Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Commission

Commission Mandate

The commission is charged to engage with all constituents in the School of Engineering and Applied Science to identify challenges and opportunities in DEI and devise strategies and an action plan for advancing the SEAS DEI mission in research, education and community impact.

Four Priority Areas

Faculty Recruiting and Pipeline

The faculty pipeline, recruiting, and mentoring group is focused on cultivating inclusivity in three primary areas: the faculty pipeline, active search practices, and on-going support for recruitment and retention efforts. We seek to identify current resources as well as recommend new initiatives and areas for growth based on best practices at Columbia and peer institutions. Fostering a diverse and equitable faculty community is imperative to producing ground-breaking research, leading improvements in engineering and applied science teaching and learning, and modeling Columbia Engineering’s mission of Engineering for Humanity.

Student Recruiting and Pipeline

The mission of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Columbia University is to educate a diverse student population. To fulfill its mission in achieving academic excellence and cultivating a vibrant and welcoming environment on campus, our goal is to recruit, select, yield and support students of underrepresented backgrounds to enable their long term success.

Environment/Culture/Climate

Our group's mission is to identify needs and opportunities to create an inclusive environment and welcoming, supportive climate for diverse students, faculty, researchers and staff at Columbia Engineering. We believe that cultivating such a climate at Columbia Engineering, in addition to being consistent with our values, is essential for the retention and long-term success of members of the university community from underrepresented groups. We will identify resources currently available and accessible to the different constituencies, and develop recommendations for future actions based on this assessment, best practices across campus and at peer institutions, and additional feedback from cohorts.

Integration into Education, Research, Innovation

This group aspires to intentionally introduce diversity, equity and inclusion issues into the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science’s (FFSEAS’) education, research, innovation, and outreach activities. We propose to do this by:

1. Creating explicit, tangible, and validated materials on training faculty, staff, and students on integration of DEI into practice.
2. Conducting rigorous assessment and evaluation of diversity to demonstrate their efficacy and to promote continuous improvement.
3. Creating incentive and accountability structures to promote active engagement, beyond just awareness, with DEI by students, faculty, and staff.

Commission Co-Chairs

	Shih-Fu Chang Senior Executive Vice Dean, SEAS, Richard Dicker Professor
	Helen H. Lu Chair for Faculty Promotion, Tenure, and Advancement, SEAS Percy K. and Vida L. W. Hudson Professor of Biomedical Engineering

Commission Members

	Diana Carranza SEAS, Class of 2021, Chemical Engineering, ESC
	Augustin Chaintreau Associate Professor of Computer Science
	Pam Graney Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Biomedical Engineering
	Christine Hendon Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering
	Aaron Kyle Senior Lecturer in Discipline of Biomedical Engineering
	Qiao Lin Professor of Mechanical Engineering
	Hoe Ling Professor of Civil Engineering
	Sai Mali Ananth Graduate Student in Operations Research, SEAS, EGSC
	Faye McNeill Professor of Chemical Engineering and of Earth and Environmental Sciences
	Aimee Moses Graduate Student in Applied Mathematics, SEAS, EGSC
	Alissa Park Lenfest Earth Institute Associate Professor of Climate Change, Dept Earth & Environmental Eng
	Cliff Stein Professor of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research and of Computer Science
	Elizabeth Strauss Associate Director, Professional Development and Leadership, SEAS
	Wendy Villa Director of Finance and Administration, Dept of Electrical Engineering
	Renata Wentzcovitch Professor of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics

Admin Groups

	Cecily Castle Leadership Giving Officer, SEAS
	Mindy Farabee Associate Director of Communications, SEAS
	Gabby Gannon Director of Graduate Admissions, SEAS
	Cristen Kromm Dean of Undergraduate Student Life, Columbia College and Columbia Engineering
	Joanna May Associate Dean and Director of Undergraduate Admissions, Columbia University
	Neil McClure Sr. Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs and Chief Administrative Officer, SEAS
	Barclay Morrison Vice Dean of Undergraduate Programs, SEAS; Professor of Biomedical Engineering
	Kwame Osei-Sarfo Bridge to the Ph.D. Program in STEM, SEAS/Office of Faculty Advancement
	Andrew Plaa Dean of Advising, Columbia College and Columbia Engineering

Ex Officio Members

	Mary Boyce Dean of SEAS, Morris A. and Alma Schapiro Professor
	Soulaymane Kachani Senior Vice Dean, SEAS; Vice Provost for Teaching, Learning, and Innovation