Weekly Three 04/04/22
Greetings Miami University,
Here is this week's diversity, equity, inclusion "weekly three" from the Office of Institutional Diversity:
There are so many in our Miami community, across all campuses and units, who contribute to moving DEI forward at Miami. One way to recognize and celebrate some of these amazing individuals and groups is through the annual Miami DEI Awards. We are excited to invite nominations for the 2021-2022 round of DEI Awards (Ray of Light; Distinguished Service; Diversity Event of the Year; and Institutional Inclusive Excellence). Learn more about the Diversity and Inclusion Awards and nominate someone. The application deadline is Friday, April 22. We look forward to your nominations.
We are also excited to recognize and share opportunities for Miamians to create community and be part of support networks, and want to highlight two such opportunities this week: Miami University Staff and Faculty Associations, or affinity groups, which provide space and opportunities for employees with similar backgrounds or interests to come together, network, and build connections. Miami is fortunate to have several affinity groups, including the Asian and Asian-American Faculty & Staff Association (AAA-FSA); Association of Black Faculty & Staff (ABFAS); Association of Latinx Faculty & Staff (ALFAS); International Faculty and Staff Association (IFSAM); and Queer & Trans Faculty & Staff Association (QTFSA), as well as two employee committees: the Classified Personnel Advisory Committee (CPAC) and the Unclassified Personnel Advisory Committee (UPAC). We invite you to find out more about these groups and to join by filling out a brief Interest Form.
OIDI is also excited to launch the Women of Color Leadership Support Network for faculty and staff. This is a new initiative to advance and strengthen Miami University’s commitments to a diverse, equitable, accessible, and inclusive learning and working community through the development of a space of support, networking, and development for women of color leaders. The deadline to apply is April 22, 2022.
One: DEI Implementation
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Miami Online Course
Course registration has been extended until April 10, 2022.
Miami University’s Office of the President and the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion are proud to introduce this Online Course – completely free to alumni, faculty, and staff. The in-depth, 45-minute modules, developed and led by distinguished Miami faculty and staff experts, tackle 10 essential topics such as bias, stereotypes, and microaggressions; cultural intelligence; race and anti-racism; ableism; strategies for workplace inclusiveness, and more. After registering, alumni, faculty, and staff can complete this course at their own pace between March 14 and May 31. You can watch a brief promo video of this exciting new initiative, and alumni, faculty, and staff can register for the course. A special thank you to Elizabeth Farrar, Katherine Marusic, Rachel Valerio, Kristine Smith, and Josh Smith of the Miami Online (formerly eLearning) office for all their amazing behind-the-scenes work and support to make this a reality.
Anti-racism Workshop
Anti-racism work requires sustained, proactive education and engagement as well as systemic, intentional efforts at micro-and macro-levels. The Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion is excited to announce a new Anti-racism Workshop for the Miami community. We will learn about our responsibilities in racial equity and how to prevent racism. We will discuss how to identify racist behaviors both in ourselves and in others and how to counter and dismantle such behaviors. The workshop will also provide tools and strategies for having conversations around racism and how to prevent, stop, and unlearn racial prejudices. Seats are limited so please sign up early. Two dates available: Tuesday, April 26th 11:30-1:00pm OR Friday, April 29, 11:30-1:00pm.
Now Accepting Submissions for April and May Heritage and History Months
Working in close collaboration with faculty, staff, and student partners, the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion provides opportunities for the Miami community to continue our learning and engage in meaningful programming that recognizes, examines, and values historical legacies of a diverse array of identities. Heritage Month programming supports Miami’s inclusive excellence and DEI mission and connects to, among other areas, DEI Task Force Pillar 2: Cultural Consciousness, which encourages the Miami University community to enhance our awareness, knowledge, and skills to enrich and renew our intercultural competence. Submit your proposal considering priority deadlines for each proposed history and heritage month celebration.
DEI Student Advisory Council
This semester we have initiated this council to help maintain regular lines of communication with students (both graduate and undergraduate); to ensure students are empowered to provide regular input and recommendations related to student experiences with campus climate, new DEI-related initiatives, and DEI more broadly; and to proactively and collaboratively examine university efforts to address these concerns. We are excited to announce our council members for 2022:
- Pankhuri Aggarwal
- Miranda Corpora
- Dawson Cosgrove
- Akanksha Das
- Saranya Sanaka
- Sumit Tripathi
- Gabrielle Williams
- Asia Flores
- Andrew Abata
Two: Community Updates
Queer & Trans Faculty/Staff Association
The Queer & Trans Faculty/Staff Association (QTFSA) is recruiting employee leaders to help revitalize the organization, originally founded in 1999 as GLEAM (Gay & Lesbian Employees at Miami). In August 2020, the QTFSA was officially recognized by the Office of Institutional Diversity & Inclusion with the intention of creating community and visibility for queer and trans employees at Miami University. The QTFSA participates in collaborative decision-making regarding our structure, mission, and goals and welcomes the input and participation of all queer and trans-identified staff members. If you are interested in learning more you can check the QTFSA website or email qtfsa@MiamiOH.edu to express interest.
Arganone Mariam
A Praise for the Threefold Virgin: An Illuminated 16th-century Ethiopic Manuscript Housed at Miami University on Monday, April 4 at 5 p.m. in King 320.
Award-Winning Poet Michael Torres
Monday, April 4 at 7:30 p.m. on Zoom.
“What the L”- Presentation from Linguistics Research Group
Douglas Troy and Jarrid Baldwin from the Myaamia Center will be giving a talk entitled "Archives-Based Language Revitalization at the Myaamia Center." The talk will take place on Tuesday, April 5th at 4:15 pm, in Irvin Hall 040.
MakeHERspace
An annual event that focuses on community and activism surrounding women’s issues on Friday, April 8 from 10 am - 4 pm in Makerspace (King 303).
Lesbian Blood Drives
How lesbians donated blood and cared for people living with HIV and AIDS in the 1980s and 1990s. A MakeHERspace presentation with Beth Hutchinson on Friday, April 8 at noon in Makerspace (King 303).
9th Biennial Myaamiaki Conference
We invite all to join us for the 9th biennial Myaamiaki Conference where the Myaamia Center will present our ongoing activities that support the revitalization of Myaamia language and culture. The conference is a great way to learn about a wide range of research projects that are underway and the educational initiatives that the Myaamia Center continues to develop. The 2022 Myaamiaki Conference will be a part of the 50th-anniversary celebrations of the relationship between the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and Miami University. This unique partnership is expressed through a shared commitment to neepwaantiinki, ‘learning from each other,’ which has played a key role in the Miami Tribe’s language revitalization efforts that have led to the first generation in nearly 100 years learning to speak the Myaamia language. Date: Saturday, April 9, 2022 Time: 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Location: Armstrong Student CenterThis will be a hybrid in-person and virtual event. Details for joining this virtual event will be announced soon. The conference is free to the public. We ask that attendees register for the conference.
Register for Myaamiaki Conference
Access for All: Accessible Technology Symposium
The annual symposium will be held virtually this year on Thursday, April 14, 2022, from 2 - 3:30 p.m.
This year’s keynote speaker is Liz Persaud, the Program and Outreach Manager for Tools for Life, Georgia’s Assistive Technology Act Program at the Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation at Georgia Tech University. Persaud will be presenting Across the Table - Strategies and Solutions for Living in a Collective Community. In this session, Persaud will explore and share the collective role each of us play in promoting successful independent living beyond the everyday “typical” environments for individuals with disabilities. This free symposium is open to the entire Miami community.
Better Together Week
April 10, 2022 to April 16, 2022
META is excited to host Better Together Days, an annual event organized at colleges and universities across the U.S., headed by the national nonprofit organization Interfaith Youth Core. Students come together to learn about faith and meaning-making traditions other than their own, to identify common values, and to collaborate on community service and engagement projects. Go to Instagram @meta.miami for more information and see what events META is co-hosting during the week.
2022 Kate Welling Disability Awareness Lecture
April 11, 2022. McGuffey 322 (Zoom)
Drawing on oral history interviews, correspondence, archival sources, and material objects, Susan Burch tells the story of the Indigenous people—families, communities, and nations, across generations to the present day—who have experienced the impact of this history.
Miami Presents: The College Tour
Show and panel | Tuesday, April 12 | 7:00 p.m. ET
Join the Miami University Alumni Association for a screening of Miami University's episode of "The College Tour" TV show. This is a great way to relive your Miami memories, while also learning about what this campus means to current students. After the half-hour episode, several Miami students who are featured in the Miami episode will participate in a panel discussion.
Dragonfly Diversity Café: “Overcoming Personal and Professional Struggles as an Asian American in Conservation”
Thursday, April 21, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. EST
Guest Speaker will be Katie Leung, Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator at Riverkeeper, New York City. Check out the website for more information.
MADE at Miami
This is a pre-semester program designed to help students get the most out of their Miami experience. We promote qualities valued by the university community—Mentoring, Achievement, Diversity, and Excellence. Additionally, it is open to all entering first-year undergraduate students, historically underrepresented populations or those who have a commitment to promoting a deeper understanding of and appreciation for diversity. This year, we are opening our program to campus partners to lead various sessions for our MADE participants. Sessions are 1 hour and 15 minutes and will take place on Wednesday, August 17, 2022 during the following times: 11:30a-12:45p, 3:30p-4:45p, 5p-6:15p.
Three: Celebrations & Recognition
Arab American Heritage Month
This is a time for celebrating the history, contributions, and culture of the diverse populations of Arab Americans. In 2019, Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) issued a congressional resolution for NAAHM to be recognized on a national scale. Arab Americans have ancestry in one of the world’s 22 Arab nations, which are located from northern Africa through western Asia. The people of these nations are ethnically, politically, and religiously diverse but share a common cultural and linguistic heritage. We encourage all Miamians to engage in dialogue and allyship with our campus community organizations such as the Middle Eastern Student Association.
2022 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar
Miami University is very proud of Mia Gordon for being nominated for the prestigious Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar. One in only 10 women selected in the entire country is a great testament to Mia’s hard work and dedication to her education, her team and the entire Miami Ohio community. The Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar award is a part of Diverse: Issues In Higher Education’s quarter-century legacy of recognizing outstanding minority young men and women who have distinguished themselves in their academic and athletic pursuits. Congratulations Mia!
Education and Sharing Day, April 12
This day is observed annually on the 11th day of the month of Nisan on the Jewish calendar. This day emphasizes the vital role of education in society. This day is observed on the anniversary of the birth of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory, who dedicated his life to the cause of education. Education goes beyond obtaining a degree to shape a certain career; it also cultivates the spirit and develops the character through collaborative efforts between mentors, educators, family members and community leaders.
Upcoming Religious Holy Days and Holidays & Inclusive Scheduling
Please see the academic affairs calendar and complementing interfaith narrative calendar for policies and for more information, and regarding religious holy days and holidays observed by Miami Community members throughout the year.
With Love and Honor,
Cristina Alcalde, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)
Vice President for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion
Professor, Global and Intercultural Studies
vpDiversity@MiamiOH.edu