Anand Gramopadhye
Dean, College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences
The importance of our justice, equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives, cornerstones of our strategic plan, cannot be emphasized enough. As engineers and scientists, we have long appreciated the need for a diversity of voices and approaches to address the issues we face. We also realize that our commitment to fostering an environment that encourages this healthy and robust exchange of multiple perspectives must go beyond a bullet point in a list. To that end, we have increased our focus on attracting and retaining diverse staff, students, and faculty; strengthened our support of our PEER and WISE programs; and created two new associate dean positions for inclusive excellence as well as added a program coordinator. These two programs and the work of the two associate deans are already having an impact on our inclusion efforts. This semester we welcomed the inaugural students to the Breakthrough Scholars Program and eight of the University’s first twelve students to the Bridge to Doctorate Program, two examples of our continuing efforts to advance, strengthen and diversify the STEM pipeline at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. This newsletter represents the latest addition in our ongoing commitment to ensuring we provide a welcoming, supportive and inclusive environment for all students, staff, and faculty in our classrooms, labs, and hallways. Every issue will serve as a friendly reminder that creating this culture requires more than a few workshops or conversations; rather it depends on the effort and engagement of each of us to ensure that everyone in the college feels accepted and appreciated.
Oliver Myers
Associate Dean of Inclusive Excellence for Undergraduate Studies
Social and organizational change requires relentless and ongoing collective effort, critical thinking, and reflection. There are many ways we can all be involved. Our CECAS J.E.D.I. Allies Newsletter will connect you to resources, tools and information to create inclusive places and programs. Our goal is to provide opportunities for students, staff and faculty to learn more about power, privilege, oppression, diversity and social justice from a praxis-based social work framework. We are also available during the school week to discuss any interests or concerns regarding J.E.D.I. topics or issues. Please feel free to read through our most recent CECAS J.E.D.I. Strategic Plan and to visit our office in 100 Riggs Hall to get to know us and what we do. These principles are embedded in our professional values and guide us as we work to reduce the inequities of poverty, exclusion, exploitation, violence, oppression, power, and the dominance of particular cultural norms and values. The plan’s creation has led us to identify the areas we want to prioritize with intensive work towards a just and inclusive college. We will continue with solid steps towards our goals of preparing our students, faculty and staff and developing knowledge for an increasingly diverse, complex and challenging world.
Melissa Smith
Associate Dean for Inclusive Excellence and Graduate Studies
Welcome to our first issue of the CECAS J.E.D.I. Allies Newsletter, a monthly resource that I hope you will find informative regarding our J.E.D.I. activities, engagement, and training opportunities. As the Associate Dean of Inclusive Excellence and Graduate Studies, I focus on our graduate programs and graduate student recruitment, retention, and success. My team, over the past two and a half years, has worked alongside departments to ensure that we recruit top talent into our programs through virtual information sessions, our annual STEM ALL IN event and recently a road trip across the state of South Carolina. We also meet monthly with our Graduate Student Advisory Board to address concerns of our current graduate student body. I know many of you attended our recent social held across our Charleston, CU-ICAR, and main campuses, and I look forward to meeting many more of you at our future events. Please contact me with ideas or concerns regarding graduate student success and inclusion. Go Tigers!
