Luminosity - Vol 1, Issue 1

February/March 2021

LUMINOSITY SHINING A LIGHT ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION AT OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVIERSITY

W H A T ' S Vice President's Welcome

Meet the Team

I N S I D E : What's Happening in DEI

Holidays and Observances

LUMINOSITY - OUR MISSION, VISION, VALUES, & PURPOSE

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VISION

TO CREATE AN EQUITABLE AND JUST EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY.

MISSION

To work collaboratively with campus partners, alumni, and friends of Oklahoma City University to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice through policy, education, and strategic initiatives that advance our university’s mission.

VALUES

DIVERSITY EQUITY INCLUSIVITY RESPECT LEARNING COMMUNITY JUSTICE

WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT the entire campus community’s sense of belonging OFFER learning opportunities through programming, events, and workshops CREATE, SHAPE, AND IMPLEMENT policy that advances our university and office’s vision, mission, and values EXPAND AND DEEPEN perspectives about a range of identities and lived experiences ADDRESS any pervasive bias-related incidents and inequities that occur on our campus CELEBRATE, fully, the rich and diverse cultures of those who are a members of our community

LUMINOSITY - VICE PRESIDENT'S WELCOME

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VICE PRESIDENT FROM THE

Hello, OCU Community!

We do, also, want to prioritize inclusivity, equity, and justice in

I am excited to welcome you to our

our policy and practice. We’ll be

newsletter, "Luminosity," where we

sharing how you can do so in your

hope to share exciting and helpful

area of influence and beyond.

information with you. Our aim is to

Please enjoy what we’ve curated

shed light on a range of topics and

for you here!

experiences collectively

that

lend

expanding

to

us our

Go Stars!

perspectives.

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team is excited to be in community with you and engage our important work together. On June 1st, I started what I knew would be an exciting and important journey to build a new office and team. While still in these early stages of creation, I am encouraged by the efforts made by so many in our community to use our core values as a foundation for their work, which of course includes diversity.

Talia Carroll, Ph.D. (she/her) Vice President

LUMINOSITY - MEET THE TEAM

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DR. TALIA CARROLL PRONOUNS: SHE/HER/HERS

Hometown: Oklahoma City, OK Alma Mater: University of Oklahoma and Penn State University Major: BA in English, M.Ed in Adult & Higher Education and Ph.D. in Higher Education Position at OCU: Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office Location: Clara E. Jones Administration Building, Suite 205

RUSS TALLCHIEF

Favorite Travel Destination: I used to live in Singapore and can't wait to visit again.

Hobbies: Cooking! I love to try new recipes as well as make them up on the spot.

Favorite Meal: As a dedicated foodie, it's hard to choose but today it's WINGS! Spicy or lemon pepper!

Favorite Thing About OCU: The relationships I've built with people in our community.

PRONOUNS: HE/HIM/HIS

Hometown: Shawnee, OK Alma Mater: University of Central Oklahoma for my undergrad and Bemidji State University in northern Minnesota for my graduate.

Major: B.A. in Communications and M.A. in English.

Position at OCU: Director of Student Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office Location: University Center, Room 110 (across from the Bookstore) Hobbies: As a member of the Osage Nation, I love to dance in our traditional 'Southern Straight' style. I am also a published playwright and actor!

Favorite Meal: I love any pizza, but Chicago-style from Pizzeria Uno and NY from Ray's in NYC (the real one on 11th) Favorite Thing About OCU: I love how passionate and motivated OCU students are. They inspire me every day!

LUMINOSITY - MEET THE TEAM CONT'D

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ABBYKATE WAUGH PRONOUNS: SHE/HER/HERS

Hometown: Oklahoma City, OK Alma Mater: University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, OK Major: English Creative Studies Screenwriting Emphasis Position at OCU: Senior Administrative Assistant Office Location: Clara E. Jones Admin Building, Suite 205 (with Dr. Carroll!)

KARA A. MORROW

Hobbies: I love to bake and marathon TV and movies as well as do any- and everything with my two terriers, Andrew

PRONOUNS: SHE/HER/HERS

and Margot (often referred to as 'The

Hometown: Konawa, Oklahoma (Home of

Terrors").

the Tigers!)

Favorite Meal: I had the best food of my

Alma Mater: East Central University for

life at Flip Sigi in New York City (look

my undergrad and Southern Nazarene

them up!) and I have an intense

University for my graduate

relationship with complicated pastry.

Major: M.A. in Marital and Family Therapy

Favorite Thing About OCU: The people!

Position at OCU: Assistant Director for

And the emphasis on the arts and

Accessibility Services

especially the performing arts as a vital

Office Location: Dulaney-Brown Library,

part of a thriving community.

Room 106C Hobbies: Hanging out with my dogs, Humphrey and Abby, reading, and painting with either acrylics or the Procreate app when I am too lazy to clean the mess Favorite Meal: I have so many favorites but I'll say the Chicken Vermicelli Bowl at Lido Favorite Thing About OCU: How incredibly kind and accepting everyone has been so far! I also love our beautiful campus!

LUMINOSITY - WHAT'S HAPPENING IN DEI

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN FEB 11

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DEI@OCU

Dinner & A Movie at the University Center in celebration of Lunar New Year!

FEB 16

VP Dr. Carroll will be cofacilitating "Race & Racism in the Classroom."

FOR FACULTY

FEB 25

Join OCU Career Services for Working While Black: Conversations That Matter this open, real, and raw conversation about what it is to be a Black professional in the workplace. 5:30-7PM REGISTER AT CAREERSERVICES@OKCU.EDU

STARTING THE END OF FEBRUARY Watch for the launch of a new series BLUE TABLE TALK that brings the important topics of the day and concerns of students and alumni to the forefront to promote meaningful, empathetic connections and personal growth.

STARTING THE WEEK OF MAR 3

Throughout March, watch for opportunities to concentrate on and engage with your wellness!

Registration information coming soon!

MAR 3

I

I BLE V

A

AVA

ZOOM

!

AL L LA

Virtual Yoga with Valerie Robinson Breathing, stretches and poses to relax and revitalize

MAR 10

TURBO KICK with Sumiyah Mshaka A mix of cardio kickboxing and easy dance moves for every body

MAR 17

Wellness Session with G. Olivia Rios, Ph.D, Licensed Psychologist Reallocating our energy to accomplish our goals.

LUMINOSITY - PERSONAL RECOMMENDATIONS

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RECOMMENDATIONS "An American Sunrise is a collection of poems written by the first US Native American Poet Laureate, Oklahoman Joy Harjo who is currently serving her second term.

Each piece evokes immediate reactions that span the entirety of human emotion."

Dr. Carroll

"The story of a Korean-American family who relocates from California to rural Arkansas for its own piece of The American Dream, the soulful and extremely beautiful MINARI releases on Feb 12 both in theatres and VOD. It was shot mainly in Tulsa using Oklahoma-based crew members which sustains local moviemaking opportunities!"

Abbykate W.

LUMINOSITY - HOLIDAYS & OBSERVANCES

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HOLIDAYS & OBSERVANCES FEBRUARY 1-28

BLACK HISTORY MONTH champions

contributions

traditions

injustices current events accomplishments

MARCH 1-31

WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH FEB 12 LUNAR NEW YEAR

FEB 17 FEB 25 ASH PURIM WEDNESDAY

MAR 8 MAR 20 INTERNATIONAL SPRING WOMEN'S EQUINOX DAY

LUMINOSITY - NEXT TIME

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IN OUR NEXT ISSUE CELEBRATING CHANGE ACROSS CAMPUS

THE INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE CAMPAIGN

MORE WELLNESS OPPORTUNITIES

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED!

NAME A STAR HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED SOMEONE DOING INTENTIONAL D.E.I. WORK? WE WANT TO CELEBRATE THEM! Use the QR Code or visit bit.ly/DEIStarShoutOut

CONTACT US! DEI@OKCU.EDU

405-208-5030

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT We acknowledge that we gather on land indigenous to the Comanche, Osage and Wichita tribes, and lands extending throughout the state originally inhabited by the Apache, Quapaw, and Wichita and Affiliated Tribes. We acknowledge that the 39 sovereign tribal nations inhabiting what is now Oklahoma originate from all four corners of the North American continent, and that American indigenousness is hemispheric in scope. We honor the land and the people who have stewarded it throughout generations, and we commit to continuing to learn how to be better stewards of the land we inhabit.