Department Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

News

OUR MISSION

In academic year 2019-2020, MCB formed a Community Task Force (CTF) on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (EDIB) to help the department fully realize its mission of achieving inclusive excellence. Comprised of students, staff, postdocs, administrators and faculty, the CTF employs existing quantitative and qualitative research to critically analyze our departmental culture, current practices, policies, systems and structures, and develop evidence-based recommendations and measurable goals for best practices, programs, and initiatives. In addition, we serve as a resource for community engagement, and as a sounding board for ideas and feedback.

 

EDUCATION

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Our role is to educate ourselves and our community on best practices for fostering an inclusive department that is welcoming to people of all identities and to provide resources for anyone wanting to learn more.

EVIDENCE-BASED RECOMMENDATIONS

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Our guiding principle is to base our implementations and recommendations on existing research carried out by experts in social science fields.

GUIDING ACTION

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We encourage and facilitate community initiatives that will advance Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging in the MCB Department.

TRANSPARENT COMMUNICATION

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We serve as an open pipeline of communication between the MCB community and decision-making bodies at the departmental, divisional, and University levels.

ACCOUNTABILITY

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We will continually update the MCB community on our progress and solicit and incorporate feedback from the department to make this community process transparent and accountable.  

OUR MECHANISMS OF ACTION

The MCB Community Task Force on Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging advises the Department Chair and Executive Director (ED). The CTF may propose and evaluate specific actions or propose that a group be authorized-to-act within a defined domain by the Chair and ED; authorization-to-act may be granted to the CTF as a whole or to a smaller working group, and may include additional stakeholders outside the CTF.

One (or more) CTF members will be nominated by the CTF and confirmed by the Chair and ED to sit on the other five MCB departmental committees (Seminars, Courses and Curriculum, MCO, Retreat planning, Website/public relations) for the term of one year; they will be full members of those committees, and will be an essential conduit of information between the two bodies, enhancing transparency.

OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES*

Diversify the MCB Community across all stakeholder groups by improving recruitment and retention practices

Improve Community Engagement across stakeholder and affinity groups, with each other, as well as with DIB best practices

Strengthen Avenues of Support and Promote Psychological Safety for all community members, and actively work to break down hierarchical power dynamics

Increase Departmental Transparency and actively work to de-mystify the “hidden curriculum”

*As identified in response to climate surveys, community feedback, and CTF discussions in AY2020-21. In AY2021-22, the CTF is working to finalize a 3-5 year strategic plan outlining goals, strategies, and deliverables in each priority area.

HISTORY OF EDIB INITIATIVES (PDF) (as of 8.9.22)

Luis Aldama

Graduate Student, Hekstra Lab

As a first-generation college-graduate, and son of Mexican immigrants, I have experienced challenges that I believe contribute to the lack of diversity in STEM. I hope to make an impact by alleviating obstacles that underrepresented students face.

Luis Aldama

Monique Brewster

Associate Concentration Advisor for CPB & MCB Concentrations, Lecturer

Promoting DIB is essential to building a community where everyone can thrive. I hope that my experiences in various roles in the department can help identify actions that make MCB a more welcoming place for all.

Monique Brewster

Brandon Campbell

Undergraduate Student, MCB

Brandon Campbell

Sarah Craig

Research Assistant I, Dulac Lab

I am passionate about creating an environment in which everyone feels comfortable and has the resources they need to succeed. The more connected we are and the greater understanding we have of each other, the more we can learn and grow as individuals and professionals.

Sarah Craig

Carolyn Elya

Assistant Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology

I joined CTF because science isn't done in a vacuum. Having a supportive and inclusive community can makes all the difference in one's career. I want to contribute to fostering a welcoming environment where everyone can do their best science and be their true selves.

Carolyn Elya

Julia Fannon

Assistant Director of HR

The mission and objectives of the CTF resonate with me not only on a professional level but on a personal one as well. As the sister of three adopted siblings from historically marginalized groups, I am committed to working on dismantling systemic barriers to ensure a brighter future for all.

Julia Fannon

Richard Flores

Undergraduate Student, Neuro

Richard Flores

Camille Freedman

Undergraduate Student, MCB

Camille Freedman

Rachelle Gaudet

Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Chair of MCB

The lack of diversity in STEM means we are not reaching our full potential for doing the most impactful and exciting science. I hope to both learn more about how to improve DIB, and to use what I have learned to make an impact on our own community.

Rachelle Gaudet

Lindsay Guest

Graduate Program Administrator

I care deeply about the work that needs to happen to make our community the best place to work and do science. Advancing Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging is critical work that I am excited to be a part of.

Lindsay Guest

Saad Hannan

Research Associate, Hensch Lab

Coming from a minority background, I am all too aware of marginalization - my hope is chip away at inequality and lack of transparency that often lie at the heart of academic management structures.

Saad Hannan

Renate Hellmiss

Director of Scientific Graphics and Communications

The time is right. Now, having the support of Harvard's leadership, we will finally be able to implement drastic changes.

Renate Hellmiss

Nikolai Hoermann

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Engert Lab

During my time in the CTF, I would like to improve the communication between the MCB community and our management by increasing transparency and including a diverse set of perspectives.

Nikolai Hoermann

Joycelyn Johnson

MCO Graduate Student, Arlotta Lab (SCRB)

I am motivated to be a voice representing other BIPOC and individuals of marginalized identities. I want these various communities to feel empowered and have an avenue to solve their problems in ways I could not.

Joycelyn Johnson

Jeremy Koob

MCO Graduate Student, Chen Lab (SCRB)

Jeremy Koob

Rebecca LaCroix

Curriculum and Pedagogy Manager, Lecturer (Non Ladder Faculty)

I joined the CTF because I believe it is important for all MCB affiliates to feel a deep sense of belonging within the department, and I hope that by joining the committee, I will be able to make meaningful contributions towards that goal.

Rebecca LaCroix

Stan Lazopulo

Postdoctoral Fellow, Samuel Lab (Physics)

Stan Lazopulo

Carl Ma

Undergraduate Student, CPB

As an international undergraduate, I'm deeply committed to leveraging my background to foster an inclusive and supportive MCB community, ensuring that everyone thrives academically and professionally.

Carl Ma

Karina Mahida

Undergraduate Student, MCB

Karina Mahida

Jessica Manning

Executive Director

I am committed to fostering a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive community in which everyone can thrive. A lot of my passion and enthusiasm for this ongoing work stems from my experience as a 1st generation American and the 1st in my family to attend college.

Jessica Manning

Holly Martz

Lab Administrator, Gredler, Murthy, & Nagashima Labs

Diversity strengthens and improves us. We can be better and do better.

Holly Martz

Cait Moffatt

Graduate Student, Kahne Lab Pedagogy Fellow, Molecular and Cellular Biology

I care deeply about educaiton, and I hope that in joining the CTF I can work with my community to foster a sense of inclusion and belonging for all members of MCB.

Cait Moffatt

Arshia Mostoufi

MCO Graduate Student

As a first-generation immigrant, I understand the vulnerabilities associated with being a visible minority and the importance of a supportive environment in fostering success and well-being. I joined to help make Harvard a more welcoming place for all.

Arshia Mostoufi

Max Prigozhin

Assistant Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Applied Physics

I joined CTF to make MCB and Harvard a better place -- more welcoming and supportive to everyone who wants to learn, do great work, and have fun in the process.

Max Prigozhin

Katie Quast

Curriculum and Pedagogy Manager, Lecturer (Non Ladder Faculty)

Science and science education should be inclusive and accessible to all, regardless of gender, race, background or family. I see the task force as a way to expand and empower different voices and different points of view.

Katie Quast

Diana Redlund

Lab Administrator, Bellono, Nett, & Elya Labs

Our unique experiences help us build a better future. This is a perfect space to share ideas supporting our mission of achieving inclusive excellence.

Diana Redlund

Sien Verschave

Curriculum and Pedagogy Manager, Lecturer (Non Ladder Faculty)

For a significant time we've been hearing stories of how important diversity, equity and inclusion is to this institution. It's time to see if we can narrow the gap between these stories and reality.

Sien Verschave

Maggie Yin

Undergraduate, Neuro

I joined the CTF to help fellow undergraduates access the incredible MCB department resources that can critically shape our career trajectories, and I firmly believe that this must be done with inclusivity at the forefront of our considerations.

Maggie Yin

GET INVOLVED

  • To get involved in current working group initiatives, you can reach out to anyone on the CTF or send an email to  MCB_Diversity@fas.harvard.edu
  • Any MCB community member with a proposal or future initiative they would like to present to the CTF may request time on the agenda at a (monthly) CTF meeting by emailing MCB_Diversity@fas.harvard.edu
  • Interested parties should nominate themselves and/or others for membership on the Community Task Force by e-mailing the out-going CTF at MCB_Diversity@fas.harvard.edu by May 1st of each year

Goals for CTF membership: The Community Task Force should represent all stake holders from the MCB community (undergraduate, grad students, post docs, research staff, administrative staff, faculty) as well as diversity in personal identities (ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability etc.). To balance institutional knowledge and provide continuity, ~50% of the members should overlap from year to year. Addition of new members will be discussed within the CTF to ensure adequate representation from all groups.

Each May (between finals and commencement) we will hold an MCB Community Task Force Spring Open House event, in order to: outline how the CTF is governed, share what we are working on (initiatives still in progress) and our upcoming goals, and provide a space for prospective members to ask questions. Attendance at our May meeting/open house is encouraged for prospective task force members looking to assess if they are interested in nominating themselves for a full seat on the CTF, similar to attending a class during “shopping week”. The next year’s membership will be decided at the June CTF meeting. The incoming and outgoing CTFs will hold joint meetings in July to transition/hand-off any current projects.

 

RESOURCES

To submit additions to the lists above, please email MCB_Diversity@fas.harvard.edu.

To submit anonymous feedback, please click here.