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?
- Working with the Department Wellness Resource Committee, Diversity Enhancement Committee, and Committee on Diversity and Inclusion to develop strategies to support students
- Co-sponsoring the Healing from Racial Injustice discussion group
- Helping to support the Mizzou chapter of the Association of Black Psychologists
- Maintaining faculty mentors for students from underrepresented groups
- Funding 50% of registration fees/travel for attending any conference/workshop devoted to anti-racism and IDE. Contact the Chair for further information.
- Using a communications committee of graduate students and faculty to offer messages of support and resources.
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