We in the Odum School of Ecology are enriched by diverse perspectives and backgrounds. As an academic institution, it is our responsibility to support student success and the well-being of all community members. We commit to sustaining spaces that are welcoming to and respectful of all people from all backgrounds—regardless of race, ethnicity, culture, socioeconomic status, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability or any other identity—by intentionally and continuously dedicating time and attention to issues of excellence and inclusion in all we do. To move from awareness to action, we came together as a community and created the 5-year strategic OSE Inclusive Excellence Plan*, as well as an action plan, A Way Forward*, which guides the Inclusive Excellence Committee’s activities each year to achieve our strategic goals.
*These plans, and all policies of the Odum School of Ecology, are in alignment with the mission and policies of the University of Georgia. The University of Georgia does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, veteran status or disability in employment, admission or access to its programs or activities.
Inclusive Excellence Committee
The purpose of the Inclusive Excellence Committee is to facilitate the movement of the Odum School’s inclusive excellence plan into action. By coordinating initiatives, providing resources and tracking progress, the committee aims to encourage each community member to play a positive role in creating an inclusive, welcoming environment.
2024-2025 Committee Members
- Ford Ballantyne (Chair), Associate Professor
- Lizzie King, Associate Professor
- Breanna Ondich, Public Service Professional
- Alyssa Quan, Graduate Student
- JP Schmidt, Assistant Research Scientist
- Natalia Vargas, Graduate Student
If you have questions or comments for the Diversity Committee, or regarding diversity and inclusion in the Odum School, please use this anonymous feedback form.
Events & Initiatives
The Odum School hosts events and initiatives to broaden participation, celebrate diversity, and foster inclusivity in the School, in ecology, and in our communities.
Ongoing Initiatives
EcoReach is Odum School of Ecology’s student-run environmental outreach program. EcoReach focuses on meeting the community’s needs by collaborating with other organizations such as Athens-Clarke County Libraries, the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, Oconee Rivers Audubon Society, AmeriCorps, and others.
STEMzone: OSE graduate student Reni Kaul founded this annual football gameday program that offers hands-on opportunities to engage people of all ages on research being done at UGA in the science, technology, engineering and math fields.
EMERGE: OSE Faculty members Amy Rosemond and Amanda Rugenski are leading a national program to create an environment of inclusion to broaden participation and leadership in freshwater science. With a 5-year, $2 million grant from the National Science Foundation, EMERGE provides welcoming spaces, mentorship, and growth experiences for students from groups under-represented in STEM fields, including those based on race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, and first-generation college status.
Resources to Enhance Inclusion: The Inclusive Excellence Committee is working with other committees within OSE and across campus to compile and curate key resources, including a Field Safety Manual and Guidelines, and Resources for Creating Inclusive Learning Environments.
Past events
- April 2024: Full-Day Workshop, “Five shifts in research and teaching practices towards a more inclusive and ethical ecology: Moving Knowledge to Action” with Dr. Madhusudan Katti, North Carolina State University.
- May 2023: Special Seminar: Dr. Saran Traore, Visiting Fulbright Scholar from Burkina Faso.
- April 2023: UGA Odum Lecture / Signature Lecture: Dr. Ivette Perfecto, University of Michigan.
“Food Systems at a Crossroads: Producing Food and Conserving our Planet” - April 2023: Full-Day Workshop, Dr. Madhusudan Katti, North Carolina State University. “Five Shifts in Research and Teaching Practice Towards Decolonizing Ecology”
- February 2023: Odum School Seminar: Dr. Ryan Emanuel, Duke University. “This Machine Promotes Justice: Why Environmental Sciences Need Environmental Justice (and vice versa)”
Campus resources
Campus Offices and Organizations
- Career Center
- Disability Resource Center
- Division of Academic Enhancement
- Greek Life
- International Student Life
- Morehead Honors College
- Multicultural Services & Programs
- Office of Student Affairs
- Office of Institutional Diversity
- PRIDE Center
- Student Food Pantry
- Student Veteran Resource Center
- UGA Equal Opportunity Office policies and reporting on issues relating to discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, and ADA accessibility
- UGA ESTEEMED Enhancing Science, Technology, EnginEering, and Math Educational Diversity
- UGA Health Center
- UGA Housing
- C.L.A.S.S. Advocate Continuing the Legacy of African-American Student Success
- Unisex Bathroom Map
Prospective and Incoming Students
- First Year Scholars Program
- Georgia African-American Male Initiative
- Georgia Daze Minority Recruitment
- Georgia Ready Summer Institute
- International Student Life (ISL) Admissions Help
- Leaders Engaged in Affirming Diversity (LEAD) Fellows
- Louis Stokes Alliance Minority Program (LSAMP) Summer Bridge Program
- Movimiento Latino
- Office of Student Transitions
- UGA Admissions
Faculty/Staff Resources
- ADVANCE: Organizational Change for Gender Equity in STEM Academic Professions
- Certificate in Diversity and Inclusion
- Dialogues in Diversity
- Human Resources Office of Workforce Engagement – Disability and accessibility accommodations for faculty and staff
- J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development
- National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity
- National Science Foundation INCLUDES
- Office of Institutional Diversity
- PRIDE Center
- UGA Equal Opportunity Office policies and reporting on issues relating to discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, and ADA accessibility
- UGA Women’s Resources
Report incidents of discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct
Further reading and additional resources (not complete)
Resources for promoting safety in the field
Resources for fostering inclusive learning environments
Resources to support inclusive language practices (from UGA School of Social Work)
Read More- Hamilton College’s Writing Center provides a helpful resource on “Language of difference: Writing about race, ethnicity, social class, and disability.” Many of the tips can also be applied in the ways we speak about differences among people.
- The American Psychological Association’s website has a number of resources Bias-Free Language.” These resources are designed to support people in respectful written and oral communication about topics like age, disability, gender, participation in research, racial and ethnic identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and intersectionality.
- The National Center on Disability and Journalism has a Disability Language Style Guide. This resource has also been translated into Spanish and Romanian.
- An Ally’s Guide to Terminology from GLAAD offers tips on talking about LGBT people and equality. It includes terms to use, usage examples, terms to avoid, and explanations.
- The Problematic History of the Word “Hispanic”
This opinion-editorial by Araceli Cruz discusses the history of the word “Hispanic.” - ‘Latinx’ explained: A history of the controversial word and how to pronounce it
This article explains the origin of “Latinx.” - The Problematic History Of The Word ‘Caucasian’
This video decodes the history of the word “Caucasian,” how it was adopted from a theory of racism in the 1700s, then used across the world.
Land and Labor Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that many indigenous peoples have past and present connections to the land where the University of Georgia main campus stands. This was the traditional territory of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. The land was seized by the US government, and the Creek were forcibly removed. To learn more, visit the Invasion of America e-history project.
Slavery was integral in the history of the University of Georgia. More information can be found at the Department of History’s UGA & Slavery site and the digital exhibition, Slavery at the University of Georgia.