Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee

The URI College of Engineering (COE) is committed to broadening participation and fostering inclusion among its students, faculty and staff. A more diverse and inclusive COE supports academic excellence by expanding the talent pool we draw from, facilitating creativity and innovation, and helping us better serve a diverse society.

To achieve this goal, COE’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee seeks to identify and break down institutional and cultural barriers that have historically inhibited full participation leading to the underrepresentation of societal groups. The COE-DEI committee is committed to support faculty, staff and students to actively propose, implement and participate in initiatives that allow us to support a healthy and inclusive community. 

Suggestions and questions are welcome. Please contact the appropriate working group co-leaders.

Chairperson

Professor Vinka Oyanedel-Craver
craver@uri.edu

Working Groups

Faculty and Staff Recruitment and Retention

Professor

Fascitelli Center for Advanced Engineering 392

401.874.4738
besio@uri.edu

Distinguished Engineering Professor

Fascitelli Center for Advanced Engineering 305

401.874.2804
bosea@uri.edu

Associate Professor

Fascitelli Center for Advanced Engineering 202

401.874.2818
cdhunter@uri.edu

Professor & Associate Dean of Research

Fascitelli Center for Advanced Engineering 317

401.874.2784
craver@uri.edu

Undergraduate and Graduate Student Recruitment and Retention

Assistant Professor

Fascitelli Center for Advanced Engineering 308

401.874.6885
iandreu@uri.edu

Graduate Representative

kizume16@uri.edu

Undergraduate Representative

joelroache@uri.edu

Assistant Dean, Diversity Equity & Inclusion

420A Bliss Hall
1 Lippitt Road
Kingston, RI 02881 USA

401.874.4976
hitman@uri.edu

Curriculum Development

Associate Professor and Graduate Director

Sheets 211, Narragansett Bay Campus

401.874.6028
slicht@uri.edu

Associate Professor

Fascitelli Center for Advanced Engineering 387

401.874.2243
macht@uri.edu

Professor

Fascitelli Center for Advanced Engineering 492

401.874.5802
swaszek@uri.edu

Diversity

Diversity is the quality of being different or unique at the individual and/or group level including characteristics such as age, disability status, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and veteran status. Promoting diversity includes embracing the unique differences and contributions of each individual in our community, including recognizing and supporting individuals’ multiple and intersecting identities.

We believe that working effectively with people from different backgrounds is just as important as technical ability for engineering leaders to successfully tackle evolving and complex challenges facing our global society.

Equity

Equity is giving each individual access to the resources they need to learn, perform, work, and thrive. Promoting equity means providing access to resources so that each individual in our community has what they need to succeed — access to opportunity, networks, resources, and support systems — based on where they are and where they want to go.

We believe that all members of our community should have access to the sources needed to achieve their maximum potential and pursue their own and unique career paths.

Inclusion

Inclusion is creating an environment that welcomes, embraces, and leverages the diversity that exists in our community to ensure that individuals feel supported, listened to, empowered, and able to do their personal best and contribute fully to the community. Inclusion promotes a sense of belonging and creates a cohesive community.

We believe that cultivating an inclusive culture that values and leverages diversity will fully unlock our individual and collective potential and result in a greater collective intelligence leading to better solutions that benefit society.