IDEA: Institute for Diversity, Equity, and Advocacy

The Institute for Diversity, Equity, and Advocacy (IDEA) is a research and community building initiative that convenes 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, IDEA is designed to enhance retention and faculty diversity by fostering stronger ties among and with faculty and the local community.

DIVERSITY THROUGH THE DISCIPLINES SYMPOSIUM

APRIL 27, 2012 9:30am- 1:00pm
Coffman Memorial Union Conference Room 303
Diversity Through the Disciplines Symposium showcases the research conducted by IDEA Multicultural Research Awards. These grants exist to encourage and support transformative scholarship by faculty on issues related to communities of color in the United States.
This event is free and open to the public! For accessibility accommodations, please contact IDEA at oedidea@umn.edu or call 612-625-7439.

Final agenda:
9:30-9:55
Opening Reception with Continental Breakfast
9:55-10:00
Louis Mendoza AVP, Office for Equity and Diversity
Welcoming Remarks
10:00 10:20
Leah McGuire Educational Psychology, CEHD
The Importance and Impact of Real Contexts in Test Items
10:20-10:40
Zenzele Isoke Department of Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies, CLA
Permissible Murders: Black Women, Premature Death and Urban Resistances
10:40-11:00
Luis Ramos-Garcia Department of Spanish and Portuguese, CLA
Latino Artistic Expression in the United States: A Research Project
11:00-11:20
Katy Backes Kozhimannil Division of Health Policy and Management, SPH
Diverse Experiences of Motherhood in U.S. Hospitals
11:20-11:40
Erika Busse, IDEA Postdoctoral Fellow, OED
Threads in the Peruvian Transnational Family Fabric: Interweaving Gender and Ethnicity
11:40-12:00
Moin Syed Department of Psychology, CLA
Developing a Multicultural Ideology
12:00-12:20
Cawo Abdi Department of Sociology, CLA
Divergent Migrations: Comparing Somali Experiences in America, South Africa and UAE
12:20-12:40 Enid Logan Department of Sociology, CLA
Asian American and Latino Voters in the 2008 Election: The Politics of Color in the Racial Middle
12:40
Closing remarks



Writing Group for Faculty of Color continues through Spring Semester

There are still two meeting dates before the academic year ends! Sign up to reserve your spot with us in Appleby Hall Room 41!
Sign up for your guaranteed space in our group's quiet writing time at Walter Library 405.

One of the most oft-heard concerns of new faculty is how to find time to write. This issue can be especially acute for faculty of color, who are often called upon to contribute additional service and support to departments that are still in the process of building up diversity. Some preliminary research has noted the value of creating writing groups specifically for faculty of color. Led by IDEA Faculty Fellow Catherine Squires, Associate Professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, the Writing Group for Faculty of Color will continue to provide faculty participants with designated time and resources to support their writing. You can join for some or all of the times listed.

The 2012 IDEA Multicultural Research Award application period is now closed!

The Institute for Diversity, Equity, and Advocacy seeks to build community among equity and diversity scholars and researchers on campus. In order to connect faculty with others who share their interests, IDEA solicits proposals for research that addresses issues related to its mission of transforming the University by enhancing the visibility and advancing the productivity of an interdisciplinary group of faculty and community scholars--whose expertise in equity, diversity, and underrepresented populations will lead to innovative scholarship that addresses urgent social issues. This initiative replaces the President's Faculty Multicultural Research Award (PFMRA), but continues to support the same objectives of retaining and advancing a diverse faculty. Information for the 2013 will be available November 2012 on this website.

 

Congratulations to the 2012 IDEA Multicultural Research Award Recipients!

New Initiatives

Publications

IDEA is pleased to announce the release of its two newest publications:
Best Practices In Recruiting And Retaining Diverse Faculty at the University of Minnesota: A Handbook for Institutional Leaders and Faculty Search Committees offers insight into best practices culled from documented efforts by colleagues from around the country.

Welcome to Your Community: A Guide to Diversity Resources at the University of Minnesota and in the Twin Cities was developed to assist new faculty with finding their unique and individual communities. Including all available information would not be possible, but hopefully this guide serves as an initial resource in welcoming new faculty.

Workshops

Diversity in the Curriculum: Transforming Your Syllabus

Spring Workshop (register now):
Session I: Wednesday, February 1, 2012, from 11am-1pm
Session II: Wednesday, February 8, 2012, from 11am-1pm

Have you wanted to change aspects of your course to better reflect changes in your field and scholarship addressing diverse communities? Do you want to make your course more attractive to diverse students on our campus? How can you integrate these concerns into your courses and assignments? IDEA and the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) invite faculty to engage in a hands-on, two-part workshop where they can revise syllabi or specific segments of courses to include more consideration of diversity. The first session of the workshop will provide faculty with the "why and what" of diversity, and tools to begin identifying where and how to integrate changes in their syllabi. The second part of the workshop will pair faculty with a team leader and colleagues from similar fields to work on a revised syllabus. By the end of the session, each participant will have a working draft of a syllabus or syllabus segment. If necessary, you may attend one session in the fall and the other in spring. Participants who complete both sessions will receive a $250 stipend towards professional development. For additional information, contact Jennifer Caron at 612-625-7439 or jcaron@umn.edu.

Recent Activities and Updates

STEM Competitiveness and Diversity Research Cluster

The STEM Competitiveness and Diversity Research Cluster (SCDRC) focuses on the advancement of research that allows insight into the best practices for broadening participation in STEM. It seeks to transform the STEM recruitment and retention practices and strategies of administrators, teachers, faculty, parents, and policymakers.The SCDRC pursues a multidisciplinary and inter-institutional approach to conducting research to fill the knowledge gap on student recruitment, retention, and persistence in STEM majors. Learn more on the SCDRC blog or hear from faculty members about their involvement in the STEM field in the video below.

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Faculty of Color Initiative

The Faculty of Color Initiative (FOCI) is a community-building project supported by the Institute for Diversity, Equity, and Advocacy (IDEA). It is an inter-collegiate effort to recruit and retain faculty of color at the University of Minnesota -Twin Cities campus by providing opportunities to socialize, network, and develop mentoring and collaborative relationships with colleagues across campus. This project was inspired by efforts originally launched and supported by the College of Liberal Arts. Announcements regarding 2011-2012 gatherings will be posted periodically! To join the e-mail list to learn about future activities, please contact Jennifer Caron at 612-625-7439 or jcaron@umn.edu. Additionally, if you are a faculty member and wish to host a social gathering, contact Louis Mendoza at 612-624-0594 or lmendoza@umn.edu.

IDEA Post Doc Fellowship

In early 2010, IDEA launched a new initiative called the IDEA Postdoctoral Fellows Program. This initiative assists University graduate students' transition by enabling them to maintain a university affiliation during the nationwide restricted hiring climate in higher education. Eligible applicants must have received their Ph.D. in Fall 2010, Spring 2011 or Summer 2011, in a field and a topic relevant to the research interests supported by IDEA. Preference was given to graduates who demonstrated prior involvement in Community of Scholars Program or with IDEA. Fellows receive a non-salaried appointment for one year and are given access to stationery, professional development opportunities, and job search support. In turn, Fellows are required to participate in a panel discussion or to provide a guest lecture in the 2011-2012 academic year.

Erika Busse Erika Busse was selected as IDEA Postdoctoral Fellow. Busse received her Ph.D. in Sociology, with a minor in Feminist and Critical Sexuality Studies at the University of Minnesota. Her dissertation is entitled “Transnational Threads in the Peruvian/American Family Fabric: Interweaving Gender, Class and Culture.” Her research interests focus on transnational migration from the global south to the global north and how families remain together. Her areas of specialization are immigration, race and ethnicity, family, gender and feminist studies.

Equity and Diversity Expertise and Grants Database

An expertise and grants database for IDEA scholars and collaborators is available to enhance networking and collaboration abilities. Please invite university and non-university experts to join and use this database. The database also helps facilitate the identification and establishment of thematic research clusters which we will support in a variety of ways. An important component of this database is a search engine for grants sortable by the interests of our scholar affiliates or community collaborators. Join the Equity and Diversity Expertise and Grant Database: create or update your profile today!

Past Events

Secrets to Success: Graduate Student & Junior Faculty of Color (A Workshop on Humanities Fellowship & Grant Applications).
This three-day workshop was designed to mentor graduate students and junior faculty of color in developing and deploying proven strategies for success on fellowship and grant applications such as the Ford Foundation Fellowships, National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowships and Grants, and select postdoctoral fellowships for qualitative humanities research projects. The goal was to assist University of Minnesota students and faculty of color in producing and ultimately submitting strategic and competitive applications. Facilitated by Dr. Ben V. Olguín, Associate Professor of Literature and Creative Writing, and the Assistant Director for National and International Scholarships and Fellowships in the Honors College at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Sponsored by the Institute for Diversity, Equity, and Advocacy (IDEA) and the Office for Diversity in Graduate Education (ODGE), units of the Office for Equity & Diversity. October 6-8, 2011


Diversity Through the Disciplines Symposium featured Dr. Leah J. Carpenter (3M Endowed Chair, Bemidji State University) as the keynote speaker: "Gathering Knowledge: American Indians in Higher Education." Diversity Through the Disciplines showcases the research conducted by University of Minnesota faculty of color who have received recent IDEA Multicultural Research Awards. These grants exist to encourage and support research by faculty of color and to promote research on issues related to communities of color in the United States. April 29, 2011

Bicentennial-Centennial Symposium: Two Revolutions and Their Consequences was held in honor of two events: Mexico's commemoration of the bicentennial of its Independence movement, and the centennial of its Revolution. The anti-colonial movement that led to Mexico's independence from Spain began on September 16, 1810, and the Mexican Revolution that sought to free Mexico from the Díaz dictatorship began on November 20, 1910. Historian Juan Mora Torres, Professor of History, De Paul University, and presenting University of Minnesota scholars discussed the significance of these events for changing social and political relations in Mexico and the impact of this has had on North America. The event was sponsored by the Chicano Studies Department, and Hispanic Advocacy for Community Empowerment through Research (HACER). October 28, 2010.

Marginalization Within Margins: Diversity and Equity Across Disciplines and Contexts was a year-long, cross-disciplinary series that brought together community, academic and artistic leaders to present their current work and reflect on processes of marginalization—as well as resistance to and repercussions of that marginalization—within institutional, community and political contexts. Presentations explored how facets of difference and diversity— both broadly defined—intersect and shape the experience and trajectories of individuals and communities. Each of the follwoing events were followed by an informal reception to enable time for community building, expanded networking, and the exchange of ideas. Download the lecture schedule (PDF) for 2011.

Cinematic Poetics: Sign Language Performance and Deaf Gain explored themes of poetics, performance and the politics of diversity. Featured guest speakers were Manny Hernandez and Dirksen Bauman. September 23, 2010.

Hmong Diaspora, Gender and Public Policy was a discussion and performance featuring academic, political, and artistic leaders, Event participants included Senator Mee Moua, Mai Na M. Lee, Kathy Mouacheupao, and Fres Thao. October 21, 2010.

Seeing Low Vision examined how people with low vision view the world and their access to visual arts. Featureding Gordon Legge and Leslye Orr. November 17, 2010. Co-sponsored by Dept. of Psychology and the Interdisciplinary Graduate Group on Disability Studies.

Autism and the Somali Community addressed the challenges faced while seeking to address autism in the Somali community. Featured speakers were Idil Abdull, Huda Farah, Ruth Elaine Hane, Hodan Hassan, Daud Hussein, James Levine, Pat Pulice, Kathryn McGraw Schuchman, and Ahmed Yusuf. March 24, 2011. Co-sponsored by the Somali Student Association and Disabled Student Cultural Center.

Nation Building and Indigenous Peoples in Higher Education provided an overview of Indigenous higher education, including examples of how Indigenous students have engaged higher education institutions. This event featured Bryan Brayboy and was the opening plenary of the Diversity through the Disciplines Symposium. April 28, 2011.

The Other Side of Korean Adoption addressed the changing landscape in South Korea involving domestic adoption, mother's rights, and birth family search and reunion. The event featured Richard M. Lee, Ph.D.; Heewon Lee, Hyang Eun Kim, Ph.D.; Jon Huston; Sun Mee Chomet; and Choi Hyung-Sook. May 6, 2011. Co-sponsored by the Asian American Studies Program. The following 3 links are video and audio of this event.
The Other Side of Korean Adoption - Part 1
The Other Side of Korean Adoption - Part 2
The Other Side of Korean Adoption - Part 3

Publications

Equity and Diversity at the University of Minnesota: Reflections on Meaningful Change (download self-study, PDF format), is a report offering a collective assessment (created by the individuals below) of particular strengths and weaknesses surrounding the topic of equity and diversity at the University of Minnesota. Spring 2010. Developed by David O. Born, Professor of Primary Dental Care;
Josephine Lee, Associate Professor of English; J.B. Mayo, Assistant Professor of Social Studies Education; Dara Strolovitch, Associate Professor of Political Science; and Jody Gray, Diversity Outreach Librarian

Contact

To get involved, contact Louis Mendoza, Associate Vice Provost for Equity and Diversity, at 612-625-5059 or lmendoza@umn.edu.

For general IDEA information, call or email:
oedidea@umn.edu
612-625-7439

IDEA hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Location

The IDEA office is in close proximity to many OED units, and has access to numerous seminar rooms suitable for workshops, lectures, and project collaboration.

40 Appleby Hall
128 Pleasant Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Mailing Address
Institute for Diversity, Equity and Advocacy
Office for Equity and Diversity
432 Morrill Hall
100 Church Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Advisory Committee

IDEA’s advisory committee members represent an array of disciplines, research interests, and methodological approaches that maximizes the depth and breadth of perspectives necessary to fulfill our mission. 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.

Louis Mendoza (committee chair), Office for Equity and Diversity, and Chicano Studies, CLA (lmendoza@umn.edu)
Priscilla Gibson, School of Social Work, CEHD (pgibson@umn.edu)
Janet Haynes, Department of Social Work, UM-Duluth (jmhaynes@d.umn.edu)
Joan Howland, Law School (howla001@umn.edu)
Erika Lee, History/Asian America Studies, CLA (erikalee@umn.edu)
Alex Lubet, School of Music, CLA (lubet001@umn.edu)
Bic Ngo, Curriculum and Instruction, CEHD (bcngo@umn.edu)
Ruby Nguyen, Epidemiology, School of Public Health (nguy0082@umn.edu)
Kola Okuyemi, Family Medicine and Community Health, Medical School (kokuyemi@umn.edu)
Naomi Scheman, Philosophy, CLA (nschema@umn.edu)
Charmaine Stewart, Gastroenterology Medicine, Medical School (stewa560@umn.edu)