Institute for Diversity, Equity, and Advocacy
Based on faculty input, guidance from a faculty advisory council, and administrative feedback, the Office for Equity and Diversity has officially launched the Institute for Diversity, Equity, and Advocacy (IDEA) in the fall of 2009.
IDEA is a research initiative that will convene scholars from the University of Minnesota and around the world to collaborate in innovative and groundbreaking ways across disciplines, departments, colleges, and campuses. In addition to supporting the development of new research, the institute is also designed to enhance retention and faculty diversity by fostering stronger ties among faculty and with faculty and the local community.
In the spring of 2009, a formal proposal for the establishment of IDEA was submitted to the Provost’s Interdisciplinary Team. Full text of this proposal can be viewed here. We are pleased to report that we are moving forward with the establishment of the Institute at the UMTC campus with the support of the Provost’s Office and the Office for the Vice President for Research.
In anticipation of the opening of IDEA, we have taken several important steps over the summer. First, IDEA now has a home in Appleby Hall 40. We are in close proximity to all of the OED offices formerly located in Klaeber Court and have access to numerous seminar rooms suitable for workshops, lectures, and project collaboration.
Secondly, we are building an expertise database exclusively for IDEA scholars and collaborators that will enhance our networking and collaboration abilities. We anticipate having that system off the ground by mid-October, 2009. The database will facilitate the identification and establishment of thematic research clusters which we will support in a variety of ways. Look on this page or in your e-mail for instructions on how to create your profile. An important component of this database will be a search engine for grants sortable by the interests of our scholar affiliates.
With the counsel of our advisory committee we hope to sponsor a series of university-wide discussions, symposia, and lectures this academic year designed to explore and take advantage of the creative synergy resulting from new opportunities and connections. Some of these forums will be offered by Interdisciplinary Graduate Groups led by IDEA faculty affiliates who received funding from the Graduate School. A description of the Interdisciplinary groups in Disability Studies, Comparative Race and Ethnic Studies, and Sexuality Studies can be found here.
Finally, we anticipate being able to offer course releases or seed funds for Institute Research Fellows to support the exploration of sustained research on topics related to IDEA’s focus. Information regarding these opportunities will be distributed via e-mail and posted on this website.
IDEA Advisory Committee
In the spring of 2009, we formed an eight-member advisory committee whose members represent an array of disciplines, research interests, and methodological approaches in order to maximize the depth and breadth of perspectives necessary to fulfill our mission. The steering committee provided feedback on the proposal for the establishment of the Institute. This fall, the committee will help us create a plan for developing and sustaining research clusters and faculty funding opportunities, including support for institute fellows, project funding, the alignment of internal grant opportunities with institute objectives, and support for pursuing external funding opportunities. The continued insight, guidance, and advice of advisory committee members will be crucial to our success. We thank all advisory committee members for their important work.
Jasjit Ahluwalia, Medical School
Tade Okediji, Afro-American and African Studies, CLA
Erika Lee, History/Asian America Studies, CLA
Patrick McNamara, History, CLA
Jean O’Brien, History/American Indian Studies, CLA
Michael C. Rodriguez, Educational Psychology, CEHD
Rebecca Ropers-Huilman, Educational Policy, CEHD
Eden Torres, Chicano Studies/GWSS, CLA
For more information or to get involved with IDEA, please contact Louis Mendoza, associate vice provost for equity and diversity, by email or phone at 612-624-0594, or contact Terrell Webb, IDEA’s undergraduate research assistant at the IDEA office at 612-625-7439.