Bias Response Team

The university’s approach to bias includes a Bias Response Team and a Bias Advisory Council.

The BRT is not a judicial group with the ability to adjudicate, but rather, a coordinated network of support to WPI’s formal reporting channels.

Bias Response Team

The role of the Bias Response Team (BRT) is to foster an equitable, inclusive, and anti-oppressive climate at WPI by playing an active role in addressing (response and referral) bias incidents when they occur and preventing their reoccurrence. Incidents of bias are first reviewed by the co-chairs, and then a BRT designee or team to provide outreach and support. The BRT tracks incidents as they occur and records action items and outcomes.

Leadership & Membership

  • Meredith Merchant, Assistant Director of Facilities & Recreation (Co-Chair)
  • Tony Laing, Assistant Vice President, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (Co-Chair)
  • Amy Curran, Director of the Office of Accessibility Services
  • Arnold Lane, Director, Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Education Designee
  • Catherine Whittington, Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering 
  • Colleen Callahan-Panday, Director, International Student Life Designee  
  • Kathryn Keyes, Senior Talent Strategy Partner, Talent and Inclusion Designee
  • Lisa Stoddard, Associate Teaching Professor, Social Science & Policy Studies
  • Matthew Foster, Director, the Housing & Residential Experience Center Designee
  • Stanley Horton, Title IX Coordinator 

Bias Advisory Council

The Bias Advisory Council (BAC) is composed of the BRT co-chairs, and members of faculty and staff across WPI. The co-chairs will serve as liaisons to university's senior leadership as needed.  Additional campus partners will be consulted to offer their guidance on related community-wide BRT incidents/impacts based on their experience and work with WPI students.