PhD Students’ Efforts Related to IIDEA

• Reviewing and updating syllabi of all of our certificate courses to incorporate the liberatory conscious framework. • Provide mentoring and opportunities for all members of REV to consider their academic and professional careers.

As shared by PhD Program Director Allison Zippay, MSW, PhD

The PhD Student Planning Group on Antiracism and Oppression organized two sessions per semester called the “Let’s Talk” series. The sessions were facilitated and attended by students. A more detailed discussion of each session is shared by Camille McKenzie below.

Initial conversations regarding the Liberatory Consciousness Framework and its applications were held with the PhD Executive Committee and PhD faculty and students. PhD course instructors continue to review and revise syllabi regarding DEI content, approaches, and frameworks. PhD students are active in leadership at the national level (Society for Social Work Education [SSWR] and the Group for the Association of Doctoral Education [GADE]) regarding discussions and actions pertaining to DEI in doctoral education. The PhD director and faculty have continued involvement in national forums and conversations facilitated by GADE regarding DEI and doctoral curricula and education and revision of GADE Quality Guidelines to incorporate content on DEI.

As shared by Co-Coordinator of the PhD Student Planning Committee on Antiracism Camille McKenzie, MSW, LCSW This year, the Student Planning Committee on Antiracism (SPCA) facilitated four student-led “Let’s Talk” discussion sessions on varying topics ranging from research, policy, and practice. • The War on Critical Race Theory (CRT) & Its Implication for Education Policy in the United States session dissected the highly politicized debate concerning teaching CRT in public schools and higher education. • In the Intersectionality Theory session, we discussed the methodological debates, challenges, and trade-offs associated with conducting and publishing anti-racist intersectional scholarship. Examples of quantitative studies employing an intersectional life course perspective were presented for a more robust discussion. • PhD candidates with extensive graduate teaching experience shared their strategies for navigating classroom dynamics concerning diversity and oppression related topics in Pivoting the Challenges in Fostering an Inclusive Classroom Environment session. • Our final session, Intersectionality Theory & Diversifying the Asian Experience in Research, explored inequities behind data representation and #StopAsianHate. Guest co-facilitators included Addam Reynolds, Huiying Jin, Lorraine Howard, Rupa Khetarpal, Yafan Chen, and Yuhan Wei.

SPCA’s goal this academic year was to provide a space to center and learn from the diversifying experiences and talents of our very own RUSSW PhD students.

IIDEA Research Awards

In conjunction with the Research Advisory Committee and the IIDEA Committee, the School of Social Work established the IIDEA Research Awards. The recipients of these awards were announced at the School of Social Work convocation on May 16, 2022. The Exemplary IIDEA Research Recognition Award winner was Gabriel Robles Alberto, and the Emerging Scholar IIDEA Research Award winner was Roxanna Shayesteh Ast.

Exemplary IIDEA Research Recognition Award Emerging Scholar IIDEA Research Award

Purpose: This award is to recognize RUSSW faculty and staff who have made outstanding and innovative contributions to IIDEA research initiatives. The individual or team recognized with this award will serve as a model for how IIDEA perspectives can permeate our research portfolio.

Eligibility: All RUSSW faculty or staff are eligible for nomination.

Criteria for Selection: The Research Advisory and IIDEA Committees will review applications based on the following criteria: Commitment and contributions to advancing IIDEA research efforts.

Award: One total award will be made, consisting of $1,000 in research or professional development support. Awardee(s) will be recognized during the RUSSW Convocation.

Nomination Guidelines: Candidates may self-nominate or be nominated for the award. Individuals who are nominated by others will be contacted to confirm that they accept the nomination. We will request the following materials:

• Full Name of Nominee • Other Team Members’ Full Names (if applicable) • Nominee Contact Information • Materials demonstrating contributions:

Abbreviated CV(s), relevant publications • Maximum of 1-page, single-spaced document outlining the nominee’s enduring commitment as well as outstanding and innovative contributions to IIDEA research. Purpose: This award is to recognize RUSSW students who have made outstanding and innovative contributions to IIDEA research initiatives. The individual(s) recognized with this award will serve as a model for how IIDEA perspectives can permeate students’ research or dissertation work.

Criteria for Selection: The Research Advisory and IIDEA Committees will review applications based on the following criteria: Commitment and contributions to advancing IIDEA through research or dissertation work.

Award: One total award will be made, consisting of $1,000 in research or professional development support. Awardee(s) will be recognized during the RUSSW Convocation.

Nomination Guidelines: Candidates may self-nominate or be nominated for the award. Individuals who are nominated by others will be contacted to confirm that they accept the nomination. We will request the following materials:

• Full Name of Nominee • Other Team Members’ Full Names (if applicable) • Nominee Contact Information • Materials demonstrating contributions: Abbreviated

CV(s), relevant publications • Maximum of 1-page, single-spaced document outlining the nominee's enduring commitment as well as outstanding and innovative contributions to

IIDEA research.

 Develop an institutional infrastructure to drive change

To read more, refer to the University’s Strategic Planning Toolkit at diversity.rutgers.edu.