UW Research

Task Force Report:
Incorporating DEI Concepts & Practices in Research

In 2023, the Vice Provost for Research Mari Ostendorf convened a Task Force of faculty from across the UW to consider how the Office of Research might grow its support and capacities for DEI-related research activities and programs. The Task Force was charged to help identify areas of emphasis and first steps for one of the Vice Provost’s top priorities: to support, grow and extend the UW’s incorporation of diversity, equity and inclusion approaches in research.

As part of this charge, the Task Force was asked to:

  • Define DEI as it relates to research
  • Identify major themes or strengths of DEI-related research at the UW
  • Identify opportunities for cross-unit or external partnerships
  • Identify needs for researcher training
  • Make recommendations for the most impactful ways the Office of Research can broadly support DEI-related research

The Task Force met five times in 2023, and between meetings members contributed material, reviewed comments, and presented their recommendations in a draft report to the Vice Provost. The final report, titled “Charting a Path for UW’s OR to Support Equity in Research Excellence”, incorporates the Vice Provost’s feedback and makes recommendations for the most impactful ways the Office of Research can broadly support Equity in Research Excellence, as well as identify opportunities for cross-unit and external partnerships.

View report

Task Force Members and Report Authors

  • Wendy Barrington, Director, Anti-Racism and Community Health Center, School of Public
    Health
  • Donald Chi, Associate Dean for Research, School of Dentistry
  • Marika Cifor, Assistant Professor, Information School
  • Tumaini R. Coker, Division Head & Professor, General Pediatrics, School of Medicine
  • Sara Curran, Associate Vice Provost for Research (Chair)
  • Malia Fullerton, Interim Chair, Bioethics & Humanities, School of Medicine
  • Sara Goering, Chair, Department of Philosophy, College of Arts & Sciences
  • Cheryl Greengrove, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research, UW Tacoma
  • Rachel Heath, Associate Professor, Department of Economics
  • Alex Horner-Devine, Associate Chair for Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering
  • Sheri Mizumori, Chair, Department of Psychology, College of Arts & Sciences
  • India Ornelas, Interim Chair, Health Systems and Population Health, School of Public Health
  • David Takeuchi, Associate Dean for Faculty Excellence, School of Social Work
  • Sasha Su-Ling Welland, Chair, Department of Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies

Invited, but unable to participate due to teaching conflicts:

  • Scott Allard, Associate Dean for Research, Evans School of Public Policy & Governance

Acknowledgement: Thank you to Heather K. Herrera for logistical support.

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