Eastern Mennonite University’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion announces the recipients of the Inclusive Excellence Grants for fall 2024 and spring 2025. Each grant, awarded at $1,200, supports initiatives that foster a more inclusive, equitable, and supportive community at EMU.
The program offers faculty, staff, and students the opportunity to develop ideas that advance opportunities to grow, learn, and belong together. “Inclusive excellence” is a research-based approach that encourages proactive, collaborative steps towards creating a community in which all belong. These grants are possible thanks to the generosity of Jose Koshy ‘76 and Jean Koshy-Hertzler ‘79.
Fall 2024
Lunar New Year APISA Trip
A trip to Washington, D.C., to celebrate the Lunar New Year and promote cultural appreciation and exposure for all students, featuring visits to Chinatown and the National Museum of Asian Art. Project co-leaders: Leah Frankenfield, student; Arushi Sachan, former admissions counselor; Asian and Pacific Islander Student Alliance, club.
Infusing Inclusion II DC
A mural project led by the Washington Community Scholars’ Center (WCSC) at EMU’s Nelson Good House, designed to visually express inclusivity and solidarity within a diverse student and neighborhood setting. Project co-leaders: Ann Butwell, WCSC – associate director of student life and program administration; Ryan Good, associate professor of urban studies, program director – WCSC.
ADA Compliance Improvement and Panel
Campus improvements to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), along with a panel discussion to raise awareness of accessibility and disability-related issues. Project co-leaders: Brandon Ewing, student; Mike Stellwag, Aramark maintenance supervisor; Disability Student Alliance, club.
BIPOC Student Support
A support group for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) students offering dialogue, workshops, mentorship, and resources to address systemic inequities. Project co-leaders: Tamika Jackson, assistant professor of counseling; Yenifer Dottin-Carter, student.
Spring 2025
Let’s Talk About Mental Health
Panel and discussion circles addressing mental health issues affecting diverse student populations, including LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC students. Project co-leaders: Deanna Durham, associate professor of social work & sociology, program director – social work; Bria Wright, student.
Black Voices Matter: A Student Listening Summit
An off-campus retreat for Black students to discuss barriers, foster belonging, and offer recommendations to improve racial equity at EMU. Project co-leaders: Venissa White, director of Safer Together – sexual violence prevention & response coordinator for Student Life; Celeste
Thomas, director of Multicultural Student Services.
LGBTQIA+ Support Training
Training for faculty and counselors on supporting LGBTQIA+ students, especially transgender students, led by a certified EMU alum. Project co-leaders: Nikki Dovel, LPC, lead counselor for EMU Counseling
Services; Kathy Evans, professor of teacher education, program director – education.
Stories of Belonging: A Visual and Narrative Exhibit
A rotating exhibit at EMU Lancaster featuring stories and visuals from students, faculty, and staff about belonging and identity. Project co-leaders: Rebekah Christens, adjunct faculty at EMU Lancaster; Wendy Kellogg, recruitment & enrollment specialist – Lancaster, Pa.
Tasting Mennonite Culture: Y1 and Y4 in Conversation
First-year and fourth-year students read the same book and discuss it over dinner at a local Old Order community home. Project co-leaders: Marti Eads, professor of English; Mary Ann Zehr, assistant professor of rhetoric & composition, program director – writing & communication.
Conversations About Trauma Awareness and Resilience
Workshops led by EMU’s Intensive English Program (IEP) on trauma awareness and resilience to foster inclusion and support for international and first-generation college students. Project co-leaders: Melissa May, lecturer; Wima Ranasinghe, IEP tutor.
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