Selected Highlights Across Campus
While this is by no means a comprehensive list, this report attempts to highlight some of the invaluable efforts of the campus community toward equity, diversity, inclusion, access, and anti-racism. Across all divisions, offices, and schools, there is an ongoing and intensive effort to self-analyze the curriculum with careful attention to student feedback in an effort to foster a more equitable environment. The campus community is banding together with co-curricular offerings, supportive sponsorships, active attendance, and uplifting opportunities. At the core is a deep love of students and mutual understanding that Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) is for all of us.
Members of the President's Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council promoting EDI ISU
EDI Leaders Circle
"The Circle" is comprised of faculty and staff from the nearly 40 department, college, and division-level committees and councils committed to advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism efforts at Illinois State. The EDI Leaders Circle welcomed Executive Director of the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) Ginger Ostro to the annual symposium. Ostro discussed IBHE’s Strategic Plan, “A Thriving Illinois: Higher Education Paths to Equity, Sustainability, and Growth.”
Dr. Byron Craig
LGBTQIA2S+ subcommittee begins work for positive change
The LGBTQIA2S+ Policies and Initiatives Subcommittee, resides at the highest levels in the University, within the President’s Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council (DIAC). Dr. Byron Craig serves as chair and faculty fellow of the subcommittee, which submitted a plan of action to the University’s Cabinet members in April of 2023.
Dr. Christa Platt
Strand Diversity Achievement Award and Panel
Dr. Christa Platt was named the recipient of the 2023 David A. Strand Diversity Achievement Award. Platt serves as the director of the Multicultural Center, a student center for anti-racism, identity, and belonging. She spearheaded the planning of the center, transforming the original blueprint into an innovative student oasis.
To reflect on the legacy of the award, the Office of Equity and Inclusion convened a panel of previous award recipients. The panel included Dr. Christa Platt, Mayuko Nakamura, Dave Bentlin, Dr. Rocío Rivadeneyra, Kim Pereira, Rick Lewis, and Dr. Maura Toro-Morn, and was moderated by Dr. Doris Houston. Participants reflected on institutional changes since the inception of the award and took time to honor President Emeritus David A. Strand.
Past Strand Diversity Award winners
EDI in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)
The STEM EDI Taskforce is comprised of faculty or staff members from the Schools of Biological Sciences and Information Technology and the Departments of Chemistry; Geography, Geology, & the Environment; Mathematics; Physics; and Technology. Members from this group and affiliates in neighboring universities/high schools have secured significant grant funding and are working to improve the STEM pipeline from underrepresented and underserved groups.
New EDIA certificate program
The School of Communication's Antiracism, Social Justice, and Coalition-Building Committee (ASC) has led efforts to address issues of race in campus policies, procedures, and classrooms. The ASC is currently working to launch a new EDIA certificate program (non-credit bearing) that will be open to all majors and minors in the school. The ASC was awarded a 2022 University Teaching Grant in the amount of $5,000 to further this curriculum development.
ACCESS combats food instability
The Student Government Association began exploration of a “Lab” Grocery Store Concept to cater to the needs of students and residents facing food insecurity. The Assessing Concrete Community-wide Equitable Solutions Sustainably (ACCESS) is working toward the possibility of creating partnerships between the community and the University to provide affordable and accessible produce and related items.
Graduates at Nuestros Logros
Cultural graduation ceremonies
Cultural graduation recognition ceremonies celebrate the accomplishments of graduating Redbirds and their families. Each ceremony recognizes the achievements and successes of Redbird graduates in addition to the traditional commencement ceremonies. Events were held this spring by Umoja, a celebration of Black graduates, Nuestro Logros, which honors Latino/a/x graduates, and MAPS—which recognizes Middle Eastern, Asian, Pacific Islander, and Southeast Asian graduates.
Obsidian honored
Obsidian: Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora was honored with several grants over the past year, including a $50,000 Equity in Verse grant and another $12,500 Renewal and Recovery Grant from the Poetry Foundation. The platform also was awarded a Grants for Arts Projects award of $40,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts. Accolades also went to Obsidian Editor Duriel E. Harris, who was recognized by the Association of Writers and Writing Programs with the 2023 George Garrett Award for Outstanding Community Service in Literature.
Deliberative Dialogues' most successful year
Deliberate Dialogues are guided conversations on difficult or controversial topics, with the help of an issue guide and facilitator. The Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) hosted 200 sessions with 2,056 participants, its most successful year yet. Topics include mental illness, freedom of speech, violence and justice, climate change, the opioid epidemic, sustainability, voting, and land.
Voter engagement and restoration
CCE Assistant Director Harriett Steinbach coordinated the Voter Engagement Coalition, which focused on voter restoration, emphasized the historical and current legacy of voter suppression within minoritized communities, and supported democratic engagement and voting rights. Illinois State University continues to be recognized by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge as a 2022 ALL IN Most Engaged Campuses for College Student Voting.
Alternative Breaks fills financial gaps
Alternative Breaks, a student organization supported by the CCE, provides students with opportunities to enact social change. Since its implementation, there has been an increase in Pell-eligible students participating, to allow for increased accessibility. Additionally, $13,991 raised during Birds Give Back provided fee waivers.
Hip-Hop in the Arts
Wonsook-Kim College of Fine Arts brought four hip hop artists to campus for residencies in spring 2023, both as visiting artists to perform/choreograph/present their work and to meet with administrators and faculty to discuss potential curricular hip-hop initiatives within the college.
Nikita Richards
Nikita Richards ’06, M.S. ’15, takes on DEI role for the state of Illinois
When the state of Illinois’ Office of the Governor established the Commission on Equity and Inclusion, Gov. JB Pritzker appointed alumna Nikita Richards ’06, M.S. ’15, as internal/external communications and legislative affairs officer. The new commission works to expand access to state contracts for minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and veterans/service-disabled veterans, as well as to enhance equity and inclusion throughout the workforce.
Dr. Doris Houston
Career Achievement Award
Doris Houston, Office of the President, was named a recipient of the 2022 Career Achievement Award from the University of Illinois’ College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) Alumni Association. Houston was also named the 2023 convocation speaker for ACES.
Janelle Jones
Janelle Jones, M.A. ’10, appointed to Department of Labor
State magazine featured alumna Janelle Jones, M.A. ’10, who is the first Black woman to serve as the chief economist at the U.S. Department of Labor. As the principal advisor to the Secretary of Labor, she tackled policies and plans tied to President Biden’s executive order titled Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.
Student trustee Ash Ebikhumi
One of the newest members of Illinois State's Board of Trustees is junior political science major Ash Ebikhumi, the latest in a long line of students to serve on the University's governing body. Elected by their peers, student trustees like Ebikhumi represent current students and shape the future that extends long beyond their time on campus.
Redbird Buzz Podcast takes flight
Redbird Buzz, the official podcast of Illinois State University, intentionally features guests who represent a variety of backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences. The podcast amplifies the voices of guests who discuss topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. During FY23, 10 of 22 Redbird Buzz episodes (45%) demonstrated diversity among Illinois State’s alumni, students, and staff. Accessibility is also a priority for the podcast, with transcripts of each Redbird Buzz episode published online.
Campus Inclusion Survey
The Illinois State University campus took part in a survey to shape future efforts and priorities related to equity, diversity, and inclusion. The ISU Campus Inclusion Survey looked to a range of topics aimed at gauging perceptions of support, accessibility, and a sense of belonging experienced by students, faculty, and staff with diverse life experiences, backgrounds, and identities.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Annual Report for Illinois State University