The Project Inclusion initiative has resulted in the development of institutionalized implementation plans for all three years of the initiative. In collaboration with the DEI Leadership Council, each division/department developed a series of measurable goals that would guide their DEI strategy to foster a climate of inclusion and belonging. These efforts have not only led to a unified effort and shared responsibility for this critical transformation, but also served as a means of promoting accountability and community agency. The Project Inclusion recommendations and division/department implementation plans have also paved the way towards the development of a DEI Strategic Framework. Additionally, campus-wide efforts are underway to incorporate diversity into both the mission statement and values of WPI as well as our next strategic plan.
Project Inclusion at WPI is a three-year initiative to help the university set standards and expectations for a campus environment that is accepting and welcoming to all. Under its guidelines, WPI establishes the definitions and sets goals around diversity, inclusion, and equity.
Project Inclusion Years 1-3
What Is Project Inclusion?
Project Inclusion, at WPI, is a three-year initiative dedicated to helping the University set standards and expectations for a campus environment that is accepting and welcoming to all. Under its guidelines, WPI establishes the definitions and sets goals around diversity, inclusion, and equity, and sets priorities for ongoing assessment to create positive cultural change. How will Project Inclusion do this? via campus self assessment. How else can we figure out where we need to be in terms of Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI), unless we first assess and analyze where we are? This assessment and evaluation is at the heart of Project Inclusion.
Launched in the spring of 2017, Project Inclusion uses input from the entire community to establish policies to help WPI assess the current campus culture/environment as it pertains to DEI. Facilitators assist in the process and help guide community ideas and proposals and recommendations into strategies and actions that will be successful on the WPI campus and eventually, possibly, implemented. Read the bios of the facilitators WPI is working with here.
With the guidance of facilitators, Project Inclusion begins that assessment in a structured way using the following dimensions:
The dimensions represent the pieces of campus that, as a whole, represent the institution in its entirety.
- Philosophy and Mission
- Faculty Support and Involvement
- Curriculum, Pedagogy, and Research
- Staff Engagement and Involvement
- Student Support and Involvement
- Administrative Leadership and Institutional Support
Read more about Project Inclusion’s Process (PDF) and Project Inclusion’s Purpose and Expectations (PDF).
Project Inclusion Year End Reports
Keeping the Conversation Going
Michelle Jones-Johnson, vice president for talent development and chief diversity officer, believes community discussions and efforts keep the conversation around diversity and inclusion open and continuing. Employees don't just work at WPI, they help create and sustain an environment where community members feel like they are making a difference. Read more about how Project Inclusion helps that process
Community Input, Lasting Results
The launch of the Project Inclusion initiative in spring of 2017 welcomed input from the community and explained how weaving diversity and inclusion into the fabric of WPI would bring lasting results. One of the first steps was forming the Project Inclusion Steering Committee which gathers information from the community to ensure the most appropriate and efficient strategies are put into place.
Engaging and Intentional Programming
Project Inclusion hosts a series of engaging and intentional programming that ties back to the initiative's mission of administering diversity, equity, and inclusion into the bloodstream of the university and campus culture; and not only that, many of the events serve to keep the WPI community apprised of the initiative's mission, goals, and next steps. Programming takes the form of cookouts, community listening circles, speaker series, and much more. All project inclusion programming is advertised via email, WPI Today, the WPI University calendar, and various WPI listserves. Make sure to keep a look out!
An In-Depth Look at Project Inclusion
The Daily Herd recently caught up with Peter Hansen, humanities & arts professor, director of the International & Global Studies program, and 2017 - 2018 co-chair of Project Inclusion’s Rubric Steering Committee (RSC), to take a deeper look at Peter's involvement within the Rubric Steering Committee and the Project Inclusion initiative as a whole. Read more about it here.
President Laurie Leshin and Vice President Michelle Jones-Johnson talk about Project Inclusion
Project Inclusion is high on WPI's priority list and it's important to know why. President Laurie Leshin and Michelle Jones-Johnson, WPI’s Vice President for Talent and Inclusion, discuss the initiative and the role it will be playing throughout the institution. The WPI Journal published an article about the conversation in the Summer 2018 edition of the print publication.
Read about it here.
Email inclusion@wpi.edu for more information!
DEI Leadership Council Members 2019 - 2020
Co-Chair: Michelle Jones-Johnson, VP and Chief Diversity Officer
Co-Chair: Rame Hanna, Director for Diversity and Inclusive Excellence for Talent and Inclusion
Project Inclusion Coordinator: Christelle Hayles, Diversity and Inclusion Specialist
Philosophy and Mission
Andrew (Andy) Palumbo, Dean, Admissions and Financial Aid
Anna Gold, University Librarian, Library Services
Casey Wall, Director, Residential Services
Christine Sharry, Director, Student Activities
Diane Begreen, Operations Manager, Library Services
Emily Douglas, Professor/Department Head | Social Science & Policy Studies
Kris Sullivan, Assistant Vice President, Academic Affairs
Paula Quinn, Associate Director, Center for Project-Based Learning
Peter Hansen, Professor, Humanities and Arts; Director, International and Global Studies
Tiffiny Butler, Director of Multicultural Affairs
Rubric Steering Committee Members 2018 - 2019
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Leadership
Chair: Michelle Jones-Johnson, VP for Talent Development and Chief Diversity Officer
Co-Chair: Emily Douglas, Professor/Department Head | Social Science & Policy Studies
WPI PI Institutional Liaison: Bonnie Walker, Executive Director of Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
WPI PI Administrative Support: Christelle Hayles, Diversity and Inclusion Specialist -
Administrative Leadership Dimension Subcommittee
Staff
Christopher (Chris) Robertson, Head Coach-Football, Physical Education
Whitney Goldstein, Head Coach-Softball, Physical Education
Katherine (Katie) Elmes, Associate Director, STEM/Director of Prep Program, Stem Education Center
Christine Sharry (Co-Chair), Director, Student Activities
Michael Jacobs, Sergeant, Campus Police
Stefan (Steve) Koppi, Executive Director, Career Development Center
Stacie Murray, Executive Director, Marketing and Communications (First half of FY 18)
Jessica Grimes, Director of Content Manager, Marketing and Communications (Second half of FY 18)
Alison Donta-Venman, Director, Institutional Research (First half of FY 18)
Casey Wall, Assistant Dean of Students & Director, Residential Services
Andrew (Andy) Palumbo, Dean, Admissions and Financial Aid
Diane Begreen (Co-Chair), Operations Manager, Library Services
Yvette Rutledge, Customer Service Coordinator, Facilities
Laura Rosen, Director, Accessibility Services
Kristopher Sullivan, Assistant Vice President, Academic AffairsFaculty
Michelle Ephraim, Associate Professor, Humanities & Arts
Zoe Reidinger, Assistant Teaching Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Douglas Petkie, Professor & Department Head, Physics
Suzanne Weekes, Professor, Mathematics
Susan (Sue) Celia Roberts, Department Head and Professor, Chemical Engineering -
Curriculum Dimension Subcommittee
Staff
Rory Flinn, Director, Graduate Student Professional Development, Dean of Graduate Studies
Anna Gold (Co-Chair), University Librarian, Library Services
Heidi Morton, Career Advisor, Career Development Center
Peter Thomas, Executive Director, University Advancement
Paula Quinn (Co-Chair), Associate Director, Center for Project-Based LearningFaculty
Lisa Stoddard, Assistant Teaching Professor, Environmental & Sustainability Studies
James (Jim) Joseph Girouard, Senior Program Dev Manager, Academic and Corporate Engagement
Chrys Demetry, Director, Morgan Teaching & Learning Center; Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Stephen Kmiotek, Professor of Practice, Chemical Engineering
Corey Dehner, Associate Teaching Professor, Interdisciplinary & Global Studies
Angel Rivera, Associate Professor, Humanities & ArtsStudents
Avery Brown, Graduate Student, Chemical Engineering
Rubric Steering Committee Members 2017 - 2018
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Leadership
Chair: Michelle Jones-Johnson, VP for Talent Development and Chief Diversity Officer
Co-Chair: Peter Hansen, Professor, Humanities and Arts; Director, International and Global Studies
WPI PI Institutional Liaison: Bonnie Walker, Executive Director, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
WPI PI Administrative Support: Christelle Hayles, Diversity and Inclusion Specialist -
Staff Support Subcommittee
Staff
Casey Wall, Director, Residential Services
Tom Thomsen, Director, International Students and Scholars Office
Alison Donta-Venman, Director, Institutional Research
Rachel LeBlanc, Assistant Vice President, CPE
Yvette Rutledge, Customer Service Coordinator, Facilities
Diane Begreen, Operations Manager, Library Services Faculty
Suzanne Weekes, Professor, Mathematics
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Faculty Support Subcommittee
Staff
Charlana Simmons, Director, Multicultural Affairs
Paula Quinn, Associate Director, Center for Project-Based Learning
Kris Sullivan, Assistant Vice President, Academic AffairsFaculty
Kris Wobbe, Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies
Corey Dehner, Associate Teaching Professor, Interdisciplinary & Global Studies; Director, Worcester Community Project Center: Community Empowerment and Environmental Responsibility; Co-director; Massachusetts Water Resource Outreach Center
Chrys Demetry, Director, Morgan Teaching & Learning Center; Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering Program
Winston (Wole) Soboyejo, Dean, Engineering
Susan Celia Roberts, Department Head and Professor, Chemical Engineering -
Student Support Subcommittee
Staff
Andrew (Andy) Palumbo, Dean, Admissions and Financial Aid
Michael Jacobs, Sergeant, Campus PoliceFaculty
Adrienne Hall-Phillips, Associate Professor, Foisie Business School
Lisa Stoddard, Assistant Teaching Professor, Environmental & Sustainability Studies
Stephen Kmiotek, Professor of Practice, Chemical EngineeringStudents
Carlie Alfaro ’18, Founder and President, Student Advocacy Group
Thomas Mackintosh ’19, Student Staff Member, Residential Services
Kazim Shaikh ’18, President, Muslim Student Association
Avery Brown, Graduate Student, Chemical Engineering