Diversity and Inclusion

As a School of Public Health, we want all members of our community – staff, students and faculty – to feel they are valued and that their strengths are recognized by creating and sustaining a culture of inclusion. Since its origins in 2010, the purpose of the School Diversity Initiative, renamed the Diversity and Inclusion Action Group (DIAG), is to engage faculty, staff and students in the creation and maintenance of a welcoming and inclusive working and learning environment where equity, diversity, inclusion and respect are core cultural norms and values practised in the School of Public Health. To advance social justice, DIAG also works to promote equity, diversity and inclusion in our pedagogy and through our public health practices and research.

What is a culture of diversity and inclusion?

A culture of diversity and inclusion fosters and supports an environment where each person is valued, and is confident in contributing insights and skills. It is not simply that differences are tolerated, but that diversity is seen as a source of strength. This type of culture allows organizations to be more innovative, flexible and adaptable, as they benefit from the contributions of all their members.

All students, staff, postdoctoral fellows and faculty, benefit professionally, academically and socially in an academic environment that values and promotes diversity and inclusion. They are better prepared to think, live and work in our global society.

Diversity and inclusion is about recognizing, respecting and celebrating the broad range of characteristics and differences among people. These differences include ethnicity, racialized status, language or national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, educational background, life experience, family status, faith / religion, socio-economic standing, ability (physical, mental, cognitive), group (or political) affiliation, and individual ways of being and thinking.

According to this view, each person has multiple, and often evolving, cultural identities.

Bringing forward your diversity concerns

There are a number of resources on campus for assistance in bringing forward personal concerns related to differential treatment related to ethnicity, race, language, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, educational background, family status, faith, religion, socio-economic standing, ability (physical, mental, cognitive), or group affiliation.

University of Alberta

The University of Alberta offers several services to assist students with diversity concerns.

Office of Safe Disclosure and Human Rights
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Office of the Student Ombuds
Additional On-Campus and Off-Campus Resources

School contacts

Students are also encouraged to share their concerns locally using any of the following resources:

Jeff Johnson, Interim Dean
Email: jeffreyj@ualberta.ca

Maria Mayan, Associate Dean (Research)
Email: mmayan@ualberta.ca

Susan Chatwood, Associate Dean (Education)
Email: chatwood@ualberta.ca

DIAG Members

Winter 2023
Name Email
Jacqueline Anderson anderse4@ualberta.ca
Ana Belon ana.belon@ualberta.ca
Jastinne Diaz jastinne@ualberta.ca
Alexa Ferdinands aferdina@ualberta.ca
Fajar Khan fajar1@ualberta.ca
Sammy Lowe salowe@ualberta.ca
Holly Mathias hmathias@ualberta.ca
Evita Molino evita@ualberta.ca
Roman Pabayo pabayo@ualberta.ca
Mike Paulden paulden@ualberta.ca
Marian (Ayan) Sanchez mcsanche@ualberta.ca
Erin Pollock erin.pollock@ualberta.ca

Denise L. Spitzer (Chair)

spitzer@ualberta.ca
Barbara Verstraeten verstrae@ualberta.ca
Maria Wong maria9@ualberta.ca
Li Yu lyu10@ualberta.ca

 

External Links