Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Graduate Alliance Program
What is the Program?
This Program in the Communication Sciences and Disorders graduate program at Minnesota State University, Mankato was designed to meet the critical need for historically marginalized students in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences. Historically marginalized students unite as a community for support, share common experiences and strategically find ways to succeed as future leaders in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences.
What is involved?
- Professional Development
- The CSD program provides customized mentorship and expands mentorship opportunities to include academic and clinical professionals (e.g., alumni, practitioners) who can offer diverse perspectives, broaden professional networking, and help maintain long-term engagement.
- The CSD program supports members in developing and building support, community, and skills to meet their unique needs.
- The CSD program seeks to connect preferred academic and clinical resources and available funds to address their unique professional needs and enhance their career development plan.
- Outreach: Members assist the CSD program in raising awareness about the profession and recruiting students from historically underrepresented/marginalized backgrounds for the undergraduate and graduate programs. Outreach activities may include in-person or virtual presentations about the field.
- Relationships: Members build relationships and solidarity with other students from historically marginalized/underrepresented groups. Social gatherings and events are prioritized to foster a sense of inclusion and belonging. The Equity Engagement Space located in the Clinical Sciences Building was intentionally designed to facilitate DEI-related conversations.
Who is eligible?
- You must identify as a person from a historically underrepresented/marginalized population, such as students of color, nontraditional students, multilingual students, individuals with disabilities, and the LGBTQIA+ community.
- You must have a desire to engage in programming to advance equity.
How do I apply?
This programming is optional for students who are underrepresented/marginalized.
Access to education for all students is among Minnesota State University, Mankato’s core values as an institution, and we are proud of our institutional commitment to an inclusive environment for all. Admissions criteria to the university’s DEI Graduate Alliance Program is under review to ensure it, and all future decisions regarding admissions, conforms to the law.
Student Spotlight
Riya Arora (pictured), who graduated in the spring of 2021 is from Delhi, India and transferred to Minnesota State Mankato after learning more about the program and the faculty’s commitment to supporting students from a historically underrepresented/marginalized population.
“The faculty make the program what it is,” Arora said. “They have given me the space to voice my opinions, work with me on diversity and equity issues that I so firmly believe in and have always provided a safe space to be around.”
As one of the few students of color in her undergraduate major, Arora is passionate about diversity and equity in allied health professions. “I devote a lot of time and effort to make the College of Allied Health and Nursing a more diverse place and take a lot of pride in the fact that there are starting to be changes,” she said.
