For Your Information | September 17, 2020

Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

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Dear Friends,

This will be the last DEI “For Your Information” newsletter of the month. Our next issue will be published on October 1, 2020, during the first week of the quarter. Throughout the summer, there have been a variety of action-oriented activities, and there are plans for more to come. As an example, yesterday, many of our campus leaders participated in a session called, “Embracing our Aggie Community: Introduction to Conversations About Racism and Ally Development,” and a group of UC Davis faculty have developed a document titled, “UC Davis STEM Faculty Resource Guide  - For Faculty Starting to Learn about Equity, Inclusion, Justice and Anti Racism,” led by Prof. Tessa Hill, Associate Vice Provost of Academic Programs, Public Scholarship and Engagement. The document also includes edits by E. Sakai Hernandez, D. Sumner, C. Hom, C. Till, J. Gross, B. Gaylord, K. Kraft, M. Lynch, T. Lowe-Power, M. Zulian, and F. Sultana. Attention to the document was highlighted by the PhD candidate Victoria Morgan. Vicky Morgan is the College of Biological Science’s (CBS) new Graduate Student Assistant to the Dean for Diversity and Inclusion for 2020-21. Vicky will work with Executive Associate Dean Ted Powers on CBS’s DEI efforts including working with the CBS Faculty Executive Committee.  

Schools, colleges, and units across campus are also organizing speaker series and events. A list that includes many of these activities will be shared with the campus next week. This week, I’d like to highlight events sponsored by the Law School and the Medical School. The public is invited to participate in both. UC Davis School of Law notes that it “has reaffirmed its longtime commitment to racial justice. Throughout 2020-21, the law school will offer a Racial Justice Speaker Series examining some of the most urgent issues facing our nation and world today.” The list of dates and speakers can be found at the webpage linked above.

Also, as part of Global Diversity Awareness Month, the School of Medicine is planning a series of virtual events on October 12, 2020 featuring Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, president and dean of Morehouse School of Medicine. On October 12 from 9-9:45 a.m. (PST) Chancellor May and Dean Allison Brashear will join Dr. Montgomery Rice for a Facebook Live School of Medicine event, The Intersection of Social Justice, Health & Well-being. 

We also congratulate the Graduate School of Management on leading in UC Davis’ first federal HSI grant from the National Science Foundation! Please see the press release, UC Davis Receives NSF Funding for Engineering, Sciences, Artificial Intelligence for HSIs, for more information. The leads for the grant are Dr. Damon Tull, Director for Industry Alliances for the GSM and the Mike and Renee Child Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship,  and Dr. Marcela Cuellar, Associate Professor in the School of Education and member of UC Davis’ HSI Task Force.

Please consider ways to engage in the events and activities below. Welcome to all of the students who are coming back to campus, and continued thanks to our staff for all of their hard work, and to our campus as a whole for partnering to make UC Davis a great institution.  

Kind Regards,

Renetta G. Tull, Vice Chancellor

Disability Awareness Symposium and Accessibility Technology Fair

Save the dates! October is Disability Awareness Month and 2020 is the thirtieth anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This year, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, in partnership with the Disability Issues Administrative Awareness Committee (DIAAC) is hosting its annual symposium in the virtual world. Starting October 1, tune in for weekly vendor presentations and a special Chemical Sensitivity Awareness webinar on October 7. Learn more and register here.

Action Planning Update

We were thrilled by number of ally statements we received from units across campus over the last few months. We want to continue to build on the momentum of the amazing work that is being done to address racial inequality and social injustice across campus and in the community. Let’s continue to demonstrate how committed we are to positive change by putting our words into action (plans). If your unit has not done so already, consider showcasing your commitment to DEI by sending us your unit’s action plan, which outlines the changes your unit is and will be making, and we will post them to our DEI website.

UPDATES & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Office of Campus Community Relations | AEVC Rahim Reed

Police Accountability Board Presentation

The UC Davis Police Accountability Board (PAB) was a featured presentation in this year’s National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE) annual conference. Attended by 126 participants, the UC Davis PAB had the opportunity to be spotlighted as a model program—as the only active civilian oversight body at the UC systemwide level and one of few institutions of higher education nationwide. In addition to reviewing the PAB’s history, charge, and complaint, investigation, and case review processes, the presentation also looked ahead to the board’s future as the PAB prepares in 2020-2021 to implement recommendations made after reviewing the PAB’s initial pilot period.

Upcoming Diversity and Inclusion Courses

• Making the Unconscious Conscious: Understanding and Mitigating Bias, Oct 6, 1:00-4:00pm
  • Participants will be introduced to theory and language in understanding implicit and explicit bias. Using personal reflection, experiential exercises and case studies, participants will gain greater awareness when they engage in bias and gain essential knowledge and skills (tools) in how they recognize and mitigate biases in both personal and professional domains.
• Intercultural Communication and Competence, Oct 8, 8:30am-12:00pm
  • This class will explore the impact culture and social identities have on communication, with the goal of expanding awareness about intercultural interactions. How we interact and communicate are greatly influenced by our culture and lived experiences. This course will use interactive exercises and group discussions to support the class material and instruction.

Office of Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion | AVC Hendry Ton

American Indians Accessing Health Professions Virtual Conference

From August 14-August 15th, the Office of Student and Resident Diversity had the honor of hosting the 5th annual American Indians Accessing Health Professions Conference along with the Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP).  This conference was first held in 2013 in recognition of the important need for American Indians to have better access to health profession careers.  Over the years, the program has been tailored towards American Indian college students from the western region of the United States who were interested in the broad spectrum of health careers.  Given that this year was the first conference to be held virtually, the conference broadened its invitation beyond college campuses to all those interested in the health professions. Participants heard from esteemed speakers such as Dr. Daniel Calac, a pediatrician at Indian Health Council in San Diego County, who shared his own journey to becoming a physician and gave valued advice, and Assembly-member James C. Ramos, the first person from a California tribe to serve in the California State Assembly. Participants also networked and learned important skills through virtual breakout sessions ranging from financial aid, to test preparation, and even a case-based learning session, as is common in the health professions. The session was highly rated, with comments such as, “Very uplifting and positive experience!”, “Everyone was amazing and inspiring!”, “Hearing from other indigenous professionals is very motivating!” Ninety-five percent of those responding to our post session survey shared that they were more likely to pursue a health professions career after participating in the conference.  We will continue to work with AAIP and the Association of Native American Medical Students (ANAMS) on strategies to increase American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Indigenous representation in the health professions. We extend a heartfelt appreciation to the AAIP for the opportunity to co-host this very special conference!

Office of Academic Diversity | Interim AVC Lorena Oropeza

CAMPOS Scholar News

The Letts Lab published their first paper “Atomic structure of a mitochondrial complex I intermediate from vascular plants,” on eLife Sciences. And, the Letts Lab was awarded a National Institutes of Health (NIH) R35 Grant: Understanding the Mechanisms of Respiratory Supercomplexes and mitochondrial Complex I. This project aims to characterize the mechanisms of respiratory complexes using a structure function approach across divergent model systems. Anna La Torre also has a new paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that uncovers CRL5 and ARL4C signaling as crucial molecular determinants for hippocampal morphogenesis. And Fernanda Ferreira was awarded an National Institutes of Health R01 Grant for 2020-2024 National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, “Multi-Utterance Language Production” (PI). Congratulations scholars!

100 Inspiring Hispanic/Latinx Scientists in America

Cell Mentor recently published a list in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month “showcasing 100 of the most inspiring Hispanic/Latinx scientists working in the United States” and it features CAMPOS Faculty Scholar Rebecca M. Calisi Rodríguez (Associate Professor, Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior) and School of Medicine’s Luis Fernando Santana (Chair and Professor, Physiology and Membrane Biology). More congratulations and the full article and list here.

EVENTS

September 17, Thursday

Alumni Career Mentorship Webinar Series – Careers in Education | 4:00PM

Undergraduate Admissions (UA) and the African and African American Alumni Association, Chicanx/Latinx Alumni Association, and Native American Alumni Association congratulate our incoming students on their admission to UC Davis. Register for the final Alumni Career Mentorship Webinar Series for our incoming Freshmen and Transfer students. Register

How The Pandemics of Society are Impacting Minority Businesses | 6:00PM

Join Building Resilient Communities for a dialogue on the impact racism has on business owners and employees of color in 2020. The goal of this forum is to help communities of color and other communities to gain a better understanding of the impact of racism in the time of COVID-19. Racism impacts every aspect of life, including the ability and motivation to prepare for all types of disasters and emergencies. This forum is designed to provide tools, resources, and services that can immediately be accessed to help communities of color. It will provide context for the types of long-term change and improvements that are needed to become more resilient. Register

September 21 - October 9

California Latino Capitol Association Foundation’s 16th Annual Internship Program

Are you looking for an intern? Internship criteria: Must be attending a community college; Intern 15 hours per week for the duration of the internship program; Have an interest in public policy, government, or community service; Have good academic standing, with a minimum of a 2.0 GPA. At the conclusion of the internship, students will receive a scholarship and CLCAF will host a virtual ceremony for the students and their families. Questions? Please contact Kenia Miranda Verdugo at CLCA.Internship@gmail.com.

September 22 - 24

Exploring the Intersections between Equity and Assessment

The Center for Educational Effectiveness invites campus partners to join national assessment leaders and UC Davis faculty and staff on as we consider challenging questions and build capacity to enact our commitment to equitable student outcomes. Please visit the CEE webpage for complete details and to register.

September 24, Thursday

Diversity and Inclusion Dialogue Series: Food Access and Health in South Sacramento | 12:00 - 1:00pm

The Diversity and Inclusion Dialogue series is back AND we are virtual! The D&I Dialogues are series of monthly conversations focused on diversity, equity and inclusion topics.  Our September D&I focuses on access to healthy food and food security in South Sacramento. Please join the Office for Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for an engaging conversation with local food activists, Joany Titherington, Manager of the Oak Park Farmer’s Market, and Amber Stott, CEO and Founder of The Food Literacy Center. In collaboration with local activists and community partners, this D&I Dialogue launches a series exploring various facets of the social determinants of health, with a focus on our surrounding Sacramento neighborhoods. All are welcome to attend so feel free to share widely! Please register here. 

September 25, Friday        

The University of California Land Grab - Part 1: Unearthing Indigenous Land Dispossession in the Founding of the University of California | 9:00am - 12:00pm

 This two-part forum examines the 150,000 acres of Indigenous land that funded the University of California is intricately tied to California’s unique history of Native dispossession and genocide, and how UC continues to benefit from this wealth accumulation today. We will then explore current university initiatives with tribes and engage in a community dialogue on actions the University of California can take to address their responsibility to California Indigenous communities. Learn more and register here.

Growing as a Community: Addressing Structural Racism | 12:00 - 1:00pm

Featured speakers Hendry Ton, MD, MS and Mercedes Piedra, MS. As our communities grapple with the historic social injustices across our nation, it’s critical to hear from our leaders about the importance of adopting an equity and anti-racism lens to aid in the healing and wellbeing of our communities. We will discuss the following: What is structural racism and its impact on our community's well-being and growth; Learn about tools to address structural racism; Learn what UCD Health is doing to address structural racism. Please register

October 7, Wednesday

Environmental Intolerances Awareness

October is Disability Awareness Month and 2020 is the thirtieth anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Join us for this online webinar, register here.

October 23, Friday

The University of California Land Grab - Part 2: From Land-grab to Land Acknowledgement and Beyond | 9:00am - 12:30pm

This two-part forum examines the 150,000 acres of Indigenous land that funded the University of California is intricately tied to California’s unique history of Native dispossession and genocide, and how UC continues to benefit from this wealth accumulation today. We will then explore current university initiatives with tribes and engage in a community dialogue on actions the University of California can take to address their responsibility to California Indigenous communities. Learn more and register here.

RECOMMENDED READING

Scott Jaschik, "How to Get Grant Money in the Humanities and Social Sciences," Inside Higher Ed, January 31, 2019.

Raphael B. Folsom, associate professor of history at the University of Oklahoma discusses his new book about finding the funds to do your project and advance your career. Read article here.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Graduate Students: Apply to the Asking Different Questions Scholars Program The UC Davis Feminist Research Institute (FRI) is accepting applications for the Fall 2020 “Asking Different Questions Scholars” program. Graduate students can apply now to participate in a quarter-long workshop on how conduct research grounded in a commitment to justice. Participants will earn one unit of graduate course credit, get a certificate of completion, and be eligible for research funds. This program is for UC Davis graduate students and postdocs with a commitment to justice, equity, and diversity. This program will teach you how to integrate these values more deeply into your scientific practices.  

Aggie Compass Basic Needs Center We are a student community space where you can find fresh fruits and vegetables during Fruit & Veggie Up!, get CalFresh enrollment assistance and find resources to help you find stable housing and financial assistance. 

Food Resources for UC Davis Students and Community Members Food is one of the most basic and important human needs, yet an increasing number of college students are going hungry as food insecurity gets worse. Food insecurity can not only lead to poor health, but can also have detrimental effects on a student's academic, professional, and social life. Food insecurity can be brought on by various factors, including limited food access and financial difficulties. Here in Davis, there is a variety of fresh and health foods in grocery stores, restaurants, and farmer’s markets.

Campus Ready With the anticipation that our on-campus community will increase gradually over the next several months, we are introducing a robust COVID-19 plan to ensure that UC Davis is “campus ready” for you. What does campus ready mean? It means phases of return to campus. New policies, guidelines and protocols to minimize exposure. And a campus wide approach that follows prevention best practices including wearing face coverings, physical distancing, frequent sanitization and symptom monitoring.

Keep Teaching Instructional Resilience at UC Davis. To support UC Davis faculty during a time of COVID-19-related illness, quarantine, or campus closure, this site provides concise, practical resources and strategies for moving part or all of a course online to help you keep teaching.  

UC Davis Office for Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion COVID resources page In English and Spanish to reach our communities and we are actively updating with new resources.

Content Submission Form

Do you have a DEI-oriented event, announcement, or article that you would like us to help promote through our DEI communication channels? Did your unit/department or a member of your unit/department receive recognition that demonstrates your commitment to DEI? If so, please send us your information through this online form.

We invite you to share and submit your thoughts and items for our newsletter (either current or future news and events) at diversityinclusion@ucdavis.edu

Thank you for your dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion!

#ThinkBigDiversity
https://diversity.ucdavis.edu