EDI Committees and Networks

The Faculty of Arts’ Equity and Diversity Committee works to fulfill the Faculty’s commitment to build a genuinely diverse community in our Faculty and deliberately seek ways to increase equity and diversity in all of its facets. Diversity includes, but is not limited to, race, ethnicities, religions, gender identities, sexual orientations, abilities and backgrounds.

The committee engages in activities that:

• Promote an inclusive institutional climate that reflects, respects and celebrates diversity.
• Raise awareness of discrimination and unconscious bias among Faculty, students and staff.
• Support members of the Faculty of Arts who experience discrimination at the University.
• Ensure training opportunities for mentoring faculty toward tenure and promotion throughout their careers.
• Provide resources for effective inclusive pedagogies that support the learning of all students.
• Create awareness and a shared sense of responsibility among Faculty, staff and students to promote a learning and working culture that values equity, diversity and inclusion.

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2024-2025 Equity and Diversity Committee Members

• Amelia Kiddle, Chair, Associate Dean, Research
• Melissa Boyce, Co-Chair, Associate Dean, Academic
• Saulesh Yessenova, faculty member, Department of Anthropology and Archaeology
• Nancy Janovicek, faculty member, Department of History
• Wei Cai, faculty member, School of Languages, Linguistics, Literatures and Cultures
• Pablo Policzer, faculty member, Department of Political Science
• TBC, faculty member
• Safaneh Mohaghegh Neyshabouri, faculty member, Department of Philosophy
• Uchechukwu Umezurike, faculty member, Department of English 
• TBC, graduate student, Faculty of Arts
• Amisha Grewal, undergraduate student, Faculty of Arts
• Martin Al-Najar, undergraduate student, Faculty of Arts
• Alexandra Lyons, staff member (AUPE)
• TBC, staff member (MaPS)

The events of 25 May 2020 catalyzed an unprecedented international mobilization focused on urgent issues of racism and discrimination. While the death of George Floyd galvanized a global sense of outrage, it also highlighted a necessity for change that has a long, complex and deeply troubling history. To face and address these dynamics, we are currently working on a range of initiatives with the objectives of community consultation, self-education, and concrete short-, medium- and long-term action.

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Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Decolonization | SCPA Committee

Bruce Barton, Professor and SCPA Director: Committee Co-Chair
Adam Patrick Bell – Associate Professor, Music and Committee Co-Chair

• Rod Squance – Associate Professor and Music Division Lead
• Joelle Welling – Senior Instructor, Music
• Marie France Forcier, Associate Professor and Dance Division Lead
• Michelle Moss – Associate Professor, Dance
• Melanie Kloetzel – Professor, Dance
• Christine Brubaker – Associate Professor and Drama Division Lead
• Clement Martini – Professor, Drama
• Mary Lou Mendyk – Manager, Department Operations
• Abir Bachir – Venue Business Administrator
• Constantina Caldis Roberts – Academic Programs Specialist: Scheduling & Community Engagement
• Cabri Boechler - Dance Undergraduate Student Representative
• Allison Wenniger – Drama Undergraduate Student Representative
• Filip Vujanovic - Music Undergraduate Student Representative
• Oshadhee Satarasingh: Graduate Student and Peer-Support Network Co-ordinator
• Cassie Holmes – Graduate Student Representative, Drama
• Crystal Tan – Graduate Student Representative, Music
• Jason Young – Graduate Student Representative, Music

CME Commitment to EDI

The Office of CME&PD is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in developing and delivering evidence-based educational and assessment activities. We will foster an EDI culture by recognizing and respecting all individuals' unique qualities and attributes, including learners, the scientific planning committee, faculty and staff. We will create positive and inclusive learning, working and social environments where individuals’ different perspectives are welcomed and valued. 

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The Hotchkiss Brain Institute's Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee makes policy and practices recommendations to HBI leadership on producing an equitable workplace for all faculty, trainees and staff that emphasizes diversity, inclusion, and quality of life.

In addition, the Committee plans to develop an Indigenous inclusion plan that provides training opportunities, community engagement, and targeted recruitment.

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The student association and leadership team of the School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape (SAPL) condemn systemic racism, bigotry, discrimination, hate and abuse of power. To those who have been and are being harmed by these actions, we are here to listen, support and effect change.

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The GSA is committed to advocating on behalf of equity-seeking groups, including women, Indigenous peoples, racialized individuals, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQ2S+. The GSA EDI committee will work to amplify the voices of oppressed groups, bring awareness to issues, and improve equity, diversity, and inclusion within the GSA itself.

GSA Actions to Address EDI Issues

• Learning about racism and anti-racism among the members of the GSA Board, Staff, and Senior Leadership Team
• Bringing diverse voices to decision-making tables
• Amplifying the voices of oppressed groups through statements, stories, and resources
• Building EDI into the GSA strategic plan
• Forming and building the EDI Committee

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In 2020 the first-ever Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee at the Haskayne School of Business was formed. This committee is led by Dr. Sandy Hershcovis and Dr. Sherry Weaver, tasked with creating the very first EDI strategy for the school. Comprised of faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds, the committee meets regularly to explore what EDI means to Haskayne and how we’ll strive toward fostering a more welcoming environment for equity-deserving individuals in our community.

The Faculty of Kinesiology recognizes that diverse faculty, staff, students and alumni benefit and enrich the work, teaching, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and broader community. Therefore, we are committed to removing constructed barriers that continue to negatively impact equity-deserving groups, including women, Indigenous and racialized people, people with disabilities, LGBTQI2S+ individuals, people of different sizes, individuals from across social classes, and all their intersections.

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Meet some EDI Faculty of Kinesiology committee members working together to create an environment of equity, diversity, and inclusion. Our team is chaired by William Bridel, Associate Dean (Academic).

• Dr. Meghan McDonough, Co-chair, Faculty
• Ravija Ramsamugh, Co-chair, Student (fall semester)
• Elisa Nguyen, Co-chair, Student (winter semester)

Get to know the Faculty of Kinesiology’s Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Committee

UCalgary Law's Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee was formed in August 2020 to work to increase and improve equity, equality, diversity and inclusion at the law school and in the Faculty’s interactions with the legal profession.

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We have a long history of promoting social justice through our professional work. We abide by a code of ethics, upholding principles of justice, safeguarding human rights, equity, fairness and promoting the public good. It is our ethical responsibility to not discriminate based on a person's ethnicity, culture, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, social status, health status or any other attribute. We also respect Indigenous Peoples' special history and interests (CNA, 2017, p. 15).

All UCalgary Nursing students, faculty and staff must stand in solidarity to support an equitable, diverse and inclusive environment. We also commit to working together to continue thriving within our strengths as a diverse community.

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Michelle Scott, co-chair, Director of Indigenous Initiatives

Heather Bensler co-chair, Assistant Dean, Academic Partnerships 

• Esther Udeh (Undergraduate Nursing Society)
• Randip Dhaliwal (Nursing Graduate Nursing Association)
• Kara Sealock (Faculty)
• Jennifer Jackson (Faculty)
• Danielle Young (Staff)

The School of Public Policy was pleased to launch our Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility and Indigenous Engagement Committee in June 2023. The committee members named it the READI (Reconciliation, Equity, Accessibility, Diversity and Inclusion) Committee on Nov. 30 2023.

Members of this committee will have two parallel mandates to focus on EDIA and Indigenous Engagement at SPP. While there may be some areas that overlap, we intend to fund and advocate each area as its own separate initiative. Members of the READI Committee meet once a month.

Diversity is a critical driver of innovation and leads to more robust problem‐solving and creativity in engineering design. The Schulich School of Engineering is committed to advancing diversity and supporting a positive learning experience for all, including female and Indigenous students. 

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We intend to foster an inclusive, thriving and equitable environment for our students, non-academic and academic staff, and community members. We take the stand that equity does not mean sameness in the treatment of people but rather requires measures and accommodations for diverse life experiences and circumstances to ensure that no one of a particular social group is disadvantaged, underrepresented or overlooked in all aspects of our work. 

We intend to address systemic inequities and compounded disadvantages due to the intersectionality of social locations, particularly for those who are members of racialized communities, Indigenous peoples, Black peoples, persons with disabilities, migrant groups (including refugees and immigrants), 2SLGBTQ+ communities, linguistic minorities as well as those who have experienced socioeconomic, caregiving, religious, political, and/or cultural barriers to their education and employment. 

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Belinda Heyne (Chair), Associate Professor, Chemistry

• Ashley Causton, Senior Instructor, Chemistry
• Eric Donovan, Professor, Physics and Astronomy
• Lies Thompson, Manager, Undergraduate Science Centre
• Postdoctoral Fellow, TBC
• Marissa Clapson, Graduate Student, Chemistry

The goal of this committee is to foster the improvement of equity within the Department of Biological Sciences by:

1. Providing support for individuals to report incidents of inequity to the Faculty/University.
2. Providing education and raising awareness to the Department of Biological Sciences about Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) related issues and concerns.
3. Making suggestions to the departmental leadership about how to improve EDI practices within Biological Sciences.

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Chair

• Arshad Ayyaz

Faculty members 

• Tamara Bodnar
• Teir Balser

Staff member

• TBD

Postdoctoral fellow representatives

• Megan Torres
• Jithine Jayakumar Rajeswari

Graduate student representatives

• Rachi Panchal
• Anna Walker

Undergraduate student representatives

• Deema ElRufaei
• Sophia Su
• Sneha Suresh
• Latif Omerkhil
• Arwa Alfuhaid
• Aaminah Ali
• Manjot Jhinjar
• Bernice Aladesemipe

The goal of the PHAS IDEA Committee is to promote and advance EDIA projects and initiatives, and also improve EDIA awareness, aiming to integrate EDIA principles into the culture of the Department of Physics and Astronomy (PHAS). The committee also advises and provides suggestions to the departmental leadership on how to improve EDIA practices within PHAS.

PHAS Associate Head EDI

• Claudia Gomes da Rocha

PHAS IDEA Committee Chair 

• Matthew Taylor

Faculty Representatives

• David Feder
• Jared Stang

Postdoctoral/Research Associate Representative

• Vahid Salari

Graduate Student Representatives

• Pooja Woosaree
• Rebecca Booth

Undergraduate Student Representatives

• Ea E
• Kasey Walters
• Stefan Sura

As part of UCVM’s commitment to creating a safe, diverse, and inclusive environment for all students, faculty, and staff to learn and grow and to move us forward on this journey, the WIDE (Wellness, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity) Task Force was struck in early 2021. Co-chaired by Aylin Atilla and Saskia de Jong, the task force held a series of meetings and retreats with a working group to determine recommendations for UCVM’s Leadership Council.  

• The Vision: to ensure a safe, effective, and inclusive working and learning environment and culture across the UCVM community.
• Mandate: to identify the major issues of concern, investigate root causes and recommend solutions.

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Werklund researchers are fostering more diverse learning communities through addressing challenges in and outside of schools and sharing the voices of the students, teachers, school psychologists and counselling psychologists working to eradicate conditions that have historically marginalized vulnerable populations.

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