Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

At the College of Health and Human Services, we seek to be a community of learners that embraces, respects and advocates for human diversity, inclusion and social justice in its education, research and service programs.

We invite all students, faculty and staff to actively work together to become a more diverse, inclusive and just community.

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Word cloud generated by students answers to the question, "what is the most important focus of DEI for you?"

Good News

Photo of participants in the restorative community of practice
Dr. Betty Dennis (front row, third from right) with colleagues from 澳门六合彩官网直播 and other institutions in Michigan and Indiana.

Dr. Betty Dennis, Director, CHHS Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, was a part of the event hosted by institutions around the country including 澳门六合彩官网直播. This convening of senior level chief diversity officers (CDOs), academic diversity officers (ADOs) and others who lead such efforts at institutions will advance dialogue regarding the current and future state of inclusive excellence while fostering a community of practice among leaders. The national president and CEO, Paulette Grandberry-Russell, JD was in attendance at 澳门六合彩官网直播, who hosted institutions in Michigan and Indiana.

2024 澳门六合彩官网直播 DEI Awards

 

In October 2024, the Department of Information Technology and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee in the College of Health and Human Services received the 2023-24 Excellence in Diversity Award.

College of Health and Human Services Department of Information Technology

Joshua Enos Accepts DEI Award
Joshua Enos, director of information technology for the college accepts the award from President Montgomery.

Joshua Enos, director of information technology for the college, noted the 10-member committee has 鈥渢aken a clear and intentional approach to diversity.鈥

Specifically, this past spring, the group collaborated with Career and Student Employment Services in organizing a forum to discuss the benefits of diversity among student employees.

More recently, the IT department worked to eliminate a longstanding accessibility barrier for many blind and low-vision members by helping to implement software that includes zoom magnification, visual enhancement and fast screen reading functionality for free to anyone with a 澳门六合彩官网直播 email address.

鈥淭heir commitment to creating an inclusive campus, dismantling institutional bias and promoting diversity in hiring and workforce development make them deserving of this recognition,鈥 Enos says.

College of Health and Human Services Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee

Dr. Betty Dennis with President Montgomery
Dr. Betty Dennis, master faculty specialist for the Center for Healthcare Services and Sciences poses with President Montgomery.

The college鈥檚 DEI Committee includes 15 faculty and staff members who show 鈥渁n exceptional commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment in the College of Health and Human Services,鈥 says the committee鈥檚 chair, Dr. Betty Dennis, master faculty specialist for the Center for Healthcare Services and Sciences. 鈥淭hrough our committee's leadership, we are ensuring that the college鈥檚 faculty, staff and student voices are heard and valued.鈥

Its Lunch and Learn series, accessing loan forgiveness and repayment programs for students, student climate survey for the college, biennial DEI conference and community outreach events are some of the many focus areas of the groups鈥 six subcommittees.

鈥淎ll of our efforts are intended to play a pivotal role in addressing systemic barriers and promoting equal opportunities for our faculty, staff and students,鈥 says Dennis. 

2024 Fall Awards Celebration, Kirsch Auditorium
Dr. Candy McCorkle, vice president for diversity and inclusion poses with award winners Dr. Cynthia Klekar Cunningham, director of the School of Communication, Joshua Enos, Dr. Betty Dennis, Dawn Smith and Jill Fraze (CHHS DEI Committee).

2024 Impact Report

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The Committee on Diversity and Inclusion has released its 2024 Impact Report. Learn more about the plans, activities and outcomes from the committee.

2024 Impact Report

2023 Report   |   2022 Report   |   2021 Report

DEI Dropbox

Report DEI-related concerns that you have seen or experienced in the college or anywhere on campus. Ask DEI-related questions. Make DEI-related suggestions.

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DEI Calendar

Click here for a listing of DEI-related holidays and remembrances.

DEI EVENTS CALENDAR

Lunch and Learn Series

Join us in the CHHS student engagement center on the third Wednesday of each month for these engaging conversations.
Sessions run from 11 a.m. to noon and will be available for streaming on .
Free lunch is provided by the CHHS Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

January 15

African Americans Diagnosed with Cancer

—LaShawnda Bates, Bronson Healthcare Group

February 19

Honoring Personal Choices

—Hilary Kerr, Advance Care Planning Specialist, Bronson Methodist Hospital

March 19

What is your Definition of Wellness, Belonging and DEI?

—Dr. Betty Dennis, Director of CHHS Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

April 16

Animal Therapy and Health Disparities

—Angie Moe, Therapy Dog Clinic Coordinator at 澳门六合彩官网直播 Unified Clinics

Visual Impairment: Lunch and learn survey results

Ageism: Lunch and learn survey results

Past Lunch and Learn Presentations


Presented by: Dr. Jim Leja - Faculty Emeritus, Blindness and Low Vision Studies

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2023 data

We have published race/ethnicity/gender data for students, staff and faculty from the fall 2023 census reports. This page is in process and will continue to be updated as we gather data.

 CHHS Data 2023

DEI Community Outreach Showcase

Are you doing some work to help our local, state or even international community?

We want to celebrate you! 

There is a lot of great work - often with diversity, equity and inclusion at its core - happening in this college. We would like to highlight that work for our college community.

Please use the DEI Dropbox to share some information about your project. Tell us how you're impacting the community from a DEI perspective. We'll take your info, reach out to you to get some photos, and highlight your work on the digital screens in our building and in the regular communications from the central office. You'll also go on our list for our annual CHHS DEI awards, given each spring.

Questions? Contact Betty Dennis at betty.dennis@wmich.edu.

Statement on Race and Antiracism

澳门六合彩官网直播 CHHS has released a Statement on Race and Antiracism. We announce a proactive stance on race and antiracism and propose measurable actions to work against racism in support of all of our students. 

Read the entire statement

Committee members

  • Dr. Betty Dennis, chair
  • Dr. Carrie Barrett
  • Wan Chen
  • Eric Comer
  • Dr. Elyse Conners
  • Joshua Enos
  • Jillian Fraze
  • Dr. Azalia Gonzalez
  • Dr. Angela Groves
  • Dr. Janet Hahn
  • Charles Hanks
  • Dawn Smith
  • Tanya Timmerman
  • Dr. Pamela Wadsworth
  • Dr. Anna Yelick

DEI Training

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September 2022

February 2022

January 2022

Committee Information

  • Chair: Dr. Betty Dennis, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the College of Health and Human Services.

  • Meeting dates: The College of Health and Human Services Committee on Diversity and Inclusion currently meets at 9 a.m. on the second Friday of each month during the fall and spring semesters.

Framework for Initiatives   Annual Report (2014)   College-wide Survey (2010)