The UTIG Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) Committee is a UTIG standing committee that works to promote equality for all people in our institution regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual identity, religion, national origin, and ability. The committee addresses general questions or concerns from all employees regarding the equality, safety, and well-being of people that visit or work at UTIG, or who participate in fieldwork or meetings with UTIG staff or students. When appropriate, the committee will advocate for underrepresented groups, and it can provide advice to UTIG leadership on matters that concern equality. The committee has two specific formal responsibilities: 1) Review and update the UTIG code of conduct every two years; 2) elect a sub-committee, consisting of at least three of its members, to handle complaints at UTIG. This sub-committee can re-direct complaints that require mandatory reporting, or it can start a mediation (either a restorative justice or conventional model) process for informal complaints.

The DEAI Committee will consist nominally of eight members and should be no fewer than six members at any given time. In order to represent an array of viewpoints and experiences, the committee should include at least one each of the following employment categories: administrative, technical, graduate student, postdoctoral fellow, early career researcher, and senior researcher, and nominally span other axes of diversity as well (see also Appendix D on Inclusive Committees). Permanent employees will serve 2-year terms, while students and postdocs will either have 1-year or 2 year terms, depending on their circumstances. Overlap in membership is encouraged as new members transition onto the committee, including no fewer than two committee meetings with overlapping members.

Membership:

Krista Soderlund	Research Scientist	2020-Present (co-chair)
Dillon Buhl	Research Engineering/Scientist Associate	2020-Present (co-chair)
Bhargav Boddupalli	Postdoctoral Fellow	2021-Present
Susanne Morrison	Senior Human Resource Coordinator	2020-Present
Cornelia Rasmussen	Research Associate	2020-Present
Angela Reyes	Senior Administrative Associate	2020-Present
Kevin Shionalyn	Graduate Research Assistant	2021-Present
Harm Van Avendonk	Senior Research Scientist	2020-Present

Past Membership:

Jamin Greenbaum	Assistant Research Scientist	2020-2021 (co-chair)
Andrew Gase	Graduate Research Assistant	2020-2021