Annual Reports | Science Societies
 

ACS - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in ASA, CSSA, and SSSA Committee (ACS528)

2022 Annual Report


Year of Report –2022

Body of Report

The first ACS Diversity Committee was formed in 1996, focused on engagement of minority students. Over the years the mission was expanded, and in 2022 the committee mission and structure were updated to better address the strategic goals of the Tri-Societies.  The new Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee (DEIC) was commissioned with the intent that it support and implement overall ASA, CSSA, and SSSA DEI Initiatives, as defined by the Societies leadership for members and staff.   The 2022 DEIC was composed of 26 members and a DEI Staff Lead (Susan Chapman).  There were twelve general members: four from each of the Tri-Societies. Additional members included: DEI members-at-large from the ASA, CSSA, and SSSA Boards of Directors; four Agronomic Science Foundation IDEAS fund Liaisons; a representative from the Women-in-Science Committee; two graduate student representatives; and an undergraduate representative.  All members, regardless of title, were considered full voting members.  Committee work began in January with a core group of members who had been on the prior years’ Diversity Committee, with new members being added throughout the year, as they were identified and approved. 

The primary objectives of the committee this year were to 1) Implement the 2022 goals outlined in the ASA, CSSA, SSSA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative Recommendation Report (Recommendations Report)  2) enhance the visibility of ongoing DEI efforts within the Tri-Societies by organizing programming for the Annual Meeting. This report summarizes activities of the DEI Committee in 2022 including highlights at the Annual Meetings, revised role of the committee and suggestions for the composition of the new DEI committee.

The committee met for the first time in January of 2022 where we were introduced to the ASA, CSSA, SSSA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative Recommendation Report and charged with its implementation.  For 2022, the first four Recommendation Report Working Groups were established: Professional Conduct and Anti-Harassment Policy Development, Education and Training, Mentoring, and ACSESS Staff.  Full DEIC meetings were held monthly, and Working Groups met on a schedule decided by individual group leads.

An Annual Meeting Program Planning sub-committee was formed in January to identify activities for the 2022 Baltimore meeting.  The committee decided to combine numerous elements of the DEIC programming events into a single Diversity Summit, based on a similar event described and published by Tiffany Carter (Growing Our Mindset: A Diversity Summit Assessment - Carter - 2019 - Natural Sciences Education - Wiley Online Library). The DEIC partnered with Joseph Burke of the LGBTQIA+ Specialty Group, who led the planning of the event and developed the funding proposal for the event.   The Summit incorporated the following elements 1) A Diversity Student Poster Contest, led by Joseph Burke, Christine Sprunger and Jordan Wade 2) A Diversity Research Poster Contest, led by Susan Chapman 3) An invited speaker – Dr. Zelia Wiley 4) An Interactive Roundtable Session led by Tara Sullivan and Candice Duncan and 5) An ACS Diversity Social Hour led by Samantha Ying. 

Highlights from 2022:

  • Addition of Board reps to each of the Tri-societies
  • Adding Members to more closely reflect cultural frameworks of the membership
  • Guidelines for establishing a task force to explore the creation of a professional ethics committee, led by Cam Anderson and Augustine Obour.
  • Providing Ombuds program for the annual meeting, an effort Led by Cam Anderson and Augustine Obour, with significant input from Candice Duncan and Susan Chapman. The Ombuds person and functionality was well received, and is expected to be a recurring element of annual meetings moving forward.   
  • Creation of a Working Group to examine DEI-related educational opportunities and training programs.
  • Creation of a mentoring Working Group that examined past efforts and identified future strategies for recommendations.
  • DEIC support for the mentoring and leadership initiatives at the annual meeting here in Baltimore, including the Bridge Scholar program. 
  • Creation of an ACSESS staff Working Group, integrating DEI into the operational and administrative side of the Societies. 
  • The formation of three new DEI-related specialty groups: one focused on Native American and Alaska Native Scientists and Allies, one focused on researchers at 1890 universities and HBCUs, and one focused on Science Policy. These join current specialty groups including the LGBTQIA+ Scientists and Allies, Agricultural Scientists for Africa, CSA Christian Fellowship, Association of Agricultural Scientists of Indian Origin, International Students and Researchers, Military Veterans of Agriculture, Mindfulness – a way of living, and Scientists and Students of Nepali Origin. 
  • Facilitated Diversity Workshops with a consultant (Dr. Wazir Jefferson) for DEIC members, and the ASA, CSSA, and SSSA Boards of Directors.
  • Outreach to annual meeting attendees via the Society and Diversity Showcase, held each day of the annual meeting in the exhibition hall. 
  • Participation by over 80 students, and 60+ judges in the Diversity Student Poster Contest.  Virtual judging was performed prior the meeting, and 15 finalists presented their poster in person.  The “Diversity Poster Competition Checkbox” on the abstract submission site continues to be a success.  This year, Jordan Wade introduced a “Fan Favorite” judging during the Summit, via a QR code system, with the winner highlighted in CSA news. 
  • For the first time, the DEIC hosted a Diversity Research Poster Contest, highlighting the work of those who study diversity issues in the context of our scientific endeavors.  We had five participants, who displayed their posters during the Summit. 
  • Poster Contest Winners were:

Diversity Student Poster Contest

1st           Lovepreet Singh, Mississippi State University

2nd          Gurleen Kaur, University of Florida

3rd           Oluwatola Adedeji, Texas Tech University

 

Diversity Research Poster Contest

1st           Jennifer Lachowiec, Montana State University

2nd          Candice Duncan, University of Maryland

3rd           Christopher Ryan, CUNY-City University of New York

 

Fan Favorite

1st           Leidy Fernandez Montiel, University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez

 

  • Drafting of procedural guidelines for the operation of the newly structured DEIC.

 

Current Leadership of the ACS528 Diversity Committee is as follows:

  • Chair, 2022: Lisa Durso, USDA-ARS
  • Vice-Chair, 2022: Tiffany Carter, USDA-NRCS
  • Past-Chair, 2022: Augustine Obour, Kansas State University
  • Staff Liaison,  Susan Chapman

 

Future of the Diversity Committee:

In this founding year of the DEIC, the members used the Recommendations Report as a guide, and worked to define for themselves the structure and responsibilities of each member.  All members provided their input on the current organization and operation of the DEIC, and suggestions for improvements in 2023.  These suggestions have been incorporated into two draft documents, that will be formalized in 2023  The draft update of the official charter and the new draft guidelines document will clarify details of the committee composition, tenure, responsibilities and voting rights.  Additionally text for a comprehensive set of guidelines that includes  a framework for respectful communication while conducting DEIC business, meeting ground rules, approval processes, administration of IDEAS Fund spending, sub-committee and working group frameworks, appointments of new members, and policies for navigating breeches to the respectful communication guidelines has also been drafted, as a starting place for full DEIC discussion in 2023.

 

2023 Recommendation Report Suggested Activities:

  • Continuing Professional Development, Mentoring and Training efforts 
  • Continuing Mentoring Program Development
  • Bring the Membership Support Working Group online to develop path and timeline for outreach, activities for 2023 meeting in St. Louis. 
  • Bring the Data & Analytics Working Group online, to develop Metrics for Measurement – in conjunction with ACSESS staff and existing SSSA efforts.
  • Bring the Organizational Communications Working Group online and begin outreach and communication efforts, to sections, divisions and communities; committees; editorial, boards, and certification boards
  • Review of ACSESS policies in hiring, training, and retaining to support DEI at the staff level

 

Other 2023 Plans

  • The DEIC plans to hold a virtual 2-Day Committee Working Meeting - The purpose of this meeting is to clarify our committee’s mission and goals; review committee member roles, and refine committee processes and guidelines while giving the committee a chance to come together as a team, and learn more about one another.  One goal is to build relationships and a culture that will support Tri-Societies strategic goals, and embolden and unify the committee for 2023.
  • The Education and Training Working Group is developing a recommendations plan with a matrix of possible training opportunities. While this is in development, there is a desire to build educational opportunities and visibility for the work of the committee with three DEI Trainings for Tri-Society members, virtually.
  • The DEIC  will institute an annual “ DEIC All Hands” session at the annual meeting to review current year’s projects, review feedback, and strategize on project priorities for the coming year.  It will include a brief business meeting, short presentations by the DEIC sub-committees and working groups, a discussion of nominations and upcoming leadership changes, and new member orientation. To facilitate the ability to include incoming members in this annual event, the DEIC will be petitioning to align the scheduling of the DEIC nomination and approval process so incoming members can participate. . 
  • The Ombuds person is expected to be a reoccurring functionality provided at the annual meetings.  A suggestion has been made to find a more descriptive title/term, and to improve advertising and signage to improve awareness of and accessibility to these services. 
  • The Leadership Team may recommend an update to the committee guidelinesto include an Internal Executive Communications Specialist, who will be a volunteer from the general membership serving a one-year term, responsible for taking meeting minutes, maintaining membership contact lists, and curating DEIC documents on the DEIC Google Drive.  
  • We will need to solicit nominations for an incoming Vice- Chair for 2024.

Items Requiring Board Attention

  1. Approval of guidelines for establishing a task force to explore the creation of a professional ethics committee
  2. Suggested appointments to the aCS528 DEIC to ensure continuity of committee activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Items Requiring Board Attention:

Members of the Committee:

Tabare Abadie (Member, Ex Officio)
Donn Cummings (Member, Ex Officio)
Samira Daroub (Member, Ex Officio)
Stella Salvo (Member, Ex Officio)
Samantha Ying (Member, Ex Officio)
Lisa Durso (Chair)
Augustine Obour (Past Chair)
Christine Sprunger (Member-ASA)
Maria Villamil (Member-ASA)
Zelia Wiley (Member-ASA)
Martha Zwonitzer (Member-ASA)
Peter Ampim (Member-CSSA)
Eugene Law (Member-CSSA)
K. Raja Reddy (Member-CSSA)
Desalegn Serba (Member-CSSA)
Cam Anderson (Member-SSSA)
Kenzo Esquivel (Member-SSSA)
Elizabeth Gillispie (Member-SSSA)
Robert Michitsch (Member-SSSA)
Jordon Wade (Member-SSSA)
Tiffany Carter (Vice Chair)
Susan Chapman (Staff Liaison)

Prepared By:

Durso, Lisa