The Department of Entomology at Penn State aims to foster and celebrate diverse ways of thinking, views, values, and perspectives within our department and in our relationships with those we serve, including the public, stakeholders, cooperative extension, research community, and students, among others.
Department of Entomology Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commitment Statement (full statement)
College and University Resources
General info, university structure, faculty advancement and success, DEI, instruction of students, ethics and compliance
Resource Groups
- Penn State Postdoctoral Society
- Penn State Office of Postdoctoral Affairs
- University Staff Advisory Council
- Penn State Gender Equity Center
- Penn State Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity
- Penn State Pasquerilla Spiritual Center
- Penn State recently launched University-wide Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), which are voluntary, employee-led groups open to all faculty and staff. These include Rainbow Roar, Penn State’s first University-wide LGBTQ+ ERG, and Vet-aLIONce for service members, veterans, families, and their allies.
- LEAADS (Leading Action and Advocacy for a Diverse Leadership at Penn State) a faculty group organized to support the professional development of women faculty colleagues. It is hosted by the senior faculty mentors in the Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity and is co-sponsored by the university's Commission for Women; https://sites.psu.edu/leaadsatpsu/
Professional Development Resources for Teaching
- The Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence (SITE), Penn State's university-wide teaching center offers a variety of services and programs. All instructors are welcome to request a teaching consultation with a faculty consultant. SITE also provides resources for Addressing Student Trauma, Tensions, and Disruptions in your Courses
- Penn State’s Teaching and Learning with Technology (TLT) units, Creative Learning Initiatives, IT Learning and Development, and the Learning Design Team, offer workshops, programs, and individual consultations for faculty looking to enhance their teaching and learning through technology.
- SITE and TLT offer many continuous learning opportunities and professional development resources for Penn State faculty: Faculty Professional Development Opportunities - Continuously Updated.docx
Academic Freedom
Social media literacy
- Social Media Support and Resources for Penn State Faculty
- Resources for dealing with disturbing or hate-filled email
Conflict Resolution
- World in Conversation
- Conflict Response Consultation
- Some excellent resources on the McCourtney Institute for Democracy
- Penn State units have ombudspeople who can help mediate or provide resources
- Graduate Student Ombudsperson Program
- Resources to report bias, intolerance
Additional professional development resources
Mental Health
Students may experience different levels of distress across various areas of their lives. The type and amount of distress they are experiencing will require different actions and resources. The Red Folder initiative is a guide to help faculty, staff, student leaders, and others who interact with students to recognize, respond effectively to, and refer Penn State students in distress.
The Penn State Crisis Line is available 24/7 across all Penn State Commonwealth campuses at 1-877-229-6400 for enrolled students experiencing a mental health emergency. The Penn State Crisis Line can also be used by faculty for consultation if they know of or are with a student who is experiencing a mental health crisis. The student of concern does not need to be present on the call. Sharing as much information as possible with the crisis line increases the opportunities for the student to receive as much support as possible. (Note: Individuals calling the Penn State Crisis Line must be in the United States).
The Penn State Counseling and Psychological Services can be found here: https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/counseling
Other resources for faculty include Life Hack Kits, which allow faculty to conveniently and meaningfully incorporate wellbeing into the classroom.
Additional resources are found in the Penn State Student Affairs Student Care and Advocacy group: https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/studentcare
Penn State’s new Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider, SupportLinc, provides services such as personal coaching, text therapy, virtual counseling support, and a mental health navigator.
Additional resources about diversity and inclusion
- Penn State statement on diversity, equity and inclusion
- Student code of conduct
- Center and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS):
- Maruyama, G., Moreno, J. F., Gudeman, R. H., & Marin, P. (2000). Does diversity make a difference? Three research studies on diversity in college classrooms.
- Astin, A. W. (1993). Diversity and multiculturalism on the campus: How are students affected?. Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning, 25(2), 44-49.
- INSSECT NET Careers Symposium
Diversity and Climate Committee 2024-2025
- Christina Grozinger (chair, cmg25@psu.edu)
- Rowda Altamimi (rowda.altamimi@psu.edu)
- Mary Barbercheck (meb34@psu.edu)
- Nathan Derstine (ntd34@psu.edu)
- Mônica Kersch-Becker (mfk5843@psu.edu)
- Greg Krawczyk (gxk13@psu.edu)
- Margarita López-Uribe (mml64@psu.edu)
- Joyce Sakamoto (jms1198@psu.edu)
- Tammy Winters (txh156@psu.edu)
Diversity and Climate Committee programs, 2024-2025
- “Meet the Lab” seminar series
- Heritage Potluck
- Entomology Department Staff tours of research facilities
- Professional development related to teaching strategies and resources
- Compiling and creating resources to support faculty, staff, postdoctoral scholars and graduate students sustain their research during parental and family leave
- Diversifying recruitment pipeline through engagement with Penn State undergraduate programs supporting students from underrepresented groups (SROP, MANNRS, STEM Open House)
