URI_Research_Magazine_Momentum_Fall_2021_Melissa-McCarthy

1. Infuse Anti-Racism, Social Justice, and DEI Perspectives in the Curriculum. 2. Expand Professional Development Focused on Anti-Black Racism and Racism Overall. 3. Transform Search and Hiring Processes. Prioritize Recruitment, Hiring, and Retention of Faculty and Staff of Color. 4. “Build Our Own” Diverse Graduate Programs in Selected Fields. 5. Develop College Plans for DEI and Appoint College Diversity Coordinators. 6. Transform and Expand the Multicultural Faculty Fellows Program Into the Distinguished Multicultural Postdoctoral Faculty Fellows Program. 7. As an Institution Committed to DEI, Combatting Anti-Black Racism, and Advancing an Inclusive Agenda, The University has eight clear initiatives from the Anti-Black Racism: An Academic Afffairs Action Agenda for Change

“It is important to bring together the community to have honest and courageous conversations about different topics within a specific theme,” Almandrez says. “Next year, the University plans to host another symposium focused on advocacy and allies for social justice.” Another initiative, advocated for by URI’s Native American Advisory Council (NAAC), is a new undergraduate scholarship for students who are enrolled citizens of the Narragansett Indian Tribe. The scholarship covers full tuition, mandatory fees, and money for books. The first was awarded this fall. NAAC is also working with University faculty and staff to support the Native American Student Organization (NASO). URI remains steadfast in its commitment to social justice, equity, access, and inclusion, and there are many more initiatives underway to advance the institution’s strategic diversity goals. Being a social justice activist can take many different forms, from writing letters to staging protests. Professor Annemarie Vaccaro, in the URI School of Education and College Student Personnel Program director, has woven her activism into every aspect of her life: teaching, research, publication, faculty development, even volunteer activity. She serves on the URI Diversity Council and is a faculty development affiliate. “I have an incredible privilege as a faculty member to infuse my empirical research and my passion for social justice into my teaching and my service,” she says. “I am passionate about equity and justice — it’s the core of who I am. I am driven to do equity research that matters.” She has conducted numerous equity and justice focused empirical studies as well as projects centering the scholarship of teaching and learning about social justice. Recently, she was co-primary investigator for a study that conducted intensive individual interviews with 56 undergraduate and graduate students from four college campuses. The main research question was: How do students with Minoritized Identities of Sexuality and/or Gender majoring in STEM experience and navigate campus learning environments and their disciplines/fields? EQUITY IN TEACHING, LEARNING, AND FACULTY DEVELOPMENT

Acknowledge and Value Evidenced Based Faculty Contributions to Anti-Racism and DEI.

8. Implement Annual College Diversity Progress and Accountability Reports.

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