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CIC Vision and Scope

The Committee for an Inclusive Community (CIC) is an organization at the University of Oregon Psychology Department composed of graduate students, faculty, and staff invested in the shared interest of a diverse and inclusive environment within the department. The organization was first formed in 2012 and admits new members every year.

The core mission of the CIC is to foster an inclusive environment in the Department of Psychology. Everyone is responsible for diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and justice. The CIC is one important part of the department’s efforts to better live out these values. It does so in two ways: (1) Through a core set of activities planned and carried out by the CIC, and (2) By empowering department members to plan and carry out activities that serve these goals.

Core activities of the CIC

The CIC carries out a number of core activities:

  • Planning and hosting events several times a year that serve educational or community-building functions
  • Providing information and connections to prospective graduate students during visiting weekend
  • Sharing news and resources through an annual newsletter and other channels
  • Coordinating with CAS and central administration and responding to projects and directives given to department diversity committees Facilitating and empowering community members

MISSION

The mission and values of the CIC are broadly held, not exclusive to the CIC, and the CIC cannot and should not try to be the only body in the department working to advance them. One reflection of this is the fact that diversity work is increasingly part of formal professional evaluation in academia (e.g., more and more hiring, tenure, and promotion committees are expecting DEI statements that contain a concrete track record of activities and accomplishments).

Outside of its core activities, the CIC advances its mission by helping department members bring their own ideas to fruition. This includes:

  • Regular open meetings of the CIC to help people connect and collaborate
  • Distributing funds to people who plan events or activities that serve the department or subsets of the department (e.g., committees, labs, spontaneous groups) 
  • Distributing funds for people to participate in educational and professional development activities related to the CIC’s mission
  • Coordinating with standing and ad hoc committees in the department to help them make their activities more inclusive

MEMBERS

Faculty 

Matt Smear (co-chair)
Kate Mills (incoming chair)
Ruth Ellingsen
Anne Mannering
Margaret Sereno

Graduate Student Representatives  

Ruby Cuellar
Kavya Mudiam
Nathan Young

Staff Representatives

Alison Helzer

CIC Alumni

Nick Allen, Jocelyn Barton, Elliot Berkman, Michelle Byrne, Zhen Cheng, Brian Clark, David Condon, Crystal Dehle, Sarah DuBrow, Daryn Blanc-Goldhammer, Yoel Everett, Jennifer Gomez, Robin Hertz, Ana Hernandez, Stephanie Kramer, Brice Kuhl, Jenn Lewis, Monika Lind, Karlena Ochoa Steigerwald, Rose Maier, Phillippe Bou Malham, Pranj Mehta, Jenny Mendoza, Arian Mobasser, Lou Moses, Ben Nelson, Lauren O’Neil, Jenn Pfieffer, Leslie Roos, Azim Shariff, Vinita Vader

CIC Awards

Please check back in Fall 2023 for our annual call for proposals for research and travel awards