ED&I Committee

The Arts and Architecture ED&I Committee is a standing ad hoc committee, governed by the bylaws of the Faculty Council.

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Committee Membership
Committee Details
ED&I Resources
Past Communications

2024–25 Membership

Brooke Hull

Assistant Professor of Graphic Design

bxh5541@psu.edu

Deanna Beamer

Financial Coordinator, Center for Performing Arts

dsr1@psu.edu

814-863-6377

Folayemi Wilson

Associate Dean for Access and Equity; Professor of Art

fxw5102@psu.edu

814-865-2591

Gwendolyn Walker

Assistant Professor, School of Theatre; Voice for Musical Theatre

gew21@psu.edu

Maggie Borowitz

Assistant Teaching Professor, Art History

mqb6555@psu.edu

Marc Miller

Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture
Stuckeman School Associate Director for Access, Wellbeing, and Equity

mlm693@psu.edu

814-863-8135

Michelle Bae-Dimitriadis

Associate Professor of Art Education, Asian Studies, and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

mxb1065@psu.edu

Nathan Manna

Graduate Student (Art History) Representative, ED&I Committee

Rasa D. Drane

Senior Supervisor of Access, Admissions and Retention

rbdrane@psu.edu

814-865-9523

Sarah Anne Wharton

Publicity Contact, Palmer Museum of Art

saw534@psu.edu

Velvet Brown

David P. Stone Chair, Professor of Tuba and Euphonium
Associate Director for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

vmb10@psu.edu

814-863-2126

Victoria Monroe

Student Council Representative, A&A Alumni Society Board
Undergraduate (LArch) Student Representative, ED&I Committee

vmm5370@psu.edu

Committee Details

The Committee shall be a body that reviews the annual progress of the College’s strategic initiatives towards Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, within each unit: with the goal being to promote a positive climate within the college that is welcoming to all regardless of age, mental or physical ability, mental or physical ability, socio-economic status, race or ethnicity, country of origin, belief and perspectives, gender identity and expression, religion or sexual preference, among others.  
The committee as a whole may act as a resource to all units and persons within the college and may provide guidance of diversity-related matters (i.e., public events, curriculum development, recruitment and retention practices, etc.)
The committee shall keep current regarding effective practices surrounding equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Assistant/ Associate Dean for Access and Equity as a non-voting member
One (1) faculty representative from each academic unit within the College according to procedures established by the faculty of each academic unit
One (1) representative from the Center for Performing Arts 
One (1) representative from The Palmer Museum of Art 
The College’s Multicultural Coordinator as a non-voting member 
The Chair of the Faculty Council or the Chair’s representative as a non-voting member

The appointment of members will be overseen by the Chair of the Faculty
Council in consultation with the Dean.
The term of appointment shall be two (2) years. 
Terms of office shall be staggered. 
The Chair shall be elected annually by the members of the committee.

Alexandra Staub
Cathy Braasch
Deanna Beamer
Folayemi Wilson
Gwendolyn Walker
Jen Curry Morgan
Linda Thornton
Marc Miller
Rodney Allen Trice
Rudy Shepherd
Sarah K. Rich
Velvet Brown

ED&I Resources

Resources for College of Arts and Architecture Community

From Penn State

Red Folder

This resource assists faculty and staff in addressing situations where students are in distress.

Conflict Response Consultation

If there are situations where faculty or staff feel that there may be space for mediation or mediated dialogues, our office has conflict response options that can be accessed via this form.

Student Accountability and Conflict Response Resources

If individuals have a concern about another person's actions or behaviors, they are able to report a concern to the University via a number of reporting options, to include BTMT, Code of Conduct and Bias. President Bendapudi sends reminders to the community about reporting resources.

OSACR Faculty and Staff Resources

The Office of Student Accountability & Conflict Response (OSACR) provides information to assist faculty and staff members in addressing various concerns such as academic integrity, student misconduct, and/or behavioral concerns.

Student Legal Resources

Online Intake Form

No appointment is needed for Student Legal Services' Drop-In Tuesdays, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Students can visit drop-ins in person at 204 East Calder Way, Suite 200 or virtually via Zoom

External Resources

National Center for Transgender Equality

https://transequality.org/

Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund

https://transgenderlegal.org/

(The previous two resources currently are merging to become one organization - NCTE)

From Psychologist Leann Deiderich

https://www.tarabrach.com/inne...

From the Center for Artistic Activism

Cognitive Distortions for Artistic Activists

And, things to read, watch, and think about in the days ahead...

Hope in the Dark by Rebecca Solnit

Open letters from the ED&I Committee

: As is the case every fall, we’re all settling into our respective Penn State grooves. We’re making things and sharing them. We’re getting to know each other in classrooms, committees, meetings, and informal interactions. We’re meeting old and new friends and sharing our commitments to creativity and craft. In short, we’re making community.

The decision made by the Supreme Court that struck down Affirmative Action will have a significant impact on what our community will look like in the years to come, threatening to decrease social and economic diversity on the campus and in the College, skewing admissions to the extremes. For the College, this means fewer voices to express empathy and inclusive communities in the arts. It is difficult to imagine how we can live up to the motto “we are” if we cannot acknowledge our different backgrounds and experiences in our state, nationally, and internationally.

The Committee for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (ED&I) calls on everyone in the College to reflect on how our different experiences shape new perspectives for emerging landscapes. The ways we see, hear, and occupy our communities are beholden to the experiences we bring to Penn State. Our ability to listen to and learn from diverse voices is central to how we express our craft, including art, design, music, and performance.

This year, the College Committee for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion will host a series of open discussions titled “Breaking Bread and Barriers.” Students, faculty, staff, and administrators alike. Join us to talk about issues that are important to you, share ideas, and develop approaches to make an inclusive and equitable environment that spans the entire College.

Join us for the first of several gatherings hosted by ED&I representatives in the Stuckeman Jury space on October 13, (12:00 –1:30). Our discussion will focus on curriculum.

In the meantime, here are some resources provided by the Office of Access & Equity to understand the SCOTUS ruling and various responses to it.

Looking forward to seeing you,

Marc Miller, Landscape Architecture
Co-Chair, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee

Gwen Walker,
Co-Chair, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee