2024-2025 Committee Priorities
The Committee will focus on the following topics during the academic year:
- Employee Recognition Event
- Employee Affinity Groups
- Racial Healing Circles
- Response Team
- Prayer-Meditation Space
Identity-based Programming Fund
We are continuing the identity-based programming fund through which members of our community can apply for support. This funding is a combination of a gift from the Newman Center and funds from the university’s operating budget. Each of these programming months has been allocated $4,000: Black History Month, Disability History Month, Latinx Heritage Month, LGBTQ+ History Month, and Women’s History Month. Interested in applying for funding? Fill out this form.
2024-2025 Committee Members
- Jescah Apamo-Gannon, Assistant Professor, Education
- Laura Bayless, Vice President, Student Affairs
- Justin Casinghino, Assistant Professor, Humanities
- Joshua Dodds, Co-chair and Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
- Laura Garofoli, Professor, Psychological Science
- Carolyn Hughes, Administrative Assistant, Education
- Michael Kennedy, Director, Student Development
- Angela Marini, Administrative Assistant, Athletics
- Patricia Marshall, Provost and Executive Vice President, Academic Affairs
- Pam McCafferty, Co-chair and Associate Vice President for Institutional Research and Planning
- Kat McLellan, Director of Academic Coaching and Tutoring Center, Peer Services
- Jeffrey Nardone, Technical Support Specialist, Technology
- Rebecca Newell, Director of Title IX and Equal Opportunity, Human Resources and Payroll Services
- Olivia Rossetti, Assistant Librarian, Library
- Tim St. John, Dean of Students
- Ola Wysocki, Director, Police Academy
Other reminders:
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There is a dedicated email for the Committee for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging that is checked regularly. Please feel free to use this email, or contact one of the core group members with ideas, questions, concerns, etc. The email is DEIB@fitchburgstate.edu. You may also find additional information on the Center for Diversity and Inclusiveness web page and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion web page.
- The Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT) ensures students, faculty, and staff affected by bias or a bias-related incident have access to appropriate resources and assists the university in its response in situations that may impact the overall campus climate around diversity and inclusion. The team reviews and responds to reported bias-related incidents in an educational and non-confrontational and non-punitive manner.
Fitchburg State University is a member of the Racial Equity and Justice Institute, a consortium dedicated to hopeful, data-driven strategies to create racially equitable change in higher education. We invite you to visit the REJI Resource page for more information and resources.