Engagement and Belonging Council Charge
The Engagement and Belonging Council serves as an information exchange among colleges, major administrative units, and the Vice President for Engagement and Belonging to coordinate policies and address issues that impact goals related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging (DEIS) at Michigan Technological University. The Vice President for Engagement and Belonging or their representative will chair the Engagement and Belonging Council and lead its meetings. Along with the chair, the council will comprise one or two MTU faculty, staff, or administrators from each unit, who will be appointed by their dean/unit leader in consultation with the Vice President for Engagement and Belonging. Engagement and Belonging Council members will also have a formal communication line to their respective dean/unit head. Meetings will be held monthly throughout the academic year and at least once in the summer.
Characteristic activities include:
- communicating across budgetary units to optimize consistency of unit approaches to DEIS endeavors, including advice pertaining to external constituencies;
- developing cross-unit strategies for leveraging DEIS values throughout MTU units;
- making informal recommendations to the chair;
- and performing other actions consistent with its charge as needed.
Reporting Structure
The Engagement and Belonging Council serves as information exchange between the leaders of colleges/major administrative units and the Vice President for Engagement and Belonging.
Chair
Wayne Gersie
- Vice President for Engagement and Belonging
- Research Assistant Professor, Psychology and Human Factors
- belonging@mtu.edu
- 906-487-1599
- Administration Building 502
Member Representation
Each member reports to the leader of their college or major administrative unit (dean or vice president/director).
Meeting Information
2024-2025
Third Thursdays
1:30–2:30 p.m.
Location
Meetings via Zoom
For more information, please contact Engagement and Belonging at belonging@mtu.edu.
Engagement and Belonging Council Minutes
Resources
Engagement and Belonging Council is an integral part of Michigan Tech's mission to promote and foster a sense of belonging.
What the Engagement and Belonging Council is Reading
- DEI Legislation Tracker - Chronicle of Higher Education
- Anti-Trans Legislative Risk Assessment Map: July 2024 Edition
- Women’s History Month and Beyond: Six Michigan Tech Leaders Reflect on Their Work and Inspiration
- Growing Diversity
- Partnering to Advance Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: MTU, University of the District of Columbia Pursue New MOU
- Welcome, Huskies: Incoming Class is Diverse, Smart and the Largest Since 1982
Representative | Unit |
---|---|
Jordan Shawhan | Advancement and Alumni Relations |
Danielle Meirow | Advocates and Allies |
Mauricio Reyes Hurtado | Advocates and Allies |
Sarah Dowd | Athletics |
Julie Keleher | Center for Diversity and Inclusion |
Jessica Hendrickson | Center for Teaching and Learning |
Josh Olson | Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President for Administration |
Soonkwan Hong | College of Business |
Nilufur Onder | College of Computing |
Angela Keranen | College of Engineering |
Leonard Bohmann | College of Engineering |
Carsten Kuelheim | College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science |
Kevin Trewartha | College of Sciences and Arts |
Tiffany Lewis | College of Sciences and Arts |
Abbi Halkola | Equal Opportunity Compliance and Title IX |
Ashli Wells | Graduate School |
Renee Ozanich | Human Resources |
Stefka Hristova | Institute for Policy, Ethics, and Culture |
Alan Turnquist | Office of Sustainability and Resilience |
Darnishia Morris | Pavlis Honors College |
Shannon Vairo | Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs |
Brad Wells | University Relations and Enrollment |
Stephen Morse | University Senate |
Annelise Doll | Van Pelt and Opie Library |
Kathy Halvorsen | Vice President for Research |
Robert Bishop | Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students |