junior representative)

            Graduate Student: Jaclyn Valadka (non-GASP representative