Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Mission Statement: The UCB Biophysics DEI Committee is committed to actively assessing and advocating for the wellbeing of our students, with a particular focus on ensuring the equitable representation and success of historically marginalized groups.

Who we are: Kahmina Ford (graduate student), Darren Kahan (graduate student), Lexi Webster (graduate student), Hernan Garcia (faculty & Equity Advisor), Carlos Bustamante (faculty), Kate Chase (staff)

Our roles: Assessing and Advocating for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion within Biophysics

Assessment and Review

• Annual student survey of diversity and wellbeing
• Review of admission numbers and rates
• Suggestions to the admissions committee on ways to improve and outreach suggestions

Transparency

• Annual DEI Townhall to discuss DEI trends, student survey, and yearly activities + goals
• Annual reporting of program demographics on program website
• Links to student resources on program website

Community building

• Emails responding to national or local events that affect our students’ wellbeing
• Annual DEI Townhall to incorporate community suggestions
• Events at retreats or interview weekends, with student support

We write to share in the grief and anger at the lives lost due to systemic racism and police brutality: George Floyd, Oscar Grant, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Tony Robinson, Eric Garner, Sandra Bland, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Philando Castile, Monika Diamond, Nina Pop, and so many others spanning decades and centuries.

We join our voices to protesters around the country and the world who are standing against the Black racism and violence that is pervasive in our society. We demand an end to violence against Black people, an end to Anti-Black racism, white supremacy and police violence. We condemn racism and discrimination in all forms and against any vulnerable community and commit to looking within our own Biophysics community to find ways to address these issues in actionable and equitable ways.

#BlackLivesMatter

#BlackMindsMatter