Why was the Unpacking Diversity Community formed?
In 2017, College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences (CEOAS) enrollment numbers showed that 75% of the enrolled undergraduate and graduate students and 82% of the teaching faculty identified as white. These statistics motivated three graduate students to explore the roots of this disparity in enrollment and to support students of color within the college.
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The co-founders organized the first workshop, titled, "Unpacking Diversity" with Jane Waite of the Social Justice Education Initiative. Their hope was to initiate an understanding of retention issues within our college and larger science community. In response to the positive reception, this grew to become the "Unpacking Diversity" seminar series, open to all members of our community (students, faculty, staff, admin). Just like in the first event, each seminar is presented and facilitated by a scholar from the Oregon State University community. Each discussion may be centered on selected topics based on selected readings.
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Thus, the Unpacking Diversity Professional Learning Community (PLC) was founded by three graduate students in Spring 2017. Since then, we have continued to host this discussion series to highlight diversity, social justice, race, and discrimination especially in the geosciences.
Founders
Dr. Alejandra Sanchez-Rios
(she/her/hers)
Physical Oceanography, PhD 2018
"This work, and the community it creates, is important to me because it has helped me to develop a sense of belonging in the academic environment that I didn’t have before. It has also helped me focus on my work and not on what others think of me or expect from me."
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Current Position:
Post-Doctoral Research Scholar
National Taiwan University, Institute of Oceanography
Dr. Melissa McCracken
(she/her/hers)
Geography, PhD 2019
"After witnessing difference in treatment of students, graduate students, and staff, my eyes were opened to the systemic and institutional discrimination within academia. I hope that these sessions can help to create space in our college to safely discuss these important topics on social justice, and ultimately make a change in the culture."
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Current Position:
Assistant Professor
Fletcher School at Tufts University
Dr. Melva Treviño Peña
(she/her/hers)
Geography, PhD 2018
"As a Mexican-American, and first in my family to go to graduate school, I did not always understand my own experiences in predominantly white learning environments. We created the CEOAS PLC to provide a space where students, faculty, and staff could have constructive discussions about justice and equity in STEM and support one another in learning about these deeply-rooted, complex, and often painful to discuss topics."
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Current Position:
Assistant Professor
University of Rhode Island, Department of Marine Affairs
Current Organizers
Jenn Wong-Ala (she/her/hers)
NSF Fellow
Program: Ocean Ecology and Biogeochemistry, MS
"I hope that through these sessions and conversations we can begin to start a dialogue about diversity, inclusion, and social justice that once did not exist within CEOAS. And as a underrepresented minority student in a STEM field, I hope that conversations such as these can continue to facilitate a welcoming environment and continue to diversify STEM fields. "
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Research Topic: Individual based models to disentangle the biophysical processes that influence the early life history of fisheries species
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Adrienne Chan (she/her/hers)
NSF Fellow, ARCS Scholar
Program: Ocean Ecology and Biogeochemistry, MS
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"The Professional Learning Community has become an integral part of my graduate student experience because it has given me a community and opportunities to better comprehend and process experiences I have had as a female graduate student of color thus far. Becoming a part of Unpacking Diversity and the PLC has empowered me and I hope it will do the same for others."
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Research Topic: Bioturbation and iron and sulfur cycling on the Oregon shelf-slope environment
Thi Truong (she/her/hers)
ARCS Scholar
​Program: Geology, PhD
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"As a first-generation Asian-American and woman of color, I am sensitive to issues of noticing white male dominance in the classroom and relate to first generation/low socioeconomic status students in higher education. Being an active member of the CEOAS Professional Learning Community ensures my commitment to improving the experiences of marginalized individuals in university settings."
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Research Topic: Geochemistry and igneous petrology of ocean island basalts, hotspot volcanism
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Erin Peck (she/her/hers)
ARCS Scholar, Oregon Sea Grant Malouf Scholar
Program: Ocean Ecology and Biogeochemistry, PhD
"As a member of the larger CEOAS community, I am so thankful for the space that the Professional Learning Community created for discussing difficult topics related to diversity, equity, inclusion. Being involved with the group - learning from the other amazing organizers - has made me more optimistic about the future of social justice in STEM and academia."
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Research Topic:
Drivers of salt marsh sediment accumulation: Insights from the Oregon Coast
Sophia Wensman (she/her/hers)
ARCS Scholar
Program: Ocean Ecology and Biogeochemistry, PhD
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"As a white woman in STEM I want to use my privilege to work against barriers present in the geosciences and academia. As a member of Unpacking Diversity and the Professional Learning Community, I hope that creating a space for active engagement with topics related to social justice, equity and inclusion will cultivate a more inclusive working and learning environment."
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Research Topic:
Tracing anthropogenic signatures in environmental archives using trace metal biogeochemistry
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Johna Winters (she/her/hers)
Warren W. Denner Fellowship, WTS - Portland Beverly Overly Graduate Scholarship
​Program: Marine Resource Management, MS
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"While I was an employee of CEOAS, there were conversations about race, gender, and disability in STEM that weren’t safe to have. The CEOAS PLC has created the space to start these conversations through its community workshops and keynote speakers. I hope that these workshops inspire everyone to search for ways to address the structural issues that continue to negatively impact students and faculty of color in the geosciences."
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Research Topic:
Understanding the Linkage between Policy Creation, Implementation, and Experience of Sexual Harassment on Research Vessels
Past Organizers
Christopher Cosgrove (he/him/his)
Geography, PhD, 2020
"Throughout my time as a grad student my eyes have been opened to the advantages my gender and background give me within academia and beyond. Albeit mildly, I had this privilege undercut upon meeting the US academic system from my native Europe. I hope that Unpacking Diversity will help bring awareness within CEOAS to the difficulties faced by those who feel unfamiliar or outside to the college and research environment."
Dr. Alisa K. Kotash (they/them)
Geology, PhD 2021
"As educational leaders, we occupy some of the most privileged spaces in the world. Traditionally, geoscience research and pedagogy has been almost exclusively conducted by people who are of the dominant culture. From this ethos, the geosciences have the lowest diversity of any STEM discipline. Thus, it is my responsibility as a white geoscience educator to leverage my privilege and create a more equitable and inclusive environment for all learners in the field. This perspective prompted me to collaborate with Unpacking Diversity and the Professional Learning Community to identify and educate CEOAS students and faculty on institutional and social barriers within the STEM fields."