The Rowan University Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Council is responsible for leading in the development, implementation, and monitoring of the university's Diversity Strategic Action Plan. Council members are comprised of leadership, staff, and faculty representatives from all academic units and departments under the university, as well as student leadership representatives. The council has three strategic priorities, led by seven dynamic leaders. Learn more about these priorities, committee goals, and leadership below, and at this link.

Strategic Priorities Committee 1: Creating a More Inclusive and Equitable Campus Community

Committee Goals

• Content and Communications 
  • Manage a calendar of intercultural and inclusive observances shared across all colleges and schools under the university, for collaboration on educational and creative content development and strategic communications.
  • Contribute content to the DEI website/blog, social media, and other DEI platforms and programming; and conduct outreach and foster collaborations with faculty, staff, and students across all colleges and schools under the university.
  • Strategize university-wide surveys and other communications in alignment with DEI.

• Empowering and Educating Faculty and Staff
  • Identify opportunities for collaboration in DEI programming among colleges, schools, and departments under the university with overarching goals.
  • Establish a DEI Ambassador program for faculty and staff who are interested in taking a more formal role in shifting campus culture.

•  Supporting Student Organizations  
  • Collaborate with the Student Government Association (SGA) and Office of Social Justice, Inclusion, and Conflict Resolution (SJICR) to address and better understand the challenges faced by SGA-sponsored and affinity organizations (recruitment, advisory, training, membership, financial support, etc.).
  • Identify opportunities for collaboration among student organizations' overarching goals.
  • Expand DEI training on cultural sensitivity and conflict resolution to student leaders who often experience difficult situations.

SPC1 Leadership

• Dr. Stephen Fleming (He, Him, His), DEI Council (SPC1) Co-Chair
  • Associate Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) at Rowan University
  • Email: flemings@rowan.edu 

• Patricia Fortunato (She, Her, Hers), DEI Council (SPC1) Co-Chair
  
  • DEI Communications Coordinator, Division of DEI at Rowan University
  • Formerly Content and Program Manager, Clinical Research and Grants, NeuroMusculoskeletal Institute (NMI) at Rowan–Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine (Rowan–Virtua SOM)
  • Email: fortun83@rowan.edu

• Dr. Kha' Sadler (She, Her, Hers), DEI Council (SPC1) Co-Chair
  • Associate Provost for Wellness and Inclusivity and Mental Health Clinician at Rowan University
  • Formerly Wellness Center DEI Coordinator at Rowan University
  • Email: sadlerk@rowan.edu 

Strategic Priorities Committee 2: Recruiting, Retaining, and Supporting a More Diverse Campus Community

• Offer Solutions to DEI Issues Across Campus   
  • Expand the use of inclusive language practices in the classroom, throughout campus, and in our communications with prospective students and their families.

• Prioritize Student Employment and Leadership Opportunities
  • Reduce barriers to full participation in university opportunities such as on-campus employment, experiential learning, and student leadership.

• Foster Scholarships and Funding
  • Expand scholarship funding and revise its structure to better meet the needs of underrepresented student populations.

• Strengthen Faculty–Student Mentorship  
  • Increase faculty involvement in student recruitment through outreach to minoritized communities.

• Shante Walker (She, Her, Hers), DEI Council (SPC2) Co-Chair
  • Institutional Research Analyst, Office of Institutional Research and Analytics (OIRA) at Rowan University
  • Email: clarke18@rowan.edu 

• Dr. Amy Woodworth (She, Her, Hers), DEI Council (SPC2) Co-Chair
  
  • Assistant Professor and Chair of the Department of Writing Arts, Ric Edelman College of Communication and Creative Arts (CCCA) at Rowan University
  • Email: woodworth@rowan.edu 

DEI Strategic Priorities Committee 3: Promoting and Supporting Inclusive Teaching, Scholarship, and Professional Development

Committee Goals

• Develop Best Practices Guide for Faculty and Staff Recruitment, Hiring, and Retention  
  • Develop a Faculty Hiring Toolkit as a guide for search committees that prioritizes DEI throughout the recruitment, hiring, and retention of minoritized faculty and staff at Rowan University.

• Prioritize DEI in Faculty and Staff Annual Reviews
  • Proposed, pending approval, DEI recommendations for memorandum of agreement (MOA) to ensure DEI work is being valued and rewarded as part of the professional responsibility of every faculty and staff member at Rowan University.

• Advancing DEI Across Rowan University's Curriculum
  
  • Explore recommendations for intercultural competence and diversity across the curriculum.

• Dr. Andrea Baer (She, Her, Hers), DEI Council (SPC3) Co-Chair
  • Public Services Librarian/Assistant Professor for Campbell Library Teaching and Learning at Rowan University
  • Email: baera@rowan.edu 

• Dr. Shelly Thomas (She, Her, Hers), DEI Council (SPC3) Co-Chair
  
  • Senior Lecturer, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS), College of Science and Mathematics (CSM) at Rowan University
  • Email: thomassh@rowan.edu 

The mission of the Law Enforcement and Community Collaborative (LECC) is to bring together the Rowan community with local law enforcement professionals to address the following strategic priorities:

• Develop professional development rooted in a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
• Identify and disseminate evidence-based practices that facilitate meaningful engagement with diverse communities.
• Develop an infrastructure to research, grants, and program evaluation for LECC members and the broader community.

Conveners of the priority subcommittees include Scott Thomson, former Chief, Camden County Police; Ryan Knight, Deputy Chief, Glassboro Police; Kevin Brown, Pastor, The Perfecting Church; and Evan Sorg, Assistant Professor, Law and Justice Studies.

Contact: Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), dei@rowan.edu 

The Antiracist Pedagogies and Practices Task Force is made up of faculty, staff, and students from across all colleges and schools under Rowan University. Our goal is to draw from research and experience in and beyond our community in a bottom-up effort to support antiracist work on our campuses.

We will collaborate to assess the assets and needs for antiracist efforts at our institution, taking account of local histories and current realities as we:

• Craft shared language around racism and antiracism on campus.
• Establish certificate programs in antiracist pedagogies and practices for faculty and staff.
• Build a program for student leadership in antiracism.

Contact: Rachael Shapiro, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Writing Arts, Ric Edelman College of Communication and Creative Arts (CCCA) at Rowan University and Convener of the Antiracist Pedagogies and Practices Task Force, shapiror@rowan.edu 

Black@Rowan is open to all, current and interested, Black faculty and staff. Aligned with the goals of Rowan University's Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Black@Rowan is an affinity group that aims to create a supportive community of training, learning, advocacy, and self-care for Black faculty, staff, and educators.

Contact: Kristen Barrett, Ph.D., Organic Chemistry Coordinator, Senior Lecturer of Chemistry/Biochemistry, and Chair of the Community for Underrepresented Faculty and Staff at the College of Science and Mathematics (CSM) at Rowan University, barrettk@rowan.edu

All meetings will be held virtually. If you identify as neurodivergent or think you may identify as neurodivergent, you are welcome here!

Contact: Please sign up at this link or email Serena Powell, Electronic Resources and Serials Specialist, Collection Management at Rowan University Libraries; and Facilitator, Neurodivergent Employee Resource Group (ERG) at Rowan University, powellse@rowan.edu

The Faculty and Staff Neurodiversity Ally Group is a group to learn and engage about neurodiversity towards advancing a more inclusive and equitable Rowan University campus. Neurodiversity is the full range of variations in cognition, learning, behavior, and socialization that exists within the population. Being neurodivergent refers to having a brain/mind that may function differently than socially established norms. Individuals identifying as neurodivergent may include those labeled with dyspraxia, dyslexia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyscalculia, autism, and Tourette syndrome (TS).

Contact: Lara Roberts LeBeau, Assistant Director of Testing Services at Rowan University, lebeau@rowan.edu

The Military Affiliated Faculty and Staff Affinity Group provides resources, networking opportunities, and shared experiences for faculty and staff at Rowan University. The group is open to all current and interested, military-affiliated faculty and staff.

Contact: Beth Sosnoski, Military Services Coordinator at Rowan University, militaryserviceoffice@rowan.edu