STATEMENT ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY, and INCLUSION

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 I take seriously the responsibility to enhance DEI at Daemen University. As standard practice, I include an accommodation statement in my syllabi which I discuss with my students and the Daemen Student Success Center to ensure the needs of these students are met.  I have worked with the administration to come up with solutions to reduce attrition among students within marginalized peoples in order to bring down DFW rates among these demographics. I have also worked with our Director of Academic Support and Engagement to create and refine student assistance programs.  My contribution to DEI on a university-wide level is present in my committee appointments and professional development. I have also participated in Encounters with Diverse Groups training through my academic department.  I have also delivered science presentations to a variety of demographics in my community. I have participated in workshops at the Buffalo Museum of Science and the Rutgers Geology Museum Late Night Events Series. My service to the community extends to primary and secondary schools, including an inner-city elementary school in Rochester NY and an all-girls high school in Boston. With this outreach, I presented live animals and skeletons, shared the process of fossil excavation, and discussed a range of STEM career paths. These presentations and lively discussions are an important foundation to inspire children and ignite an interest in science, especially in underrepresented groups. I presented to delegates at the National Association of African American Studies meeting about the benefits of field work in engaging underrepresented minorities in the sciences. I also had the pleasure to be a guest presenter at several community Paleontological, Geological, and Herpetological Societies, allowing me to talk with people from many demographics united by a common love for science.