Grants recognize work focused on equity, diversity and inclusion

In 2020, we were witnesses and participants in profound discussions of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. For this round of the Knowledge Mobilization Spotlight Grants, we asked students how they and their research have been impacted by these discussions.  Did the national conversation on justice, equity, diversity and inclusion change the way they think about their research, bring new awareness or context to their research and/or projects or empower them to bring their research to new communities or reach out to new collaborators?  

In an overwhelming response, The Graduate College received more than 100 applications and, out of the impressively competitive pool, selected ten winners rather than five as originally planned. Each winner will receive a grant of $100.

Knowledge Mobilization Spotlight Grant Awardees

The ten awardees are:

• David Jaulus (justice studies) explores through his writing and theorizing, how courts have become an insufficient location to promote lasting social change. 
• Elizabeth A Ruiz (educational policy and evaluation) intends to conduct a qualitative case study on how high schools address the cultural background of students.
• James Williams (digital culture) is involved in research that revolves around giving a voice to traditionally disenfranchised groups, by reevaluating film and media elements.
• Sandra M Saco (English education) is working on ensuring that school students are introduced to a literary curriculum that has more culturally diverse protagonists in its stories.
• Anastacia Meconiates (music composition: interdisciplinary digital media) is working on connecting music to engineering by building new eco-friendly instruments that will be accessible to disabled people as well.
• Peach O’Neill (psychology) is interested in studying the social influence of public video recordings of events of injustice and the effects these may have on future empowerment. 
• Ali Dahouk (healthcare) is working towards introducing a fair distribution of healthcare in his country (Lebanon), once he finishes his Masters in Healthcare Innovation.
• Dylan Peay (behavioral neuroscience) is involved in the study of the impact that chronic stress has on women that experience depression.
• Thy Vu Mims (liberal studies) plans to gather stories from refugees/immigrants in the United States, and share their experiences with the community at large.
• Anais Delilah Roque (environmental social science) examines water insecurity in post-disaster settings by conducting a qualitative personal network elicitation.