justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion dashboard

This webpage serves as a dynamic record of student-led initiatives and institutional channels around justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI). The DEI acronym, while widely used, is a misnomer, as the goals of these efforts are about facilitating conversations and creating processes for a more just and equitable academic environment, not just increasing diversity of the folks included. If this webpage is missing anything, please email jp-website-maintainer@mit.edu with your suggestions.

Student Groups

Broader Impacts Group (BIG) --- a student-run volunteer organization to increase participation in and accessibility of science through educational outreach and science communication. See the BIG webpage here.

JEDI Academy --- an informal group of graduate students who lead, or empower others to lead, monthly student discussions on intersectional social justice that result in clear action items. See their discussion resources and notes here. 

JP ASK --- a guidance program intended to advise and support prospective students who are underrepresented and/or unfamiliar with MIT, WHOI, or the ocean sciences. Learn more at their listing on JP Admissions webpage or see their FAQs here.

REFS --- a formal network of graduate student mentors serve as Resources for Easing Friction and Stress to provide confidential conflict coaching to students within the JP. Reach out at jp-refs@mit.edu. 

Grassroots Initiatives

2020 Sep onward --- Mallory Ringham, along with members of various WHOI committees, created the Room Naming and Wall Art Working Group. They are investing in visually highlighting diversity in ocean science to create more inspiring spaces. Read more here.

2020 Aug --- The JP Student Reps hosted a Town Hall to explain all the ways JPers could get involved with JEDI work. This was fundamental in creating this very dashboard. Check out the slides, notes, and the recording here.

2020 Aug --- Becca Chmiel and Natalie Cohen (a postdoctoral fellow) ran a Virtual Everyday Ethics Workshop to discuss gray-area ethical scenarios and come up with best practice guidelines as a community. Developing and following best practices is one way to formalize transparency and acknowledge our implicit biases when making difficult decisions. Read the workshop notes here.

2020 Mar to Oct  --- Paris Smalls, Rose Palermo, and EeShan Bhatt put forth a proposal to make a new JP student recruitment video that will reach a much broader audience of undergraduates to consider careers in oceanography and ocean sciences and highlight the breadth of experiences and backgrounds that can thrive in the JP. See the short version here.

2019 May --- The student body, spearheaded by the ad-hoc diversity working group (EeShan Bhatt, Chrissy Hernandez, Paris Smalls, Justin Suca) and 6 other writers (Suzi Clark, Henri Drake, Mara Freilich, Jen Karolewski, Julia Middleton, and Jennifer Panlilio), submitted a formal letter and annotated bibliography to the Joint Program Administration and WHOI Board of Trustees, A Student Charge for Measurable Progress in Diversity and Inclusion. This research effort started in Jan 2018 and consisted of 2 brainstorming sessions, 2 phases for feedback, and eventually garnered 214 signatures from students and alumni. Read the full charge here. 

2018 Feb --- EeShan Bhatt and Paris Smalls submitted an open letter at the 2018 Winter Meeting, on the inequities they experienced as graduate students of color, which prompted an ad hoc working group that Chrissy Hernandez and Justin Suca joined. This group collaborated with APO to look into any bias in the admissions process. There were no significant statistical conclusions other than (and because of) the extraordinarly small sample sizes of underrepresented applicants. Read the open letter here.

Formal WHOI Committees & Resources

  • Committee on Diversity & Inclusion (CDI)
    • Resources & Metrics Group
    • Community Building Group
    • Academic Recruitment Group
    • Messaging & Implementation Group
    • Events Group
  • Gays, Lesbians and Others in Woods Hole (GLOW)
  • International Committee
  • Sustainability Task Force (STF)
  • Workplace Climate Committee (WCC)
  • WHOI Women's Committee
  • Woods Hole Diversity Advisory Committee (DAC)

Formal MIT Committees & Resources

There is an overwhelming set of ways to get involved at MIT, at both the institutional and departmental level. This list is a select few.

  • Graduate Student Council Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Taskforce
  • Graduate Women @ MIT (GWAMIT)
  • Institute Community & Equity Office
  • MIT MindHandHeart
  • Priscilla King Gray Public Service Center
  • SPXCE (Social Justice Programming & Cross Cultural Engagement)