OED July-August Diversity Matters Newsletter

DIVERSITY MATTERS

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

JULY – AUGUST 2019

U T H S C

Donate to Diversity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Photo Contest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Book List. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Speakers Bureau. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 New Team Member. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Lichterman Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 CES Award. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Pride Month. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Alston Presentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Young Professionals Kickoff. . . . . . . . . 5 Women's Equality Day. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Peg Hartig. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Karen C. Johnson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Fall 2019 DCP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Community Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Religious Holidays. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

OFFICE OF EQUITY AND DIVERSITY TEAM uthsc.edu/oed/staff Michael Alston, EdD, CCDP/AP Assistant Vice Chancellor Olivia Ralph, JD Sr. Compliance Consultant Lauren Rotonda, JD, MBA Sr. Inclusion Strategist Sophia Mosher, MPA Sr. Administrative Specialist, Strategic Programs Dominique Crockett, MHA Sr. Administrative Specialist, Compliance Assurance

DONATE TO DIVERSITY The Office of Equity and Diversity (OED) works hard to provide high quality programming and professional development for students, faculty, and staff of UTHSC. To support and sponsor its many projects, OED has created a “Give to Diversity” page on its website offering individuals an opportunity to provide an online donation. In addition to an OED Programs Fund, individuals can contribute to the UTHSC Exempt Staff Award, the Elise C. Moore Scholarship Fund, and the Wisdom Coleman, Jr. Student Leadership Endowment.

Through creative planning and individual support, OED hopes to continue growing its offerings to reach all members of the UTHSC community.

TO DONATE, PLEASE VISIT

Tiffinie Snowden OED Assistant

uthsc.edu/oed/give.php

The University of Tennessee is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/ Section 504/ADA/ADEA/V institution in the provision of its education and employment programs and services.

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DIVERSITY MATTERS

JULY – AUGUST 2019

DIVERSITY PHOTO CONTEST The Office of Equity and Diversity (OED) is excited to announce its newest program: the UTHSC Diversity Photo Contest. On a quarterly basis, OED will accept photo submissions from students, faculty and staff connected to a specified theme. Each individual will be allowed one entry, and the winner will be selected by a panel of judges. The theme for the first quarter, which runs July 8 – September 1, is “What does diversity mean to you?” Winners will receive a $20 gift certificate to Subway.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: •C ompletion of Submission form found on OED website uthsc.edu/oed/photocontest.php is required to validate entry.

•S end an email with photo caption connecting to the submission theme to HSC-OED@UTHSC.edu along with photograph saved as JPEG attachment.

• Entries must be high-resolution JPEG 300 DPI/5 megapixels or higher.

• The

judges assume all identifiable persons have given their consent to be photographed.

JUDGING CRITERIA: Entries will be judged by the committee on the following: • Originality • Communication of diversity theme DEADLINE: Last day of each quarter, 11:59 PM CONTACT: For all questions contact the Office of Equity and Diversity at 901.448.2112 WINNERS: There will be one student winner, one trainee (postdoc/resident) winner, and one faculty/staff winner.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION BOOK CLUB

ANNOUNCES ITS 2019-2020 BOOK LIST

The Office of Equity and Diversity hosts a Diversity and Inclusion Book Club throughout the year to stimulate discussions on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Participation is fluid to account for varying schedules and subject matter interests. The book club is open to all students, staff, and faculty. Prior to each discussion, our office holds a random drawing to give away five free copies of the upcoming selection. A link will be available on our site for a period of time to enter the drawings.

Each discussion takes place in the Madison Plaza lounge at 920 Madison Ave in the food court dining area between 11:30am and 1:00pm.

You may bring a lunch or purchase a lunch in the plaza. You are encouraged to attend even if you do not have the opportunity to finish the book prior to the discussion. This information can also be found on the OED website, at uthsc.edu/oed/book-club.php.

September 5, 2019 11:30 – 1:00 pm

October 10, 2019 11:30 – 1:00 pm

November 21, 2019 11:30 – 1:00 pm

January 16, 2020 11:30 – 1:00 pm

February 27, 2020 11:30 – 1:00 pm

May 21, 2020 11:30 – 1:00pm

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Tiffinie Snowden OED Assistant

OED WELCOMES

NEW TEAM MEMBER SPEAKERS BUREAU The Speakers Bureau is a new program designed to put the Public Service prong of the UTHSC Mission Statement into action. Serving as a conduit, the Office of Equity and Diversity will facilitate an opportunity for UTHSC faculty or staff members with subject matter expertise in a specific field or discipline to connect with community and civic organizations who have expressed an interest in learning more about that topic. In the initial phase of this project, we are enthusiastically encouraging individual faculty and staff to upload relevant information to the portal for viewing.

The community organization will be able to communicate directly with the staff or faculty member through the portal, based on subject areas and research topics in which the organization has expressed an interest. The Office of Equity and Diversity will also be able to access this information for data collection, and to ensure effective administration

of the program by the organization and staff or faculty member.

Logistical details such as the time, date, location, and the format of the presentation will be established through this process.

The UTHSC Speakers Bureau provides faculty and staff with the opportunity to contribute directly to the wellbeing of the local community, by providing tailored information and resources to local groups in an informal setting.

As public service is a performance evaluation criterion for faculty, faculty participants will be able to document this service in annual performance review materials and promotion and tenure dossiers. By facilitating connections between institutional experts and community groups and organizations, the Speakers Bureau provides a powerful opportunity for UTHSC faculty and staff to serve and engage diverse segments of our local community.

Please visit uthsc.edu/oed/speakersbureau to learn more or sign up.

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Tiffinie Snowden is the Office of Equity and Diversity Assistant, and she joined UTHSC in June 2019.

As the OED Assistant, Tiffinie is responsible for performing a wide range of duties to ensure smooth daily operations, effective administration, and clear communications.

Specifically, Tiffinie facilitates optimal interaction between OED and students, trainees, staff and faculty for scheduling appointments, assists with the coordination of programs/projects and intake of complex and sensitive confidential information, composes and drafts documents and correspondence for presentations, processes a variety of financial transactions and accesses, and creates and retrieves information across various information management platforms.

Tiffinie obtained her BA at Wright State University in Dayton, OH, in Anthropology with a certificate in Cultural Diversity in Healthcare.

Originally from Cleveland, OH, she moved to Memphis to pursue her MA in Applied Anthropology with a medical concentration at the University of Memphis.

DIVERSITY MATTERS

JULY – AUGUST 2019

THOMAS LICHTERMAN “EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR” AWARD NOMINATIONS OPEN JULY 18TH July 18, 2019 - August 16, 2019 is the 33rd annual Thomas C. Lichterman “Employee of the Year” Award nomination period.

Each year, non-exempt employees with at least 3 years of service can be nominated for the Lichterman award by a supervisor, co-worker or other UT or UCH employee.

Nominees should possess qualities such as dedication, hard-work and a positive attitude.

The winner will be announced and presented with a plaque and a $1,500.00 award during the December award ceremony. If you know of any UT or UCH employees that meet these standards of service, please nominate them!

To nominate an employee during the nomination period, visit the nomination webpage: uthsc.edu/lichterman-award/ nomination.php. UTHSC People Search can also be used to nominate UTHSC employees for the Lichterman Award until August 16, 2019. To submit a nomination, enter the name of the person that you wish to nominate in the people search box on the main page of the UTHSC website. A return search will display all persons with the name that you entered. Click on the appropriate person’s name. The next screen will provide detailed information on your proposed nominee. Click at the bottom of this page to proceed on the nomination. Next you will be asked to enter your NetID and password. Next you will press the “Submit Nomination” button. The next screen confirms your nomination.

2019 CHANCELLOR’S EXEMPT STAFF AWARD The Office of Equity and Diversity, in conjunction with the Chancellor’s Office and the Chancellor’s Exempt Staff Award Selection Committee, presents the 2019 Annual Chancellor’s Exempt Staff Award. The Chancellor’s Exempt Staff Award evolved during the UT Family Campaign in 2007 by Drs. Michael and Chandra Alston, co-chairs for non-exempt staff and non-faculty exempt staff groups. This award was created to recognize one deserving non-faculty exempt employee who has demonstrated outstanding service and/or who has made a significant contribution to the university community beyond the normally expected duties for his/her position. The winner will be announced and presented with a plaque and a $1,500.00 award during the December award ceremony. The winner’s picture will be displayed on OED’s website.

NOMINATION PERIOD: Sept. 1 – Oct. 1, 2019 – The Chancellor’s Exempt Staff Award nominations should be submitted no later than October 1, 2019, by 5:00 pm. Each nomination must be supported by a minimum of three (3) nominators, including the contact person. The contact person is encouraged to elicit a maximum of three (3) letters of support from individuals/sources who can speak to the nominee’s candidacy for this award. The nominee’s manager/supervisor must be included as either a nominator or a signatory on a letter of support.

The nomination form and all information related to this award can be found on the OED website.

For more information, contact Sophia Mosher at smosher2@uthsc.edu.

uthsc.edu/oed/exemptstaff.php

Good luck to all nominees!

UTHSC CELEBRATES PRIDE MONTH On June 4, 2019, UTHSC kicked off its celebration of LGBT Pride Month with a presentation about LGBTQ+ Health and Health Disparities by Dr. Jennifer Jabson Tree from UT Knoxville’s Department of Public Health. Dr. Jabson Tree spoke about her research into stigma, discrimination, and health outcomes for members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Later in the month, Lauren Rotonda and Sophia Mosher presented a LGBT Safe Zones and Inclusivity training for any faculty, staff, or students who wanted to attend. The training focused on how to be a good ally, and how to create an inclusive space for members of the LGBTQ+ community within the workplace.

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DRS. ALSTON PRESENT

FOR EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE Michael Alston, EdD, assistant vice chancellor and Title IX coordinator in OED, and Chandra Alston, EdD, associate vice chancellor and Deputy Title IX coordinator for Staff in HR, gave a presentation titled A Discussion on Choice, Integration and Implicit Bias on June 19, 2019 in UTHSC’s Center for Healthcare Improvement and Patient Simulation (CHIPS). The attendees, Class of 2019 members, are participants in the Executive Leadership Institute (ELI) sponsored by the University of Tennessee System.

The Alston’s session was based on the book Paying for the Party by Elizabeth A. Armstrong and Laura T. Hamilton, and it was a required reading for the ELI participants. Attendees discussed intentionality efforts around campus culture, recruitment and retention related to students and employees within the university setting.

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS GROUP KICKOFF The University of Tennessee Health Science Center is pleased to announce the establishment of the Young Professionals Group (YPG) as the latest employee resource group supported by Human Resources. Through YPG, UTHSC hopes to increase employee engagement and pave the path for the next generation of professionals while supporting the mission of the University.

On June 7, 2019, YPG hosted a mixer to kickoff this exciting new initiative.

Approximately 90 professionals from all over UTHSC’s campus participated in activities, networking and prize drawings. YPG has more programming in the works, and looks forward to bringing even more opportunities for professional development to the campus. To join YPG, or for more information, visit uthsc.edu/ypg.

WOMEN’S EQUALITY DAY At the behest of Rep. Bella Abzug (D-NY), in 1971 the U.S. Congress designated August 26 as “Women’s Equality Day.” The date was selected to commemorate the 1920 certification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. This was the culmination of a massive, peaceful civil rights movement by women that had its formal beginnings in 1848 at the world’s first women’s rights convention, in Seneca Falls, New York.

The observance of Women’s Equality Day not only commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, but also calls attention to women’s continuing efforts toward full equality. Workplaces, libraries, organizations, and public facilities now participate with Women’s Equality Day programs, displays, video showings, or other activities.

Adapted from nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org/resources/ commemorations/womens-equality-day/ 5

DIVERSITY MATTERS

JULY – AUGUST 2019

KAREN C. JOHNSON

PEG HARTIG

RECEIVES COMMON TABLE HEALTH ALLIANCE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

NAMED CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE AT UTHSC

Written by Amber Carter, Communications and Marketing

Written by Peggy Reisser, Communications and Marketing

Peg Thorman Hartig, PhD, APN-BC, FAANP, professor in the UTHSC College of Nursing at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), received the Renee S. Frazier Advocacy and Community Service Award from the Common Table Health Alliance (CTHA) during its 10th annual meeting recently. The award was given in recognition of Dr. Hartig’s personal and professional dedication and selfless commitment to health equity in the Mid-South. She is the first person to receive this award.

Karen C. Johnson, MD, MPH, College of Medicine Endowed Professor in Women’s Health and a principal investigator for several groundbreaking national and international public health research studies, is the new chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

A tenured professor in the Departments of Preventive Medicine and Medicine in the UTHSC College of Medicine, Dr. Johnson has brought more than $50 million in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding as a principal investigator to UTHSC over more than two decades at the university, and more than $45 million in NIH and Department of Defense funding as a co-investigator.

The Common Table Health Alliance, which began in 2003, is a community-based, multi-stakeholder, nonprofit, regional health care improvement collaborative serving 1.3 million people in the Greater Memphis metropolitan area. CTHA engages community partners, including organizations, coalitions, schools, churches, government agencies, and individuals, who are dedicated to improving the health and well-being of our region.

“Karen is a brilliant scientist, whose work is deeply rooted in improving the lives and well-being of people in our communities,” said Scott Strome, Robert Kaplan Executive Dean of the UTHSC College of Medicine. “She is a national and international leader in her field. She is also a tremendous mentor to colleagues and students.

I have no doubt that she will expand an already vibrant department, increasing its national stature by addressing medical problems that affect the citizens of our region, our state, and our country.”

Dr. Hartig, who has been with UTHSC since 1987, has been involved with CTHA since its inception. She has held several roles in the organization from committee member to chair of the board. She is currently the principal investigator for the Memphis Breast Cancer Consortium.

“We have built a brand as a neutral and unique organization by gathering people around a “common table” and creating conversations that generate regional change,” said Dr. Hartig.

“Our approach is to galvanize the collective strength of the community to achieve the greater good.”

FALL 2019 DIVERSITY CERTIFICATE PROGRAM The Office of Equity and Diversity is excited to announce the fall session of the Diversity Certificate Program (DCP).

Increasingly, diversity and inclusion are becoming strategic business drivers that have a direct impact on organizational effectiveness and reputation. Investing in diversity and inclusion is paramount to improving employee engagement, serving students more effectively, increasing institutional innovation, and preparing more knowledgeable health care professionals.

Participants in the DCP will explore their own background, identities, and values, develop critical competencies relevant to a wide variety of disciplines, deepen their understanding of historical and institutionalized policies that continue to impact inequities for diverse and marginalized populations, and learn tools for decreasing bias and supporting a more inclusive climate for underrepresented minorities at UTHSC.

Trimika Bowdre, PhD, MPH, member of the Fall 2018 cohort, receives her Diversity Certificate from Chancellor Schwab, Dr. Brown, Dr. Gonzalez.

The program will demonstrate that embracing diversity and inclusion can bring a broader range of perspectives and backgrounds into our organization, leading to more effective decision-making. Participants will gain a sound understanding of the latest research and best practices in the fields of cultural humility and diversity.

OED will begin accepting applications on Monday, July 15, 2019. The application period will close August 2, 2018, and courses will begin on Tuesday, August 20, 2019. For more information, please visit uthsc.edu/oed/diversity-certificate-program.php, or contact Sophia Mosher at smosher2@uthsc.edu, or 901.448.2442.

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COMMUNITY EVENTS

RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS

DELTA FAIR & MUSIC FESTIVAL

July 9

Martyrdom of the Bab* – Baha'i

July 11

St. Benedict Day – Catholic Christian

July 13-15

Obon (Ulambana)** – Buddhist/Shinto

July 15

St. Vladimir the Great Day – Orthodox Christian

July 16

Asalha Puja Day** – Buddhist

July 24

Pioneer Day- Mormon Christian

July 25

St. James the Great Day – Christian

Agricenter International | Auguat 30 – Sept. 8 A fair and music festival that is exciting, interactive and educational.

It strives to bring Delta communities together with safe, wholesome family entertainment while celebrating and promoting the rich art, music and history of the Delta.

For more information, please visit deltafest.com/.

Aug. 1 Lammas – Christian

HAMILTON: AN AMERICAN MUSICAL The Orpheum Theatre | July 9 – 28 Hamilton: An American Musical is a sung-andrapped through musical about the life of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, with music, lyrics and book by Lin-Manuel Miranda, inspired by the 2004 biography Alexander Hamilton by historian Ron Chernow.

Incorporating hip hop, R&B, pop, soul, traditional-style show tunes, and colorconscious casting of non-white actors as the Founding Fathers and other historical figures, the musical achieved both critical acclaim and box office success. For more information, please visit orpheum-memphis.com/event/ hamilton-2019.

Lughnassad – Imbolc* – Wicca/Pagan Northern and Southern hemispheres

Fast in Honor of Holy Mother of Jesus – Orthodox Christian

Aug. 6

Transfiguration of the Lord – Orthodox Christian

Aug. 10

Tish'a B'av – Jewish

Waqf al Arafa* Islam

Aug. 12-15 Eid al Adha* – Islam Aug. 15

Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary – Catholic Christian

Dormition of the Theotokos – Orthodox Christian

Aug. 23

Krishna Janmashtami** – Hindu

Aug. 29

Beheading of St. John the Baptist – Christian

* Holy days usually begin at sundown the day before this date. ** Local or regional customs may use a variation of this date.

For more information, please contact: Office of Equity and Diversity | 920 Madison Ave. | Suite 825 t 901.448.2112 | f 901.448.1120

uthsc.edu/oed 7