DEI Bulletin: September 2022
September 12, 2022 - Ashley Zhou
Executive Updates
MSU Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Hosts Inaugural Summer Leadership Institute
On July 29, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Jabbar R. Bennett, Ph.D., hosted the IDI Summer Leadership Institute with over 100 participants at the Union. The institute provides an opportunity for diversity, equity and inclusion practitioners, scholars and partners to connect, coordinate and collaborate around key programming and institutional strategic priorities. This year’s half-day program featured an overview of current strategic planning efforts and leadership development activities by Pastor Marvin Williams.
MSU Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Participated in the BRUSH Summer Research Students in Career Chats Seminar in July
Biomedical Research University Students in Health Sciences, or BRUSH, Summer Research Program provides hands-on research exposure and graduate or professional school preparation opportunities for undergraduate students from underrepresented groups in biomedical research. The program also enrolls veterinary students from underrepresented populations in biomedical research.
MSU Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Joins the Association of American Universities Chief Diversity Officer Constituent Group
Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Jabbar R. Bennett, Ph.D., joins the Association of American Univerities chief diversity officers constituent group. The group meets annually to share best practices on external and institutional policy matters relevant to chief diversity officers at research universities, according to AAU. In addition, officers provide input on federal advocacy, institutional practices and initiatives that support member efforts to advance diversity, equity and inclusion on their campuses.
Evette Chavez Appointed to Michigan Board of Veterinary Medicine
Evette Chavez, IDI's fiscal and human resources officer, was appointed to represent the general public on the Michigan Board of Veterinary Medicine for a term from July 28, 2022, to Dec. 31, 2025, according to Michigan.gov. “It is with great pleasure that I share news of Evette Chavez’s appointment to the Michigan Board of Veterinary Medicine by Governor Whitmer,” said Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Jabbar R. Bennett, Ph.D., in an email.
Happenings, Celebrations and Initiatives
Lansing State Journal: MSU Student Shares the Importance of Celebrating International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
Celebrated on Aug. 9, International Day of the World’s Indigenous People gives Indigenous people the opportunity to speak about tribulations and victories to inspire other Indigenous people. “The outcries of Native Americans are not heard by the rest of the country,” MSU student Katherine Ogle wrote for the Lansing State Journal. “This holiday is important and makes significant progress for the future of indigenous people, but more work needs to be done.”
MSUToday: Spring Break in Mexico Sparks Change
After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, Migrant Student Services reinstated the popular service trip to Mexico with 120 student participants, according to MSUToday. “I wanted to experience what it’s like to be uncomfortable; what it’s like not to know the primary languages,” said Terrance Lindsey, a recent student participant in the International Engagement in Mexico program. The study abroad experience is lauded as one of the most diverse at MSU, offering new cultural and community perspectives through classroom instruction, volunteer work, journaling and guided reflective discussions.
MSUToday: Serling Institute For Jewish Studies 30th Anniversary
The Michael and Elaine Serling Institute for Jewish Studies and Modern Israel celebrates their 30th anniversary this year in teaching and mentoring MSU’s undergraduate students, according to MSUToday. “Over the past 30 years, the Serling Institute has played a vital role in educating and supporting the success of students, faculty and staff on our campus,” said Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Jabbar R. Bennett, Ph.D. The institute celebrated the anniversary with a private event at Cowles House on Sept. 11.
MSUToday: College of Music Renews Music Program for Pre-College Students on the Autism Spectrum
On July 25-30, “Celebrating the Spectrum: A Festival of Music and Life,” a piano program created by MSU College of Music students for music students on the autism spectrum, went live after a two-year pandemic pause. According to MSUToday, the program hopes to contribute to research and teaching methods by showing the program’s positive outcomes for piano learning and autism.
James Madison College: JMC Welcomes First Cohort into New Bridge Program
Starting on Aug. 24, James Madison College, or JMC, welcomed its first 21-student cohort into a new bridge program featuring a week-long class taught by JMC faculty member Dr. Melissa Fore, time management workshops, a meet-and-greet with the JMC community and more. Early Start students will progress into a JMC first-year program after completing the summer program.
The Hill: MSU President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D., Encourages Congress to Double the Pell Grant
In the mid-1970s, Pell Grant recipients received around 80% of their education costs covered. However, now the Pell Grant covers less than a third of a four-year institution’s costs. MSU President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D., promotes the Pell Grant to be doubled to $13,000 “to lead to a deeper, more diverse talent pool for businesses and the careers of today and tomorrow,” according to Stanley’s Op-Ed on The Hill.
MSUToday: MSU Announces 2022-23 Fulbright Student Awards
According to MSUToday, MSU awarded nine students and graduates the Fulbright U.S. Student Program grants with four alternate candidates. Throughout the 2022-2023 academic year, the grantees will study, conduct research and teach abroad to join Fulbright alums who are leaders in their respective fields.
MSUToday: MSU Contends COVID-19 Challenges in Michigan’s Lowest-Performing Schools
According to MSUToday, the Education Policy Innovation Collaborative, or EPIC, a strategic research partner of the Michigan Department of Education, examined the progress of districts and schools, identifying challenges along the way. Also reporting Matter of Fact.
Multicultural Center Expands History Beyond Civil Rights Movement to Include Student Leaders From the 90s to Present
The multicultural center was originally built in the Union’s basement following Black students’ protests during the civil rights movement. Throughout the years, students have consistently fought and persisted until 2022: MSU is on track to build a 32,700-square-foot multicultural center during the 2023-24 academic year.
MSU College of Nursing: “Unleashed” Campaign Spotlights Diverse Students and Alums
MSU College of Nursing released a blog forum, “Unleashed,” which connects current College of Nursing students and alums to showcase the skills they learned at MSU and how they apply them in the real world.
Innovation, Health and Research
MSUToday: $15M Grant Will Launch Pilot Program to Curb Acts of Mass Violence
MSU’s Department of Psychiatry will launch a pilot program to curb acts of violence with a $15 million grant from the state of Michigan. The Center for Targeted Violence Prevention’s program identifies disenfranchised individuals early with an ultimate goal “to no longer need intensive support teams, and instead help adolescents see that they are part of a community and are competent individuals,” according to MSUToday.
Division of Public Health: National Institutes of Health Grant $6.2 Million to Examine Mothers’ Universal Postpartum Depression Prevention
MSU, Care New England Healthy System, and Henry Ford will grant $6.2 million to The Reach Out, Stand Strong, Essentials for New Mothers, or ROSE, a program that serves mother’s in postpartum depression prevention. According to the MSU Division of Public Health, The intervention will be free for agencies, offered in various settings and an easy-to-learn curriculum in Spanish or English.
MSUToday: Henry Ford Health and MSU Health Sciences Funds Five Cancer Research Grants
In August, MSUToday announced that Henry Ford Health and MSU Health Sciences would fund five cancer research grants, each up to $100,000. “These research initiatives funded through our partnership with Henry Ford will play an important role in fighting the health disparities that plague our most vulnerable communities,” said Health Sciences Cancer Committee Member and Assistant Dean in Research of MSU College of Human Medicine Jeff Mackeigan in an MSUToday article.
MSUToday: MPV Outbreak Echoing Stigmas and Fears of Early HIV/AIDS Era
MSU psychology professor Robin Lin Miller attended the International AIDS Conference in Montreal, where the Jynneos vaccine rollout for MPV, commonly referred to as Monkeypox, has been more rapid compared to the U.S. There are concerns within wealthy northern countries that are hoarding the vaccine and the vaccine distribution being more available to affluent and white communities instead of LGBTQIA+ black and brown communities, according to MSUToday.
Lansing State Journal: Becoming Visible Partnership with CHM, Osteopathic Medicine and Nursing - Krystal Nurse
According to the Lansing State Journal, a partnership with the Lansing School District helps to prepare women of color to become future health care professionals. Students at high school and college levels assisted with taking vitals for physicals. “The way we wanted to marry Becoming Visible with the free sports clinic was to have our girls actually volunteer to see community public health in action,” said Becoming Visible Co-Chair Cheryl Celestin.
MSU College of Nursing: Is This Normal? Podcast covers Racial Disparities in Health Care
MSU College of Nursing professionals Dr. Jackie Iseler and Dr. Patrick Crane began “Is This Normal? A Podcast of the Michigan State University College of Nursing” in March regarding all topics of health care delivery in the U.S. Recently they released a two-part podcast featuring blogger Robyn King and Alabama-based Clinical Nurse Specialist Caitlin Moore on “Racial Disparities in Health Care” to discuss disparities they’ve seen in health care based on the patient’s race, how to fix those systemic issues and simple actions nurses can take to help underserved communities.
MSUToday: U.S. Department of Education Grants $675,000 to MSU’s Center for Language Teaching Advancement
MSU’s Center for Language Teaching Advancement will be building The National Less Commonly Taught Languages Resource Center with a four-year $675,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The grant aims to “establish, strengthen and operate centers to improve the nation’s capacity for teaching world languages,” according to MSUToday.
MSUToday: College of Education and Michigan Center for Rural Health to Partner on $900,000 Project to Support Veterans
According to MSUToday, MSU College of Education and the Michigan Center for Rural Health will co-lead a project titled “Improving Rural Enrollment, Access and Health are in Rural Veterans,” or I-REACH, to support veterans with and without disabilities. I-REACH will focus on the Upper Peninsula and Thumb region of Michigan with $900,000 in funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Human Development and Family Studies: MSU Researcher Receives $200,000 Michigan Department of Education Grant for Childcare Services Mapping Project
MSU Department of Human Development and Family Studies Research Assistant Professor and Associate Director for Community Evaluations Programs in the Office of University Outreach and Engagement, Jamie Heng-Chieh Wu, received $200,000 for the Childcare Services Mapping Project to develop data infrastructure for policymakers to ensure that Michigan families receive equal access to high-quality childcare services. “Abundant research has documented that high-quality preschool and out-of-school time programming can help children from disadvantaged backgrounds narrow the opportunity gaps between them and their more affluent peers,” Wu said for Human Development and Family Studies. “Families from low-income, immigrant and racial/ethnic minority backgrounds deserve the same level and quality of services as more affluent families—and arguably have greater need.”
MSUToday: MSU Study Reveals Importance of Gender Balanced Research Teams
According to a study from Michigan State University, Northwestern University, New York University and the University of Notre Dame, research teams that have both men and women have a “significantly higher likelihood of producing more innovative and impactful work compared to their unbalanced counterparts,” according to MSUToday. “This work quantifies the impact that diversity has on academic achievement,’” said Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D.
Recognitions
MSUToday: MSU Professor Receives Transgender Research Award from APA
MSU Professor Jae Puckett received the 2022 Transgender Research Award from the Society of Sexual Orientation, Division 44 of the American Psychological Association, which highlights and honors research o transgender and gender-diverse communities. Puckett researched the Minority Stress Model: “the unique challenges that marginalized groups experience in addition to the general stressors that everyone may endure,” Puckett said in MSUToday.
WKAR Public Media: Amanda Flores Becomes WKAR Senior Director of DEI
Amanda Flores is the new senior director of diversity, equity and inclusion at WKAR to support and consult on various DEI issues across WKAR. “She is passionate about DEI, and she brings a wealth of practical experience and energy to the position,” WKAR Interim General Manager and Director of Broadcasting Shawn Turner said for WKAR. “She will be integral to our ongoing efforts to tell powerful stories from a diverse array of perspectives.”
MSU School of Criminal Justice: Dr. Cobbina-Dungy Becomes First Black Full Professor
Beginning as an Assistant Professor in 2009, Dr. Cobbina-Dungy is now the first Black Full Professor in the history of the MSU School of Criminal Justice. “I am beyond ecstatic to matriculate through the ranks of becoming a Full Professor,” Cobbina-Dungy said. “Being the first Black Full Professor is humbling, and I have immense gratitude for all of the people who supported me along the way.”
MSU Public Health: Public Health Communications Team Receives Ragan’s CSR & Diversity Awards
On July 14, MSU’s Division of Public Health communications team was awarded the Ragan’s CSR & Diversity Awards in the Video or Visual Design category to create a video highlighting MSU’s community-participatory public health model. “The important work being done in Flint and themes around trust-building and partnership echoed throughout this entire project,” College of Human Medicine Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Sarah Enlow said. “The honorable mention … placed the college front and center among brands and institutions demonstrating creative, intersectional work in the diversity, equity and inclusion space.”
MSU College of Human Medicine: Dr. Elizabeth Lyons Appointed Associate Director for the College of Human Medicine’s Leadership in Rural Medicine Certificate Program
Dr. Elizabeth Lyons, the co-founder of the Great Lakes Native American Applicant Workshop and advisor to the Latin American and Native American Medical Association, was appointed on July 22 as Associate Director for the College of Human Medicine’s Leadership in Rural Medicine Certificate Program. Lyons has earned all her education from MSU, including her Bachelor of Science in Family Community Services with an emphasis on Youth, Master of Arts in Higher, Adult and Lifelong Education and doctoral degree in Education Leadership.
MSUToday: Alumna Becomes Dartmouth’s First Woman President
Sian Leak Beilock, MSU kinesiology and psychology doctorate alumna, became Dartmouth College’s first female president this year. “Take advantage of all the amazing people around you,” Beilock said for MSUToday. “Get to know their research, their work and ask them to challenge your ideas and assumptions. The best ideas, in my mind, come from lively and engaged debate where people don’t always agree.”
MSUToday: Associate Professor Received Fulbright Global Scholar Award to Support Research on Effects of Migration on Buddhists
According to MSUToday, Associate Professor of Religious Studies Jon Keune received a Fulbright Global Scholar Award for the 2022-23 academic year to support his research on migration effects on religious identities, specifically Buddhists. “Not only are Ambedkarite, Taiwanese, Japanese and British Buddhists participating in distinct Buddhist traditions with their own histories, they do this while taking for granted their own local social structures, national political histories, socio-economic status and cultural sensitivities about religion, spirituality, science and secularity,” Keune said. “It’s only when people from different backgrounds meet, try to understand each other, and interact while following their own agendas, that they become aware of their assumptions.”
MSUToday: ChengCheng Fang Named Global Leading Innovator Under 35
MSU Assistant Professor Chengcheng Fang’s research in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science shows the potential to make batteries for electric vehicles run safer and last longer, according to MSUToday. “The lithium metal battery I am working on is the ‘holy grail’ battery that would provide the highest possible energy density.” Fang presented her findings at the MSU’s Board of Trustees meeting on Sept. 9.
Students/Alums
Student Life & Engagement: Inclusive Campus Initiative 2021-22 Year End Report
The Inclusive Campus Initiative presented its 2021-22 annual report documenting the numerous planning committee meetings, summits and forums engaging students to increase collaborations in diversity, equity and inclusion strategic efforts. The year's framework includes supporting ongoing student concerns, increasing communications and creating an inclusive campus ecosystem.
MSUToday: Over 9,800 New, Diverse Spartans arrive at MSU
According to MSUToday, MSU announced this year’s fall 2022 entering class is the largest entering class, with 9,800 students. In recent history, the incoming class was most diverse, with a 7% increase in students of color and a 57% increase in students of two or more races. In addition, more Indigenous students enrolled than last year and increased from 570 to 794 international students.
MSU College of Law: Dean Greene Welcomes the Most Diverse Class in 23 years
On Aug. 15, MSU College of Law Dean Linda Greene welcomed over 200 students to make up the most diverse incoming class. “Each of you brings your own history, your family’s heritage, your distinct cultural experiences to law school,” Greene said. “You will meet the future judges, the future leaders of your state, of your community, of your nation.”
James Madison College: JMC Student Reflects on Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Summer Internship
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, or CHCI, a summer internship with a cohort of 32 first-gen Latinx students placed in a House or Senate Office, gave social relations senior Alexie Milukhin an experience of working in D.C. with the Office of Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia. Garcia reflects on sitting in the rotunda and seeing the art of “American heroes,” according to Milukhin. “It’s a horrible juxtaposition for a so-called nation of immigrants to have a tiny fraction in its governance halls,” Milukhin wrote in the James Madison College News. “For a nation that is majority working class to be intentionally excluded from political processes that disproportionately impact them.”
MSUToday: Two Incoming First-Year Students Share Their Experience at MSU Ignite
MSU Ignite supports students’ transition from high school to MSU by allowing them to learn about the College of Communication Arts and Sciences over a five-day program. “The advice, information and encouragement received through the entire course of this program was unlike anything I had ever experienced,” journalism freshman Mikia Lawrence wrote for MSUToday. “It made me realize how much everyone at MSU wants to help you succeed and reach your dreams.”
MSUToday: Russian Scholar Shares Insights Living in the U.S.
Born in Russia, Dmitrii Pastushenkov shares how the Russia-Ukraine war has affected him personally and professionally. “I am proud of all those Ukrainians who are fighting for their country and those Russians who are not afraid to oppose the war, even though I wish there were more of us,” Pastushenkov wrote for MSUToday. “For me, as a Russian scholar, it is heartbreaking, but words mean nothing compared to what Ukraine is going through right now.”
MSU Undergraduate Education: CAMP Student Spoke at Office of Migrant Education 2022 Annual Director’s Meeting
Political Science sophomore Luz Vazquez Hernandez was selected to speak at the Office of Migrant Education 2022 Annual Director’s Meeting on July 20 to share her story as a daughter in a seasonal farmworker household, according to MSU Undergraduate Education. “I was like a voice to the same people, just like me,” Hernandez said.
MSU’s “Welcome Back, Spartans!” 2022 Video Features Diverse Voices
Michigan State University released a video on Aug. 24 featuring the diverse student body leaders stretching from Comunidad Latinoamericana to MSU Solar Racing Team. “Welcome back, Spartans,” Tessa Kresch said. “Welcome back to all of our 1,042 clubs … to finding your place, your people, yourself.”
MSU’s Office of Financial Aid: Helpful Information About the Student Debt Relief Bill
President Biden recently announced that the U.S. Department of Education would forgive $10,000 in federal loan debt to existing borrowers and $20,000 to past undergraduates who received Pell Grant assistance for borrower’s annual income below $125,000. The bill also applies to dependent students, and application details are pending, according to MSU’s Office of Financial Aid resource page.
ASMSU: First Openly Non-binary President Response to Hateful Act
On Aug. 19, Associated Students of Michigan State University, or ASMSU, President Jo Kovach, the first openly non-binary ASMSU President, released a press release stating that an individual created a hateful symbol on Kovach’s office using the free menstrual hygiene pads provided by ASMSU. “My hope is for a future where the term “bias incident” is one that no student ever has to read or hear again,” Kovach wrote. “I am non-binary, and I will continue to take up space and be loud about it.”
NPR: Endea Owens and The Cookout Featured on Tiny Desk Concert
On Aug. 29, MSU alumna Endea Owens and her band The Cookout were featured on National Public Radio’s Tiny Desk to play a set of five various jazz songs. “She [Owens] spoke about the importance of using her music to speak for the voiceless, and to build and enrich communities,” NPR wrote.
Upcoming
MSU Kellogg Center to Host Michigan Response to Hate Conference
On Sept. 15, the MSU Kellogg Center will host the 2022 Michigan Response to Hate conference: a forum focused on anti-hate and anti-bias programming. Workshops sessions with feature Violence Prevention, Responding to Incidents of Hate in Schools and will end with a Call-to-Action discussion that will highlight essential takeaways. Click here for more information and how to register.
Serling Institute for Jewish Studies and Modern Israel Guide on Antisemitism
On Sept. 19, 5:00 to 5:30 p.m. in the Lake Superior Room, 3rd floor of the MSU Union, The Serling Institute for Jewish Studies and Modern Israel will review their guide on antisemitism. Faculty, staff and students wrote the guide to assist the MSU community in recognizing antisemitism when it emerges and understanding its impacts.
MSU Kellogg Center to host 5th Annual Michigan Student Voting Summit
The Fair Elections Center announced that the 5th annual Michigan Student Voting Summit would be held on Sept. 30 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at MSU Kellogg Center. The summit features workshops, panels and a networking fair to bring student voting leaders from various Michigan universities to learn and collaborate.
Muslim Journeys at the MSU Broad Art Museum
On Sept. 28, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., MSU Broad Art Museum presents Muslim an after-hours exhibition preview of the Zaha Hadid Design: Untold, including a lecture by renowned scholar of Muslim American, African American and Arab American history, Dr. Edward Curtis, followed by a book signing of Curtis’ new book Muslims of the Heartland. The event is a partnership with the Muslim Studies program and MSU Libraries, with support from the Honors College, Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, International Studies and Programs and others.
International Center to Hold 16th Annual Muslim Studies Program Conference
On Feb. 23-23, 2023, The 16th Annual Muslim Studies Program Conference will be held at the International Center to investigate who is ‘the public’ in public opinion to hope to contribute to the study of public opinion “in Muslim contexts inside and outside of the Muslim world,” according to International Studies & Programs. Junior scholars and post-doctoral researchers are encouraged to submit abstracts for unpublished research by Sept. 30.