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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
We believe in creating and maintaining a culture that embraces and appreciates the strength and value of differences in gender, race, ethnicity, geography, socioeconomic status, age, politics, philosophy, disability and sexual orientation. We realize there is an opportunity for growth in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion, and we are committed to addressing longstanding social injustice and inequality within the school and larger community. We are developing new programs, policies and resources, available on this page, but most importantly, we are listening. By working together, we can enact change.
Sections on this page
Action items for change
- Appoint a faculty committee to guide the school’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work
- Hire more Black, Brown and women faculty and actively participate in the Danforth Campus faculty cluster searches
- Launch new graduate and undergraduate student recruitment efforts to recruit more women; Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC); first-generation and low-income students
- Increase graduation rates for women, BIPOC, first-generation and low-income undergraduate students
- Work with the Brown School to develop new community partnerships
- Improve bias reporting system
- Continue new “Engineering, Education & Race” seminar series
- Increase satisfaction level for inclusivity of the McKelvey Engineering community in periodic climate surveys of students, faculty and staff
- Increase the number of engagement opportunities for women and BIPOC students from a broad support system within Engineering, WashU, alumni and the local community
- Improve placement after graduation for women and BIPOC undergraduate and graduate students
- Improve retention of women and BIPOC faculty members
Seminar Series
Education, Engineering & Race Seminar Series
The Borderlands of Engineering Education: Legitimizing the Lived Realities of Latino/ a/x Students through Conocimiento with Joel Alejandro Mejia
Watch the latest seminar
Director of Diversity Initiatives
“Marcus has always been a strong and innovative advocate for not only increasing the diversity of McKelvey, but also in consideration of climate and opportunity, especially for our students. Marcus will both lead and push, which is the perfect combination of attributes for this role.”
— Aaron Bobick, Dean
Foston to lead diversity initiatives in McKelvey School of Engineering
Marcus Foston
Associate Professor in Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering
Avenues for impact
Equity through research
McKelvey Engineering faculty are among network of U.S.
biomedical engineers calling on funding agencies to
end disparities in allocating support to Black researchers.
Educating ourselves
In light of national conversations surrounding systemic
racism, we hosted a virtual seminar series
on race and (STEM) education.
Building the pipeline
The Summer Engineering Fellowship Program is
designed to encourage exceptional students from
backgrounds underrepresented in the STEM fields.
Empowerment
Women & Engineering establishes a community for
students and alumnae by enhancing the
resources WashU offers them.
Fostering success after college
McKelvey Connect has a Diverse & Inclusive Communities
section that integrates diversity, equity and inclusion
within the career development journey for students.
Connect with a community
Multiple student organizations offer a network
for underrepresented voices. Don't see yourself in
any of these groups? Create your own!
A place to be proud
WashU is No. 4 for Best LGBTQ Schools according to CollegeChoice
The typical college-aged questions of “Who will I hang out with?” and “Will I fit in?” are magnified for LGBTQIA students. McKelvey Engineering is proud to provide our students a safe, supportive space to be their true self.
WashU LGBTQIA resourcesEngineering News
The stories pushing us forward
View all news
McKelvey Engineering in action
WashU Women & Engineering
Studio: TESLA - D3 Day
McKelvey Engineering Scholars (2020)
Report a bias incident
To report bias (Students): Mark Kamimura-Jiménez, PhD, mkamimura@wustl.edu
To report bias (Faculty & Staff): Nicole Hudson, hudsonnc@wustl.edu
The Academy was created for staff and faculty members, to become the university’s ‘primary forum for changing climate and culture’ by housing diversity and inclusion resources, including training resources, support for campus affinity groups, and annual events and recognition ceremonies.
The Center for Diversity and Inclusion supports and advocates for undergraduate, graduate and professional students from underrepresented and/or marginalized populations, creates collaborative partnerships with campus and community partners, and promotes dialogue and social change among all students.
The Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Diversity focuses primarily on faculty diversity and development, consulting and collaborating with Washington University’s schools on their diversity and inclusion goals.
The Equity & Inclusion Council acts a university-wide representative to either facilitate implementation of the Washington University Commission on Diversity and Inclusion’s research and recommendations or to provide institutionalized and structured communication, accountability, and alignment opportunities for university stakeholders working on equity and inclusion.
Our campus resources support our diverse community, with the goal of making our campus community as inclusive as possible.
The Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion provides diversity, equity and inclusion assistance and resources to the faculty, staff, trainees and students of the School of Medicine.
SafeZones Training for Faculty and Staff offers faculty, graduate teaching assistants and staff inclusivity training to promote safer and more secure living, learning and research environments for WashU’s LGBTQIA* students.
These unprecedented times are creating unique needs for our community. Some people need to build new skills immediately, while others need productive ways to engage for themselves or their teams. Join Brown School faculty, alumni and community members for free webinars.
External resource | LinkedIn Learning Course: Learning about race at work
People around the world are having difficult conversations about race and justice. But few are talking about how to talk about race. This has left some professionals sitting on the sidelines because they don't know what to say or how to say it.
External resource | Ebony O. McGee
As an associate professor of diversity and STEM education at Vanderbilt University's Peabody College, Ebony O.McGee investigates what it means to be racially marginalized while minoritized in the context of learning and achieving in STEM higher education and in the STEM professions.
Students from groups traditionally underrepresented in the STEM fields have a variety of opportunities for fellowships and other financial support.
Graduate Fellowships
Representation Matters
Marcus Foston
Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering
Committee Chair
Jessica Wagenseil
Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science
Associate Chair
Ariana Jasarevic
Human Resources
Damena Agonafer
Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science
Dinal Jayasekera
Graduate Student
Biomedical Engineering
Kris Campa
Engineering Student Services
Liz Chaparro
Dual Degree BS/MS Student
Electrical & Systems Engineering
Marcus B. Foston
Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering
Michael R. Brent
Computer Science & Engineering
Sandra P Matteucci
Engineering and Policy
Tsitsi Grace Madziwa-Nussinov
Electrical & Systems Engineering
Taking a stand
Communications from the Dean
In sadness, grief, anger, outrage and hope, Dean Bobick has shared messages of our commitment and goals for action.