DEI Council

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Council Charge

As of October 2017, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Council at Empire State University serves as the advisory and recommending body to the chief diversity officer (CDO), and liaisons to schools and offices across the university. The DEI Council will work closely with the chief diversity officer to help implement Empire’s diversity, equity, and inclusion action plan and to promote knowledge, skills, and best practices. The council will also represent a collective voice to advise the president and provost on the inculcation of best practices for structural change. This council is not part of governance; it is solely for the purpose of advising and supporting the CDO.

For the 2023-2024 academic year, the members of the SUNY Empire DEI Council are:

  • Lauren Allen, Mentor and Assistant Professor, School for Graduate Studies, Education, and Assistant Director of CAARES
  • Zohreh Aminian, Director of Academic Review for the School of Science, Math and Technology
  • Quran Bell, Student Success and Development Coordinator, Alumna (’21, ’22)
  • Matthew S. Berge, Student, School for Graduate Studies, Social and Public Policy
  • Frances Boyce, Mentor, School for Undergraduate Studies, School of Business
  • Joshua Boardman, Interim Director of Student Engagement, Office of Student Success
  • Kristina Brousseau, Senior Institutional Research Coordinator, Office of Decision Support
  • Dana Brown, Senior Director of Enrichment and Opportunity Programs, Office of Academic Affairs
  • Lindsay Bryde, Project Implementation Manager, Educational and Emerging Technologies
  • Luis Camacho, Mentor and Assistant Professor, School for Undergraduate Studies, School of Business
  • Melissa Carpenter, Office Assistant 3, Opportunity Program, Office of Academic Affairs
  • Bidhan Chandra, Mentor and Professor, School for Undergraduate Studies, School of Business
  • Timothy Cosgriff, Director of Community Events, Office of Communications and Marketing (’93)
  • Lisa D’Adamo-Weinstein, Mentor and Visiting Associate Professor, School for Undergraduate Studies, School for Arts and Humanities
  • Desiree Drindak, Director of Veteran and Military Resource Center
  • Tina Evans, Alumna (’97) and Member of the Empire State University Foundation
  • Maria Figueroa, Dean, Harry Van Arsdale Jr. School for Labor Studies
  • David Fullard, Mentor and Visiting Associate Professor, School of Human Services
  • Alejandro Galindo, Senior Partnership Coordinator 
  • Julie Gedro, Dean of the School of Business, School for Undergraduate
  • Kathy P. Hairston, Director of Academic Review
  • Lindsay Holcomb, Director of Human Resources
  • Samantha James, Student Success and Development Coordinator
  • Timothy Johnson, Student, School for Undergraduate Studies, BMI Fortified Classroom/General Studies
  • Debra Kram-Fernandez, Mentor and Associate Professor, School of Human Services
  • Laura Koplewitz, Visiting Assistant Professor, School for Undergraduate Studies, School for Arts and Humanities
  • John Lawless, Mentor and Professor, School for Community & Human Services
  • Audeliz (Audi) Matías, Interim Dean of School for Graduate Studies
  • Sophia Mavrogiannis, Director of Academic Support, Harry Van Arsdale Jr. School for Labor Studies
  • Nedelka McLean, Coordinator of Student Services, Harry Van Arsdale Jr. School for Labor Studies
  • Callie Montalvo Patel, Student Success and Development Coordinator
  • Debra Monte, Assessment Specialist
  • Dianne Ramdeholl, Professor of Adult Education, School for Graduate Studies
  • Margaret Sithole, Mentor and Associate Professor, School for Undergraduate Studies, School of Business
  • Em Wasserman, Student, School for Undergraduate Studies, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • Nadine Wedderburn, Mentor and Associate Professor, School for Undergraduate Studies, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • Tiffany Williams, Administrative Assistant 2, Office of Communications
  • Melissa Zgliczynski, Director of Accessibility Resources and Services, Office of Student Life/Title IX

For the 2023-2024 academic year, the members of the SUNY Empire DEI Council Working Groups are:

Allyship & Advocacy
This group will engage the community in defining what allyship looks like at SUNY Empire and explore practices that actively support colleagues and students from marginalized groups to create a community of allies.

2022-23 Allyship and Advocacy Working Group Statement (Login required.)

  • Dana Brown, Co-convener
  • John Lawless, Co-convener
  • Lauren Allen
  • Bidhan Chandra
  • Melissa Zgliczynski

Curriculum & Education
This group will explore ways to improve how our curriculum helps develop culturally competent students, identify needs, and recommend changes and/or initiatives to help create environment of learning and justice for all students and to prepare them to be active global citizens.

2022-23 Curriculum and Education Working Group Report (Login required.)

  • Deb Amory, Co-convener
  • Debra Kram-Fernandez, Co-convener
  • Kristina Brousseau
  • Luis Camacho
  • Lisa D’Adamo-Weinstein
  • Julie Gedro
  • Kathy P. Hairston
  • Laura Koplewitz

Events & Communications
This group will explore how we develop and sustain meaningful DEI programs and create an active communication plan to support campus recognition of diversity and inclusion achievements. This working group will also help with the planning of a new ODEI Newsletter and the ongoing Reason & Respect Series.

2022-23 Events and Communications Working Group Report (Login required.)

  • Quran Bell, Co-convener
  • Winnie Yu, Co-convener
  • Matthew S. Berge
  • Timothy Cosgriff
  • Tiffany Williams

Policies & Practices
The group will develop a standardized method to assess policies and procedures for inclusive excellence and coordinate the implementation with policy stakeholders. 

2022-23 Policies and Practices Working Group Report (Login required.)

  • Lindsay Bryde, Co-convener
  • Alejandro Galindo, Co-convener
  • Tina Evans
  • Callie Montalvo Patel
  • Debra Monte

Allyship & Advocacy:

  • Pending - Expand the current Allyship and Advocacy group to reflect members from across the university community. We believe increasing the number of groups members will help create a nice foundation while better representing the community.
  • Pending - Items #2 and #4 focus on working with HR to provide feedback on current DEI Trainings and provide activities focusing on allyship. In addition, to work with HR to establish guidelines on reporting incidents of discrimination or bias within the university.
  • Pending - Create an online resource hub for individuals seeking information on allyship and diversity and inclusion.
  • In Process - Conduct one workshop during the Spring Annual Meeting to provide deeper context on the importance of allyship and advocacy.

Education & Curriculum

  • Pending - The working group’s final recommendation is that a large scale DEIB curriculum audit be conducted for our university focusing on curricular offerings.

Events & Communications

  • Reason and Respect - Come up with ideas and schedule
    • Complete - Black History Month - February 16: Getting to Know the Black Male Initiative
    • Complete - Rare Disease Day - February 29: Recognizing Rare Disease Day
    • In Process - March and April virtual events
  • Pending - Create a virtual gallery
  • Pending - Develop a survey to determine what the community would like to see

Policy & Practices

  • Complete - DEI Policy Checklist