Dear Biden School Community,
Many thanks for your sincere attention to the issues of racial inequities and social injustices that plague our society. I have been moved by the number of you that have agreed to work together to make the Biden School a better place. I am particularly grateful to Sarah Bruch, Jennifer Daniels, Leann Moore, and Ismat Shah, who have stepped up to take on leadership roles in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Workgroup and Nina David who leads the DEI Standing Committee.
The DEI Workgroup has accepted my charge to devise a plan that advances diversity, equity, and inclusion with full recommendations derived from various Biden School community members including students, faculty, and staff during the 20-21 academic year. The working group can be contacted at Team-bcdeiworkgroup@udel.edu .
I can honestly say that, as dean, I am fully committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion within the Biden School. I support the workgroup to engage an evidence-based, transparent process where the recommendations from the committee are taken seriously and shared with our Biden School community. I encourage all data collection efforts that the group deems appropriate; including, but not limited to anonymous surveys, focus groups, and informational and open sessions.
While the DEI Workgroup is charged with taking immediate action during this current academic year, the DEI Standing Committee will work to ensure continuity in initiatives at the Biden School. The DEI Standing Committee provides leadership through programming, advocacy, and education, and evaluation in order to build an environment of inclusive excellence. The committee is charged with collaborating with me to plan, implement, and monitor new initiatives in the 2021-22 academic yearor earlier if an immediate action is requiredbased on the DEI Workgroups recommendations. To ensure representation in the DEI Standing Committee, Nina David and I are committed to filling vacancies including students, staff, and faculty in the membership. The standing committee can be contacted at npdavid@udel.edu.
In addition to charge of the DEI Workgroup and DEI Standing Committee, I will be taking immediate action to address structural concerns related to diversity, equity and inclusion. In accordance with immediate action steps I deem necessary, the DEI Standing Committee and I will work with UDs Office of Equity and Inclusion and the to ensure effective reporting mechanisms for DEI concerns in the school. Cindy Brong will provide administrative support for
the committee, and we are working with the Office of Development and Alumni Relations to pursue additional resources and funding.
Finally, I am working with the DEI Workgroup and DEI Standing Committee to develop a DEI statement for our website and to be broadly circulated among our community. We will use this as a catalyst to allocate a section of our website to DEI efforts so that the information is accessible to all.
My sincere gratitude goes to all who have reached out to me to share concerns, and a special thank you to our Biden School community members who have volunteered their time toward making our school stronger. I am committed to a more diverse, equitable and inclusive environment in our school. I look forward to the fruitful efforts of our community.
With all best wishes,
Maria P. Aristigueta
Dean of the Biden School of Public Policy and Administration
Charles P. Messick Chair for Public Administration
