Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

The IDPAS DEI Committee was formed in Fall 2020 and is composed of faculty and graduate student elected representatives. The committee has created short- and long-term goals to support DEI efforts in the program. For example, the committee has gathered historical demographic data from our own program as well as from programs at our peer institutions to identify any trends and deficiencies. The DEI Committee also conducted a survey of past and present IDPAS alumni intended to measure demographic and attitudinal changes over time and to identify areas that need improvement moving forward.

Email IDPAS_DEI@stonybrook.edu with any DEI-related questions or concerns.

Graduate student efforts 

The graduate students in the IDPAS wrote a statement of solidarity (found here), a document that identifies the historical complicity of anthropology in systemic racism and includes specific action items to improve DEI in the program. The document also created a Graduate Student DEI Coordinator position to ensure that DEI issues remain prioritized moving forward.

IDPAS graduate students formed the Decolonization and Antiracism Reading Group (DAG), a weekly journal club that has members from multiple departments across campus. 

The IDPAS graduate students have also formed committees focused on outreach and undergraduate mentorship, each with DEI goals. Student members are currently creating a new Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) course focused on biological anthropology. STEP courses encourage high school students from underrepresented or low-income backgrounds to join STEM fields. 

We will continue to post the products of graduate student efforts moving forward. 

Please contact IDPAS_DEI@stonybrook.edu for information about DAG, to ask about ongoing DEI Committee efforts, or to be put in touch with the Graduate Student DEI Coordinator.