Education: As a professor, I will incorporate into the syllabi for all my classes an equity and inclusion statement and will reiterate verbally in class the importance of these issues. I will also organize small group exercises in class that will expose students to new people and new methods of thinking. I will incorporate problems and design issues that serve a diverse patient population. I will also organize in-person DEI trainings for my lab members, and host “DEI Fridays” for my lab where we learn about each other’s culture and discuss latest research in DEI/STEM education.

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Recruitment: I will actively recruit diverse lab members through organizations such as Society of Women Engineers, National Society of Black Engineers, and LatinX in BME. I will form mutually beneficial collaborations with professors from HBCUs and HSIs as a source for student recruitment to our graduate program, and get involved in enrichment programs. I will also engage in student outreach at the K-12 level to help boost interest of girls and underrepresented groups in STEM. In addition to recruitment of students, I will also help the department recruit diverse faculty members.

 

Retention: I will mentor students on an individual basis to help them blossom and be successful. I will meet with students on a regular basis to evaluate progress and guide them in new directions when needed, in addition to providing support on their projects and professional growth. I will also compile a list of resources (such as writing centers or sexual assault support) and have links to these on my lab website. Further I will help them identify support programs and networking opportunities that will help their career development and motivation6. I will also do monthly celebration slides in my lab meeting for heritage and history months like Black History Month and Women’s History Month that celebrate notable figures in STEM. I will provide positive feedback and encouragement to students to let them know that they are celebrated and that their presence and contribution is important.

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Policy: I will join department, college, and university level boards, search committees, and panels that work on policy regarding hiring, student admission, scholarships, and inclusion. I will advocate for equal outcome policies that will result in equity and justice for students. I will also lobby for and work with local and state level politicians for science and DEI policies.