Introducing the Staff Senate Diversity & Inclusion Subcommittee
By Diana Allen
As one of the founding members of Staff Senate and new chair of the Diversity & Inclusion subcommittee, Diana Allen of the Office of Residential Life introduces the subcommittee and discusses her vision for moving forward.
In the Summer of 2022, after the laborious efforts of the founding members and with the invaluable support of the administration and faculty, the constitution of the Staff Senate was ratified with a two-thirds majority in favor of adaptation. The specifics of the vote are as follows:
- IN FAVOR: 259
- AGAINST: 9
- ABSTAINED: 12
Subsequently, the Staff Senate was created.
Under the purview of the Staff Senate and as described in the Staff Senate constitution, various sub-committees and task forces were also established. One of these subcommittees is the Diversity and Inclusion subcommittee. The mission of this subcommittee, as defined in the Staff Senate constitution, is as follows:
“The Diversity and Inclusion subcommittee has oversight and advisory responsibility to ensure representation of diverse voices within the Staff Senate and seeks to advise the University on the overall composition of staff. The subcommittee will also advise the Senate on the issues of hiring, promoting and retention of diverse staff at the University.”
We will work to be effective by examining how we can create actions to generate progress of diversity and inclusion initiatives and we will work to learn what diversity and inclusion means to all constituents of the campus community."
So, where do we start?
To best shape our specific mission and establish our goals we must first understand what these words mean.
While the overarching goals of the Staff Senate Diversity and Inclusion subcommittee might align on paper with similar committees and initiatives on campus, it is imperative that we as a subcommittee examine the work taking place in this regard.
- How will we align with, differ from, and compliment the Campus Committee on Diversity and Inclusive Excellence (CCDIE)?
- What can we learn from the University’s Strategic Plan on Diversity and Inclusion and how do we incorporate this in our work?
- What is the Stockton Board of Trustees (BOT) 2019 Resolution on Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice at Stockton?
- What does the Office of Diversity and Inclusion do? How can we work together to support student equity and equitable decisions within the campus community?
Ideally, the Staff Senate Diversity and Inclusion subcommittee shall utilize and leverage existing resources, while adding an extension of support in the form of staff. We will work to be effective by examining how we can create actions to generate progress of diversity and inclusion initiatives and we will work to learn what diversity and inclusion means to all constituents of the campus community.
Members of Staff Senate's D&I Subcommittee (2023)
- Chair – Diana Allen, Residential Life, Student Affairs
- Vice Chair – Megan Taylor, EOF, Student Affairs
- Jake Lehneis, Mail Services, Administration and Finance
- Jenifer Robin, Financial Aid, Enrollment Management
- Bill Mauroff, Grounds, Facilities and Operations
- Diana Strelczyk, Continuing Studies, Academic Affairs
- Ayisha Lee, Development and Alumni, University Advancement
- Loukaia Taylor, University Relations and Marketing, University Advancement
- Haashim Smith-Johnson, Admissions, Enrollment Management
- Nicolas Zebrowski, Hammonton Instructional Site, Academic Affairs
Diana Allen works in the Office of Residential Life. She and other members of the subcommittee will be regular contributors for Celebrate Diversity - this article serves as the first in the series.
