As we end the academic year, the Division of DEI has had several major initiatives that were successes: Strategic Action Planning, DEI Day, Anti Racism Task Force and White Papoer, and BSU and NAACP meeting with the Provost to discuss critical issues on our campus throughout the year. Let's continue making incremental changes as we continue in our important work and celebrate the achievement of those within the division! 

Thank you and congrats to our graduate coordinators who are graduating! 

We sincerely congratulate and celebrate SJICR Graduate Coordinators, Candice Peters and Melanie Ibarra, and Division of DEI Graduate Coordinator, Gabby McAllaster, for their educational accomplishments and service to the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion!

Candice Peters 

Candice Peters, Ph.D. joined Rowan University in 2019, serving as the Graduate Coordinator for the Dr. Harley E. Flack Mentoring Program, and BIPoC Student Support Services in SJICR. She has been instrumental in reimagining the mentoring program to meet student needs, leading the Women of Color Collective, and supporting BIPoC students on campus. In March, Candice successfully defended her dissertation and, in May, will receive her Ph.D. in Education with a concentration in Urban and Diverse Learning Environments. We congratulate and thank Candice for her leadership and service to SJICR! 

Melanie Ibarra

Melanie Ibarra joined SJICR in 2021 as the Graduate Coordinator for Interfaith and Spiritual Exploration. She intentionally fostered community for faith-based identities by leading interfaith dialogues and encouraging connection across spirituality. Mel's approach to student support and community advocacy strengthened our relationship with faith leaders and student organizations. We thank Mel for her contributions to SJICR and congratulate her on graduating with her Master's Degree in Higher Education Administration this May. 

Gabby McAllaster 

The Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion would like to thank Dr. Gabrielle “Gabby” McAllaster for 3+ years of amazing service. Gabby has served as the Ph.D. Graduate Coordinator for the Division since the beginning. She has been instrumental in all aspects of the Division, from our initial listening tour, to the monthly blogs, website management, social media posts, DEI Council committees, conducting research, writing reports, and presenting our DEI work at national conferences.  The DEI Family cannot be more proud of all of her accomplishments and is grateful for her commitment to the work of creating an inclusive environment at Rowan and beyond. This semester, Dr. McAllaster completed her Ph.D. in Education, her dissertation topic was Exploring Black Women, White Women and White Genderqueer Faculty Experiences of Critical Incidents of  Whiteness in the Workplace: A Critical Constructivist Narrative Inquiry. We wish Dr. McAllaster all the best in her future endeavors.

Social Justice, Inclusion and Conflict Resolution (SJICR) 

• SJICR had many exciting and important events throughout the year! Thank you to graduate coordinators, Dom Pierson and Tara Ferrucci, and students' hard work throughout the year to promote and advance social justice and inclusion through community events, affinity groups, and forums. 
• SJICR hosted the Sankofa Graduation Celebration and Lavender Graduation Ceremony to celebrate Rowan graduates!

The Center for Neurodiversity

The Center for Neurodiversity welcomed the new co-directors for 2022-2023, Chiara Latimer and John Woodruff! The Center for Neurodiversity also welcomes Visiting Scholar in Residence, Zosia Zaks, and Ph.D. Graduate Assistant, Mary Kalliny who all had a successful year! 

The Creating a Neuro-Inclusive Workplace Certificate Cohort #2 is set for May 5 - June 9. 

The Inclusive Pedagogy and Practices Certificate Cohort #11 is taking place this summer! 

There were over 90 participants attended the Virtual Speaker Series Event with Eric Garcia, author of We’re Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation. The recording is available for those unable to attend, please email John Woodruff for the link, at woodruff@rowan.edu.

Center for Access, Persistence and Achievement (CAPA) 

CHAMP will be celebrating 30 seniors next Wednesday, May 3rd. The program will also be recognizing 5 outstanding parents who have been extremely active this year with programming.

Upward Bound held its end-of-the-year dinner recognizing 9 graduating high school students from the program on April 26^th.

ASCEND

• ASCEND is very proud of three of our students who were elected to positions on SGA:
  • Ezekiel Abrams: SGA -AVP of Student Affairs, ASCEND Glassboro
  • Hope Campbell: SGA -AVP of Public Relations and Special Events Committee, ASCEND Glassboro
  • Brianna Reagan, Student Body President, ASCEND Camden
• ASCEND is celebrating, a total of 70 graduates that includes 5 juniors who are graduating a year early!
• ASCEND Glassboro celebrated the 60+ graduates from the Glassboro program last Thursday April 20, in our annual graduation dinner.
• ASCEND Camden will recognize outstanding academic achievement for 30+ students and Camden’s graduating seniors on tonight, 4/27/2023.
• Senior Highlights;
  • Congratulations, to ASCEND Senior, Keyoni Collins who received the Golden Owl Award at the Celebrating Leadership Awards. Keyoni also was hired as Uniter Airlines Flight Attendant!
  • Congratulations to ASCEND senior, Monica Torres, who was recognized as the Harley E. Flack Mentor of the Year.
  • Ashley Campbell- Accepted into Rowan Master’s program for Clinical Mental Health also earned a Graduate Assistant in Residential Life.
  • Sabrina Vargas- Accepted into Penn State Master’s program for Non-Profit Leadership also received a $50,000 scholarship.
  • Samantha Eloy-Accepted into Montclair’s Master’s program for Public Health. Also earned a Graduate Assistant in Residential Life.
  • Liela Clarke-Accepted into the University of Chicago PHD program as well as fellowship for Molecular Engineering.
  • Erica Iraheta- full-time live in position at Haverford College as a Residential Education Coordinator.
  • Brianna DeJean- accepted into Police Officers Academy starting in April
• April is statewide EOF Month, Happy EOF Month!
• On Friday, April 21, 2023, EOF recognized the academic achievements of 1,488 EOF scholars at its annual EOF Graduate Achievement Award Ceremony at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Dr. Singleton, Tyherrah Johnson, and Michael Whiting attended the Ceremony to celebrate the 35 ASCEND students honored for their outstanding academic achievements which range from
  • Distinguished Honors: GPA of 4.0, 1 student
  • Outstanding Academic Achievement: 3.5-3.99, 21 students
  • Academic Achievement: 3.2-3.49, 13 students
  • Outstanding Academic Achievement for a student who exemplifies the spirit of EOF: Tahnaira Clark

The Faculty Center 

• The ‘Hope is Not a Strategy’: A White Paper of the Antiracist Pedagogies and Practices Taskforce.” White Paper is the outcome of the 2021-2022 Antiracist Pedagogies and Practices Taskforce. Feel free to reach out to Rachael Shapiro (shapiror@rowan.edu) with any questions, concerns, or feedback! 

• Senate resolution to establish a BIPOC studies designation was effectively passed, the next step is a curriculum proposal. 

• The Antiracist Pedagogies and Practices Certificate program will launch on April 25th! See the APP Certificate flyer or visit our website to learn more and sign up.