A Culture of Belonging
The DEI Advisory Committee focuses on building a culture of belonging for and among faculty at UNO.
It is comprised of a diverse group of faculty representatives who are actively engaged in developing strategies for an inclusive and equitable working environment.
The committee works closely with the Office of Academic Affairs and is charged with identifying and prioritizing DEI-related initiatives and establishing action plans for the campus.
Early on, the committee identified six focal areas:
- Faculty searches and recruitment
- Faculty retention, campus climate, and workplace environment
- Lived experiences of faculty in the community
- Supporting faculty in working with students from underrepresented groups
- Faculty leadership and professional development
- Faculty advancement and recognition
Learn more about how Academic Affairs is engaged in fostering an inclusive and equitable campus environment.
DEI Advisory Committee Members - 2022-23
| Member | Area |
|---|---|
| Alecia Anderson | Sociology |
| Theresa Barron-McKeagney | CPACS Dean's Office |
| Candice Batton | Academic Affairs |
| Julie Dierberger | Service Learning Academy |
| Dale Eesley | Marketing and Entrepreneurship |
| Mark Foxall | Criminology and Criminal Justice |
| Ann Fruhling | Interdisciplinary Informatics |
| Janice Garnett | Educational Leadership |
| Matt Hale | Interdisciplinary Informatics, Faculty Senate |
| Barbara Hewins-Maroney | Goodrich Scholarship Program |
| Jay Irwin | Sociology |
| Lyn Holley | Gerontology |
| Chris Kelly | Gerontology, Faculty Senate |
| AT Miller | Office of Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion |
| Erin Pleggenkuhle-Miles | Management |
| Sandra Rodriguez-Arroyo | Teacher Education |
| Bridget Sandhoff | Arts |
| Amy Schindler | Criss Library |
| Kris Swain | Special Education and Communication Disorders |
| Herbie Thompson | Communication |
DEI Priorities 2022-23
Each year the Faculty DEI Advisory Committee identifies topics that are central to an equitable and inclusive campus environment for recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty body. A detailed action plan is available, but generally the focus for 2022-23 is on the following:
- Faculty Recruitment: Continue focus on faculty search and recruitment guidelines by offering opportunities for training and professional development for search committee members and for search advocates and also by providing a variety of faculty search resources
- Faculty Retention: Review information on faculty who leave campus for other positions and consider developing exit interview protocol
- Promotion and Tenure: Work toward the including inclusive excellence and engaged work in institutional promotion and tenure guidelines
Looking ahead, what do we want for faculty diversity, equity, and inclusion at UNO?
