Race, Equity, and Inclusion (REI) Committee: Supporting Diverse Perspectives at GSE
Penn GSE’s Committee on Race, Equity, and Inclusion is a standing committee convened by Raquel M. Arredondo, the Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and co-chaired by Dean Katharine Strunk and Professor Howard Stevenson. The Committee comprises GSE faculty, staff, and students who represent the diverse perspectives and lived experiences of our community. The charge of this committee is to:
- Develop proposals about how the school may best marshal its resources to increase diversity of perspective, equity, and inclusion, mitigate instances of sexual bias and harassment, and increase literacy around these areas.
- Address ongoing issues related to school climate and safety.
- Prioritize and take actionable steps each year to confront matters that impede the advancement of an equitable, inclusive, and diverse community. Priority goals for 2023–2024 include the following focus areas:
- International student experience
- Racial literacy
- Inquiry into the implications of the 2023 SCOTUS decision
Past accomplishment of the Committee on Race, Equity, and Inclusion include:
- Professional development opportunities at staff and faculty meetings
- Bias awareness training in admissions and search processes
- Creation of affinity groups
- Initial Climate Study
- Assessment of student/faculty diversity
- Accessibility and disability inclusion support and resources
- Addition of gender inclusive restrooms
- Addition of Assistant Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Addition of the Penn Experience requirement to new student orientation
- Addition of a Reflection Room (prayer/meditation space)
We welcome the involvement of our GSE community of students, staff, and faculty who are interested in supporting and contributing to these focus areas. Should you have interest in learning how you can become involved in supporting the work of the Committee on Race, Equity, and Inclusion or wish to be part of one of the above working groups, please contact Raquel M. Arredondo.
2023–2024 Committee Members
Faculty
Ed Brockenbrough
Nelson Flores
Ameena Ghaffar-Kucher
Matthew Hartley
Andrea Kane
Howard Stevenson
Katharine Strunk
Staff
Raquel Arredondo
Kristine Chin
Miriam Harris
Charlotte Jacobs
Nakia Jones
Jasmine Marshall-Butler
Leland McGee
Scott Van Pelt
Students
Jack Drummond
Shiyu Jiang
Julia Melnick
KJ Mosely
Gabrielle Newell
Sam Nguyen
Meghan Shah
