Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Seaver College
The Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering prepares tomorrow’s engineers, scientists, and mathematicians with a strong STEM foundation to pursue lives of meaning and purpose. We do this with a commitment to foster a sense of belonging, reinforce diversity and equity initiatives, and cultivate an anti-racist institutional climate that supports inclusive excellence and contests systemic oppression in all forms.
The Seaver College Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
Seaver’s DEI Committee welcomes your engagement and participation. Comprising staff, faculty, and administrators, our committee strives to move our institutional structure and processes towards equity and inclusion and to address systemic racism, discrimination, and disparities in our college. STEM disciplines have long suffered from under-representation of women as well as Black, Indigenous, and Latinx people. We must understand the reasons for this and work to correct them, and it will take all of us working together to make it happen. Please join us in this task!
Contact the committee at seaverdeic@lmu.edu.
Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Dr. Heather Tarleton, Ph.D.
In January 2021, Heather Tarleton, Ph.D., started her term as the inaugural associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion for the Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering. “Seaver College reaffirms our commitment to inclusive excellence,” said Seaver College Dean Tina Choe. “Diversity, equity and inclusion are integral to our mission. Associate Dean Tarleton will work with our leadership and community to further bolster a collaborative environment that prioritizes DEI in all aspects of our college.”
Seaver DEI Dialogues Initiative
This spring, the Seaver DEI Dialogues will continue our in-person afternoon discussions of new literary releases. The semester the book is “Viral Justice” by Dr. Ruha Benjamin, Professor of African American Studies at Princeton and Founding Director of the Ida B. Wells Just Data Lab. Reviewers say "Viral Justice: How We Grow the World We Want" is born of a stubborn hopefulness, offering a passionate, inspiring, and practical vision of how small changes can add up to larger ones. Dr. Benjamin challenges readers to see how minor decisions and habits could spread virally and organically grow exponentially positive effects in our complicated world.
We are pleased to have Dr. Linh Hua joining us as a co-facilitator of the discussions. Dr. Hua earned her Ph.D. in English at the University of California, Irvine, specializing in African American and Asian American literary and cultural history, critical theory, and feminist theory. She is an LMU CTE-DEI Faculty Fellow and also heads LMU’s Citation Initiative, now heading into its fourth year, for which she was awarded a 2020-21 Inclusive ExcellenceGrant.
Complimentary books will be provided to participants. Please take a moment to review some of the SEAVER DEI Dialogues - Questions to consider. Space limited to 15 participants. Please contact Associate Dean Heather Tarleton if you have additional questions and we hope to see you soon.
Seaver DEI Professional Development Opportunities
In partnership with the LMU Center for Teaching Excellence and other campus partners, Seaver College organizes workshops, events, and trainings to support DEI efforts. Some of these workshop topics have included Building a Department-Level Peer Mentoring Program, Understanding the Importance of Identity and Culture in STEM, Learning the Language and Navigating the Concepts of DEI, Anti-Racist and Equitable STEM Classrooms, and more.
Restorative Practices Training for Faculty and Staff
We are all navigating multiple challenges in an increasingly complex workplace. Humans are inextricably linked yet have unique lived experiences based upon their salient identities. We need resources and skills to help us effectively navigate these challenges.
DEI Resources
To build any bridge, it requires tools. In keeping with the vision outlined in our institution's Strategic Plan 2021 - 2026, LMU is actively working form a new generation of ethical leaders able to identify, analyze, and respond to the most challenging problems facing our rapidly changing global society. As our students begin to build upon these foundational principles, we too must set about integrating knowledge with action. View LMUs Strategic Plan 2021 - 2026 as a pdf here.
DEI Happenings and Featured Events
Trends in US Faculty Hiring and Retention From a Ten Year Study of Data: A Study of Prestige, Diversity, and Inequality
Alan T. Waterman Award Winner
Dr. Daniel B. Larremore, Ph.D. recently presented on the topic US trends with regard to faculty hiring and retention based on his team's 10 year study. The findings were indeed illuminating. In case you missed it, his study of prestige, diversity and inequality is now available here.
View More DEI Events