The creative and engaging efforts to promote diversity and inclusion on the Saint Anselm College campus were in the spotlight at the third annual President’s Innovators Reception on Feb. 3.
Twice a year, members of the community are encouraged to submit proposals for grants that support collaborative programming to raise awareness and improve diversity and inclusion. Twenty-eight projects have been launched through the Diversity and Inclusion Innovation Fund (DIIF).
“This is one of my most favorite events,” said Dr. Joseph A. Favazza, president of Saint Anselm. “I love the energy. I love the creativity and I love the commitment to push us out of our safe spaces to really consider a different perspective and see the world through different lenses.”
The Diversity and Innovation Fund review committee is appointed by Dr. Ande Diaz, the chief diversity officer, and is chaired by Dr. Diana Sherman, an assistant professor in the education department who oversaw the committee’s review and selection of the awards.
The projects are selected through a competitive process based on their ability to assist the college realize its mission as a Catholic, Benedictine, liberal arts institution in fostering an intentionally inclusive environment.
“They really come as a grassroots effort from members of the community,” Dr. Diaz said. “Students have ideas, faculty colleagues have ideas, staff colleagues have ideas. And most of all, it's exciting when they get to partner and collaborate with each other. So the Diversity Inclusion Innovation Fund helps stimulate and support community-based ideas and initiatives that strengthen a culture of belonging here at the college.”
Three panelists shared DIIF projects on Feb. 3: Dr. Jennifer Thorn of the English Department, who discussed her upcoming project “Promoting Awareness of Harmful Stereotypes of Asian American Women; Dr. Meaghan Cronin of the English Department who discussed the “Black Speculative Fiction Reading Group;” and Dr. Dina Frutos- Bencze of the Economics and Business Department who shared details about the “Design Thinking Skills for Social Innovation” and the “Empathy Café.”
Dr. Thorn, who has helped lead five DIIF projects, described how her latest program is responding to the shooting deaths of six Asian-American women and two others at a massage parlor in Atlanta last year as a way to help members of the Saint Anselm community respond and move forward.
“What I've learned is that things that are possible at Saint A’s if you can think outside the box a little bit as this kind of grant encourages you to do,” she said.
Dr. Sherman offered thoughts on the DIIF program and encouraged members of the community to submit proposals for the next round of funds.
“We really get excited on the committee when we see connections across multiple groups from campus,” she said. “Any form of initiative that spotlights diversity or inclusion in terms of content or learning about diversity and inclusion are really beneficial for our community. We get excited when we see proposals about those kinds of initiatives and also innovative ways to engage in D&I and look at D&I from an innovative lens.”
The deadline for Fall 2022 Diversity and Innovation Fund is April 1. The application form and details about the project criteria can be found on the DIFF webpage.