I just completed a pilot program that I’m particularly proud of: the first iteration of a DEI Graduate Certificate conceived of by graduate students in Human Development and Family Studies (Melissa Yzaguirre and Gianna Gasaburo!) and underwritten by the MSU Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion Creating Inclusive Excellence Grant. This certificate program challenged graduate students to engage in articulating our own positionality as it relates to our teaching philosophies and research endeavors and gave us the opportunity to draft diversity, teaching, and research statements to that end. We also engaged in experiential DEI projects. For my project, I charted my path to convening a DEI committee in my administrative role in the Center for Language Teaching Advancement and reflected on the DEI committee’s first year running. I found this opportunity to formally reflect on my already well established positions on diversity, equity, and inclusion really valuable and really appreciated the conscientious planning and feedback from the DEI certificate staff.
Caitlin Cornell 