Flashes of DEI

Community Engaged Learning hosted a 2025 alternative spring break trip to Jackson, Mississippi. Jeff Chandler (Sophomore / Theater Major), Dr. Ashley Nickels ( Associate Professor / School of Peace & Conflict Studies), and Dr. Shaunte Rouse (Assistant Director, Learning & Belonging / Division of People, Culture and Belonging)) share about their experiences on the trip.Resources Mentioned:KSU Community Engaged LearningCOFO Civil Rights Education CenterReach out to the Division of People, Culture and Belonging at people@kent.edu or @PeopleCultureKSU across social media!⁠DPCB Website⁠Intro/Outro Music: 'Fate' by Marquice Turner

Sonia Karkare (Program Coordinator, Women's Center) and Cassie Pegg-Kirby (Director, Women's Center) share about Kent State's very own Women's Center! Hear about what it is, what it does, and how to get connected.KSU Resources mentioned:The Women's Center WebsiteWomen's Center Listserv@WCKentState on social mediaArticle: "Empowering Women in STEM: Strategies for Enhancing Inclusion and Success"Report: "Status of Gender Equity at Kent State"Office of Global EducationInternational Student and Scholar ServicesOffice of Intercultural Student LifeHousingOffice of Compliance, Equal Opportunity and Affirmative ActionReach out to the Division of People, Culture and Belonging at people@kent.edu or @PeopleCultureKSU across social media!DPCB WebsiteIntro/Outro Music: 'Fate' by Marquice Turner

Listen in as Shannon Driscoll (Faculty & Staff Ombuds) shares about what an ombuds is and how you can get connected.Resources Mentioned:Faculty & Staff Ombuds Websitefacultystaffombuds@kent.edu330-672-2219Reach out to the Division of People, Culture and Belonging at people@kent.edu or @PeopleCultureKSU across social media!⁠⁠DPCB Website⁠⁠Intro/Outro Music: 'Fate' by Marquice Turner

The Listening Project has been a community building initiative at Kent State since 2011. Listen in as Dr. Shaunte Rouse (Assistant Director / Division of People, Culture and Belonging), Dr. Elizabeth Kenyon (Associate Professor / College of Education Health and Human Services), and Daniel Nilsson (Assistant Dean / EHHS) talk more about the history and impact of it. Reach out to the Division of People, Culture and Belonging at people@kent.edu or @PeopleCultureKSU across social media! ⁠⁠DPCB Website⁠⁠ Intro/Outro Music: 'Fate' by Marquice Turner

We're kicking off a new series! "Stories Of" will highlight the experiences of our students, staff, and faculty from across the university. Our guest today is Shane, a fourth year integrated mathematics major who is involved in student leadership. Listen in to hear about Shane's journey to his major and some of the hurdles and successes he's had along the way. Reach out to the Division of People, Culture and Belonging at people@kent.edu or @PeopleCultureKSU across social media! ⁠DPCB Website⁠ Intro/Outro Music: 'Fate' by Marquice Turner

Emma Weihe (Access Coordinator, Student Accessibility Services / Chair, Access Betters the Lives of Everyone) joins us to discuss the creation, work, and importance of Access Betters the Lives of Everyone (ABLE). ABLE is an employee resource group dedicated to creating space for disabled faculty and staff. Resources Mentioned: ABLE Website Reach out to the Division of People, Culture and Belonging at people@kent.edu or @PeopleCultureKSU across social media! DPCB Website Intro/Outro Music: 'Fate' by Marquice Turner

Maky Espinoza (Program Coordinator, The Moore Center) shares about Kent State's very own Moore Center! Hear about what it is, what it does, and how to get connected. Resources mentioned: The Moore Center Website @SMCKentState on Instagram Reach out to the Division of People, Culture and Belonging at people@kent.edu or @PeopleCultureKSU across social media! Intro/Outro Music: 'Fate' by Marquice Turner

Listen in as Betsy McCafferty (Associate Vice President, People and Culture) and Dr. Amoaba Gooden (Vice President, Division of People, Culture and Belonging) provide a progress report on DPCB. Hear about the challenges, the work, and the wins. Check out our website at https://www.kent.edu/people-and-culture Reach out to us at people@kent.edu or @PeopleCultureKSU across social media! Intro/Outro Music: 'Fate' by Marquice Turner

We're back for round two of answering two questions: What show, book, or podcast has helped you learn something about diversity, equity, and inclusion? What article, song, or video gave you hope or grounded you in your work? The DPCB team gets together and answers these questions with picks from the past year! Helped us learn: Achieving Equity in Physical Activity Participation by Hasson, Brown, Dorn, et all (2017) 'How to be an Anti-Racist' by Ibram X Kendi (2019) 'Cowboy Carter' by Beyoncé (2024) America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (2024) Gave us hope: 'I'm Taking a Break! Here's Why' by Trixie Mattel (2024) Venba (2023) A Different World (1987-1993) 'Why?' by Taye Diggs (2022) Elevate Akron Reach out to us at people@kent.edu or @PeopleCultureKSU across social media! Intro/Outro Music: 'Fate' by Marquice Turner

Ken Ditlevson (Director, LGBTQ+ Center) and Meghan Schwind (Assistant Director, LGBTQ+ Center) share about Kent State's very own LGBTQ+ Center! Hear about what it is, what it does, and how to get connected. Resources mentioned: LGBTQ+ Center Facebook LGBTQ+ Center Instagram LGBTQ+ Center Website Reach out to the Division of People, Culture and Belonging at people@kent.edu or @PeopleCultureKSU across social media! Intro/Outro Music: 'Fate' by Marquice Turner

Donna Sansonetti (Associate Vice President, People and Culture / Division of People, Culture and Belonging) join the podcast to talk about the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) - the history, purpose, and recent changes. Resources mentioned: ⁠U.S. Department of Labor Reach out to us at people@kent.edu or @PeopleCultureKSU across social media! Intro/Outro Music: 'Fate' by Marquice Turner

Jennie O'Connell (Director, Center for Sexual and Relationship Violence Support Services) and Richantae Johnson (Director, Gender Equity & Title IX Coordinator) join us for a conversation on Sexual Assault Awareness Month - the history, the importance, and resources. Kent State Resources mentioned: Center for Sexual and Relationship Violence Support Services (SRVSS) / @srvssKSU on social media Office of Gender Equity and Title IX / @KentStateTitleIX on social media Regional Campus Resources CARES Center LGBTQ+ Center Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Non-KSU Resources National Sexual Violence Resource Center eleven24 (Tonjie Reese) Townhall II Safer Futures Reach out to us at people@kent.edu or @PeopleCultureKSU across social media! Intro/Outro Music: 'Fate' by Marquice Turner

We're talking about the creation, importance, and work of the Women of Color Collective (WoCC). Shana Lee (Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Parents and Families Engagement, Division of Student Life / Cofounder and Co-Chair, WoCC), Stephanie Evans (Assistant Director, Office of Student Conduct / Co-Chair, WoCC), and Yvette Roberts (Assistant Director, Center for Sexual and Relationship Violence Support Services / Secretary, WoCC) share about the employee resource group that provides a supportive space for faculty and staff women of color. Resources Mentioned: Keke Palmer & Yvette Nicole Brown on 'Password' ⁠Women of Color Collective's Website ⁠Yvette Robert's Contact Information Reach out to us at diversity@kent.edu or @PeopleCultureKSU across social media! Intro/Outro Music: 'Fate' by Marquice Turner

Mwatabu Okantah (Professor and Department Chair, Africana Studies) joins to discuss the work, life, and legacy of Kent State's very own Dr. Oscar Ritchie Resources Mentioned Department of Africana Studies Reach out to us at diversity@kent.edu or @PeopleCultureKSU across social media! Intro/Outro Music: 'Fate' by Marquice Turner

Deanna Stevens Ulrich (Associate Director of Digital Content, University Communications and Marketing) and Dr. Peter Bobkowski (Professor, School of Media and Journalism) share about media literacy - what it means, its connection to DEI, and how we can build our capacity for it. Resources Mentioned Disclosure (2020 Film) Crash Course: Media Literacy (YouTube) Spotting Misinformation Online (LinkedIn Learning) Working and Collaborating Online (LinkedIn Learning) Reach out to us at diversity@kent.edu or @PeopleCultureKSU across social media! Intro/Outro Music: 'Fate' by Marquice Turner

Dr. Amoaba Gooden (Vice President / Division of People, Culture and Belonging) joins the conversation to discuss the new division make-up, name, and transition process. Reach out to us at diversity@kent.edu or @DEIKentState across social media! Intro/Outro Music: 'Fate' by Marquice Turner

Dr. Jayita Datta (Psychologist, Counseling and Psychological Services) and Candra (Ph.D Student / Graduate Assistant, Office of Global Education) join us to discuss how we can better support and include international students. KSU Resources Mentioned Counseling and Psychological Services ⁠Office of Global Education CARES Center International Student Affairs Writing Commons Career Exploration & Development Articles: ⁠Four Misconceptions About International Students in the U.S.⁠ by Haelim Chun and Jung Hyun Choi ⁠International College Students: Challenges and Solutions⁠ by Mireya Nadal-Vicens and Gene Beresin Reach out to us at diversity@kent.edu or @DEIKentState across social media! Intro/Outro Music: 'Fate' by Marquice Turner

Dr. Andrew Barnes (Associate Professor, School of Multidisciplinary Social Studies and Humanities / DEI Faculty Affiliate) and Dr. Mike Daniels (Director, E. Timothy Moore Student Multicultural Center) join us to discuss race and what can happen when we ignore it. Books Mentioned: 'The Rage of a Privileged Class' by Ellis Cose 'College Belonging' by Lisa Nunn 'Between the World and Me' by Ta-Nehisi Coates KSU Resources Mentioned School of Multidisciplinary Social Studies and Humanities Department of Africana Studies E. Timothy Moore Student Multicultural Center Student Group Search Student Ombuds Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Human Resources Employee Resource Groups Reach out to us at diversity@kent.edu or @DEIKentState across social media! Intro/Outro Music: 'Fate' by Marquice Turner

What show, book, or podcast has helped you learn something about diversity, equity, and inclusion? What article, song, or video gave you hope or grounded you in your work? The DEI team gets together and answers these questions with picks from the past year! Helped us learn: 5hahem (TikTok Creator) 'From Equity Talk to Equity Walk' by Tia Brown McNair, Estela Mara Bensimon, and Lindsey Malcom-Piqueux (Book) 'We Want to Do More Than Survive' by Bettina Love (Book) Maintenance Phase (Podcast) 'The Theory of Being' by Sherry K. Watt (Book) 'The Phenomenology of Whiteness' by Sara Ahmed (Article) Gave us hope: Bob Marley (Musician) Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru (Musician) Alok Vaid-Menon: The Urgent Need for Compassion (Man Enough Podcast) The Owl House (Cartoon) 'Evicted' by Matthew Desmond (Book) Suzy Izzard and Sandy Toksvig Reach out to us at diversity@kent.edu or @DEIKentState across social media! Intro/Outro Music: 'Fate' by Marquice Turner

AJ Conway (Assistant Dean, Special Initiatives in College of Communication & Information / Spectrum President) and Erica Pelz (Facilities Mechanical Systems Specialist for Laboratories in University Facilities Management / Vice President, Spectrum) talk about the creation, importance, and work of Spectrum - an employee resource group for LGBTQ+ and ally faculty and staff. Resources Mentioned: Spectrum's Email: Spectrum@kent.edu Spectrum's Website Spectrum's Facebook Reach out to us at diversity@kent.edu or @DEIKentState across social media! Intro/Outro Music: 'Fate' by Marquice Turner