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INSIDE THIS ISSUE SAAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-2 Community Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 APA Heritage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 GAAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Religious Holidays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Jeopardy Game! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Diversity Certificate Program. . . . . 5-7
OFFICE OF EQUITY AND DIVERSITY TEAM uthsc.edu/oed/staff Michael Alston, EdD, CCDP/AP Assistant Vice Chancellor
Olivia Ralph, JD Sr. Compliance Consultant
Lauren Rotonda, JD, MBA Sr. Inclusion Strategist
Sophia Mosher, MPA Sr. Administrative Specialist
Dr. Michael Alston greets a Nursing student during Pizza in the Plaza.
SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), which is celebrated by campuses and communities throughout the United States. The 2018 SAAM proclamation states, Sexual Assault Awareness Month calls attention to the fact that sexual violence is widespread and impacts every person in this community. The goal of SAAM is to raise public awareness about sexual violence and educate communities on how to prevent it. Rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment harm our community, and statistics show one in five women and one in 67 men will be raped at some point in their lives (Smith et al., 2017) ... The theme of this year’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month campaign is “Embrace Your Voice.” The campaign informs
The University of Tennessee is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/ Section 504/ADA/ADEA/V institution in the provision of its education and employment programs and services.
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individuals on how they can use their words to stop sexual violence before it happens by promoting safety, respect, and equality. Our words shape the world around us ... Individuals can embrace their voices to show their support for survivors, stand up to victim blaming, shut down rape jokes, correct harmful misconceptions, promote everyday consent, and practice healthy communication with kids. The University of Tennessee Health Science Center observed SAAM with a number of events and trainings for faculty, staff, and students. The Office of Equity and Diversity (OED) sponsored two “Meet your Title IX Coordinator” events: a “Pizza at the Plaza” lunchtime event earlier in the month, and a morning “Coffee Conversations” later in the month. OED also offered Bystander Intervention Training, taught by Olivia Ralph, JD. She will hold additional sessions throughout May and June. In connection with SAAM, OED launched its annual Mandatory Reporter training. UTHSC’s Sexual Misconduct, Relationship Violence, Stalking and Retaliation (SMRVS-R) policy applies to the conduct of and protects students, employees, University volunteers, University contractors, and third parties participating in a University program or activity. The University identifies all of its employees as “mandatory reporters” under the SMRVS-R policy, which comes with specific responsibilities. Attendees gain knowledge and understanding about the importance of mandatory reporting from faculty and staff in support of UTHSC’s SMRVS-R policy. The training was offered face-to-face, and electronically through Blackboard.
Students are all smiles as they engage in "Coffee Conversations" for OED's observation of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
COMMUNITY EVENTS MEMPHIS ITALIAN FESTIVAL Marquette Park | Saturday, June 1, 11:00 am-11:00 pm The Memphis Italian Festival demonstrates the values of family, faith and fellowship in the Italian-American tradition. The Memphis Italian Festival presents family-oriented fun in music, food, events, games, and more for the benefit of the children of Holy Rosary Parish School. For more information, visit memphisitalianfestival.com
JUNETEENTH URBAN MUSIC FESTIVAL Church Park in The Core/Civic Center | Friday, June 15 – Sunday, June 17 Free Family Friendly Festival with Live Music, Arts and Crafts, Food Vendors, Kid Zone and Much More! Free Admission. For more information, visit MemphisJuneteenth.com
FIRST RESPONDERS BENEFIT CONCERT: GERMANTOWN Germantown Performing Arts Center | Saturday, June 16 at 7:00 pm Enjoy a great night of Rock ‘N’ Roll at the First Responders Benefit Concert: Germantown featuring the Farrell Webber Band in a tribute to The Eagles and Credence Clearwater Revival. Additional performances by Lydia Waldrop and the School of Rock Germantown: Tour Band. The Germantown First Responders Fund provides educational college scholarships to the children of Germantown Fire and Police first responders to reduce the financial hardships caused when their children attend college. All proceeds will benefit the fund. For more information, visit gpacweb.com/event-list/ 2
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RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS
ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
May 1:
May is Asian Pacific American Heritage month – an opportunity to celebrate the history, culture, and contributions of Asian and Pacific Islanders in the United States.
Beltane - Samhain * – Wicca/Pagan Northern and Southern hemispheres Lailat al bara'ah * – Islam
APA Heritage has been legally observed in the month of May since 1979, but was initially only celebrated May 4th through May 10th. Congress chose this seven day period to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843 and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the trans-continental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants. In 1990, the celebration was expanded to include the entire month of May.
May 2:
Last day of Ridvan * – Baha'i
May 3:
Saints Philip & James – Christian National Day of Prayer USA – Interfaith Lag B'Omer * Jewish
“Asian Pacific” encompasses all of the Asian continent and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. It becomes increasingly important to acknowledge our cultures and build our historical awareness as Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans contribute to the diversity of both our the UTHSC community and our national community.
May 10:
Ascension of Jesus – Christian
May 16June 15:
Ramadan * ** – Islam
May 17:
Ascension of Jesus – Orthodox Christian
May 20-21: Shavuot * – Jewish May 20:
Pentecost – Christian
May 23:
Declaration of the Bab * – Baha'i
May 27:
Pentecost – Orthodox Christian Trinity Sunday – Christian
GLOBAL ACCESSIBILITY AWARENESS DAY The target audience of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) is the design, development, usability, and related communities who build, shape, fund and influence technology and its use. While people may be interested in the topic of making technology accessible and usable by persons with disabilities, the reality is that they often do not know how or where to start. Awareness comes first. The idea of a Global Accessibility Awareness Day started with a single blog post written by a Los Angeles-based web developer, Joe Devon.
May 29:
Ascension of Baha'u'llah * – Baha'i
May 31:
Corpus Christi – Catholic Christian
June 2:
All Saints – Orthodox Christian
June 8:
Sacred Heart of Jesus – Catholic Christian
June 9:
St. Columba of Iona – Celtic Christian
June 11:
Laylat al Kadr * – Islam
June 15-17: Eid al Fitr – Ramadan ends * – Islam
To mark Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Blackboard Inc. offered a series of webinars covering trending topics on digital access in education. The Teaching and Learning Center hosted a watch party for three of the webinars Blackboard offered.
June 15:
Saint Vladimir Day – Christian
June 16:
Guru Arjan martyrdom – Sikh
June 19:
New Church Day – Swedenborgian Christian
June 20:
Waqf al Arafa – Hajj Day * - Islam
June 21:
Solstice First Nations Day – Canadian Native People Litha – Yule * – Wicca/Pagan Northern and Southern hemispheres
The TLC has developed a webpage about universal design for learning and instruction (uthsc.edu/tlc/udli.php), universal design for learning environments (uthsc.edu/tlc/ universally-designed-learning-environments.php), and a learning support page with accessibility resources (uthsc.edu/tlc/learning-support.php).
June 29:
Feast Day of Saints Peter and Paul – Christian
* Holy days usually begin at sundown the day before this date. ** Local or regional customs may use a variation of this date. 3
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WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH 2018 JEOPARDY GAME As part of its programming for Women’s History Month 2018, the Office of Equity and Diversity partnered with the Women’s Resource Group to offer a new event, the Women’s History Month Jeopardy! Game. In addition to being a fun and unique way of celebrating Women’s History Month, the educational elements of the event enabled participants to receive HR 128 credit for attending. Like the classic game show by which it was inspired, the Women’s History Month Jeopardy! Game was comprised of three rounds, the first two of which featured clues from six categories, followed by a final round consisting of a single clue. To maximize participation, a team-based format was used in place of individual contestants. In keeping with its commemorative month theme, each of the 61 clues written for the game highlighted famous figures and events from women’s history, including several categories which focused exclusively on famous women from Memphis and within the University of Tennessee system.
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE! Whether you consider yourself a women’s history buff or are simply a fan of the popular game show, see how well you would have fared by answering the questions below, sampled from the Women’s History Month game. Remember to phrase your answers in the form of a question! (Ready? Cue the Jeopardy! theme song!) 1. In 2005, this political scientist became the first female, African American Secretary of State under President George W. Bush. 2. Although she moved from the city before her third birthday, in 2017, as a sign of R-E-S-P-E-C-T, a plaque was dedicated in front of the home in which this singer and native Memphian was born. 3. Pat Summit, former women’s basketball coach who won eight NCAA championships at UTK, and first NCAA basketball coach with 1,000 wins, spent her collegiate career playing basketball for this UT system institution. 4. Sacagawea and Susan B. Anthony have this currency in common in their dealings with the U.S. Treasury Department.
Cierra Richmond from Human Resources co-narrated the Women's Jeopardy Game, hosted by OED and the Women's Resource Group.
5. This tennis player from Prague was ranked world No. 1 in singles for a total of 332 weeks, and for 237 weeks in doubles, making her the only player in history to have held the top spot in singles and doubles for over 200 weeks.
ANSWERS:
6. This woman is considered the founder of modern nursing, and became known as “The Lady with the Lamp,” rounding at night to tend to soldiers wounded during the Crimean War.
3. What is the University of Tennessee at Martin?
1. Who is Condoleezza Rice? 2. Who is Aretha Franklin? 4. What is the United States dollar coin? 5. Who is Martina Navratilova? 6. Who is Florence Nightingale?
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Photo by Allen Gillespie/UTHSC
DIVERSITY CERTIFICATE PROGRAM:
26 UTHSC PROFESSIONALS GRADUATE FROM SPRING 2018 COHORT Written by Amber Carter The Diversity Certificate Program graduated 26 UTHSC professionals from its spring 2018 cohort May 7.
inclusion, in order to leverage these toward achieving and sustaining campuswide excellence.
Rosalind Jackson Donald, administrative specialist for the Office of Faculty Affairs in the College of Medicine, spoke highly of the Office of Equity and Diversity’s Diversity Certificate Program.
The program demonstrates that embracing diversity and inclusion can bring a broader range of perspectives and backgrounds into UTHSC and lead to more effective decision-making. Participants gain a sound understanding of the latest research and best practices in the fields of cross-cultural competency and diversity.
“Every administrator, student, and staff member at UTHSC will reap the benefits from the Diversity Certificate Program,” she said. “UTHSC is setting the bar high, exceeding the standard by embracing inclusion and diversity, addressing issues that reflect and have an impact on our academic and employment community.”
“Completion of the DCP Certificate is just one way our faculty and staff leaders can demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the metaphoric phrase, “Diversity is the mix. and inclusion is making the mix work,’ ” said Michael Alston, EdD, CCDP/AP, assistant vice chancellor for Equity and Diversity and Title IX Coordinator. “We understand and value that training, development, and education are essential elements to preparing management and employees for a diverse and inclusive workplace like UTHSC.” The course combines lectures and interactive classroom activities.
On May 7, Donald and 25 other UTHSC professionals in the spring 2018 class graduated from the program during a closing ceremony held in Hamilton Eye Institute’s Freeman Auditorium. Started in fall 2017, this initiative is a training opportunity for faculty and staff in alignment with the chancellor’s strategic plan for diversity. The program aims to develop a more knowledgeable workforce by enhancing staff competencies and capacity relevant to diversity and
The next course will take place in fall 2018. Applications will be available soon. 5
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CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR DIVERSITY CERTIFICATE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS!
Charmagyne Akram, CPS Sr. Administrative Services Assistant, Admissions Office College of Medicine
Chandra Alston, EdD, MBA Associate Vice Chancellor Human Resources
Sally Badoud Assistant Vice Chancellor Communications and Marketing
Simone Callender Administrative Specialist, Office of the Vice Chancellor Finance and Operations
Scott Campbell Emergency Management and Safety Officer Facilities Administration
Michelle Clayton, MPH Program Manager, Electronic Research Administration Office of Research
Angela Finerson, PharmD, MBA Director of Admissions and Alumni Affairs College of Pharmacy
Terri Fought Academic Support Coordinator Health Informatics and Information Management
Katherine Gilland Technical Specialist II, Sign Shop Communications and Marketinge
Michael Herr, PhD Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology College of Medicine
Rosalind Jackson Donald Administrative Specialist, Office of Faculty Affairs College of Medicine
Rodney Johnson Family Advocate Counselor, Shelby County Relative Caregiver Program Boling Center for Developmental Disabilities
Paul Koltnow, MS, MSPAS, PA-C Assistant Professor, Director of Admissions Department of Physician Assistant Studies
Mary Christine Madeksho Project Coordinator, Information Security Information Technology Services
Kimberlee Norwood, MA Medical Educator, Office of Medical Education College of Medicine
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DIVERSITY CERTIFICATE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS Continued
Libby Pelham Business Analyst Information Technology Services
Jean Perdicaris Senior Administrative Services Assistant Office of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services
Makeda Porter, MSEd Medical Administration Coordinator, Pediatric Gastroenterology Fellowship College of Medicine
Cierra Richmond Human Resources Assistant Human Resources
Jenness Roth, MEd Family Faculty Coordinator, Chief of Family Discipline Boling Center for Developmental Disabilities
Sean Scott Student Academic Coordinator College of Pharmacy
Marcia Sharp, EdD, MBA Associate Professor Health Informatics and Information Management
Lyniel Smith, MBA Academic Affairs Coordinator College of Nursing
Christina Spivey, PhD, LMSW Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Pharmacy College of Pharmacy
Bradley Terhune Information Technology Team Lead, Customer Technology Support Information Technology Services
Tinieka Thrailkill, MA Administrative Coordinator, University of Tennessee Research Foundation Office of Research
For more information, please contact: Office of Equity and Diversity | 920 Madison Ave. | Suite 825 t 901.448.2112 | f 901.448.1120
uthsc.edu/oed 7