Diversity in the Graduate School: The Office of Graduate Educational Equity Programs
The development of critical thought is one of the cornerstones of the University. Such critical thought is dependent upon demographic and cultural diversity. The units of the Senior Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School define diversity as “a climate which encourages representation of faculty, staff, and students from typically underrepresented entities, including those from racial/ethnic minority groups, various countries and cultures, genders, persons with disabilities, and those from a mixture of religions and sexual orientations.”
The Office of Graduate Educational Equity Programs leads the Graduate School’s efforts to foster diversity and to provide a welcoming climate for both prospective and current graduate students of underrepresented groups. The office designs and implements mentoring programs; recruitment programs; professional development and retention programs; and conferences, seminars, workshops, and lectures. The office also leads the Summer Research Opportunities Program at Penn State and the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program. Both programs provide connections with highly talented undergraduate students who are interested in attending graduate school.
The Office of Graduate Educational Equity Programs is headed by the Senior Director, Evelynn M. Ellis, D.Ed. Dr. Ellis works with other administrators across campus and serves on the Council of College Directors of Multicultural Programs. In addition, she is a member of the Northeast Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate. This alliance is funded by the National Science Foundation and is responsible for designing recruitment programs to attract more underrepresented students into math, science and engineering programs.
The members of the staff in the Office of Graduate Educational Equity Programs also serve as liaisons between students and many other offices and organizations. Among these are the Black Graduate Student Association, the Boricua Grads, the Africana Research Center, the American Indian Leadership Program and the Committee for Institutional Cooperation (CIC).
Programs and Events
- Graduate Student Mentoring (GradStart)
- Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP)
- Professional Development
- Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program
- Professional Development and Retention Conference
- Inclusiveness Lecture at Penn State
Resources and Related Sites
- Alfred P. Sloan Scholars Program
- Africana Research Center
- American Indian Leadership Program
- Commission on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equity (CLGBTE)
- Commission on Racial/Ethnic Diversity (CORED)
- Commission for Women (CFW)
- Commission for Adult Learners
- Northeast Alliance for Graduate Education (NEAGEP)
- Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity
- Other Diversity Resources