Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The School of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences (SAFS) values the strengths and professional experience that students, faculty, and staff bring to our community. We are committed to providing an excellent education to all of our students, regardless of their race, gender, class, nationality, physical ability, religion, age, or sexual orientation. We are proud of the different roles that our students, staff, and faculty play in the community of the School and the College of the Environment. We also recognize that science is richer, and the SAFS community is more vibrant when a diverse group of people participate in research.
At any time feel free to reach out to us using this form to share your thoughts, questions, or highlight work in this space that deserves attention.
We are excited to announce the SAFS DEI Strategic Plan!
Nominate someone for the DEIJ and Community Service Recognition Award using our Google Form.
Current DEI Activities & Support
Anonymous Reporting Tool
Form to anonymously report incidents of concern to the SAFS leadership
SAFS DEI Learning Group
The DEI Learning Group will be reading articles, watching videos, or listening to podcasts and then discussing these shorter pieces at meetings held every other Tuesday. Folks are welcome to attend all of the meetings or just come to one or two when they can. This group is open to everyone in SAFS, regardless of existing knowledge and familiarity with DEI concepts. Discussions will be informal and emphasize personal growth and reflection. All participants need is the desire to learn and engage in respectful discussion. Click the link above to join the email list for the DEI Learning Group.
Environmental BIPOC Affinity Group
The BIPOC Affinity Group is intended as a social space for folks to chill, make friends, and offer mutual support. The group meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month for hot drinks at a nearby cafe. This group centers the voices and experiences of Black folks, Indigenous folks, and other folks who identify as people of color. It is open to students, postdocs, faculty, and staff across the College of the Environment. Click the link above to join the email list for the Environmental BIPOC Affinity Group.
Environmental Queer & Trans Affinity Group
The Queer & Trans Affinity Group works to increase visibility of LGBTQIA2+ individuals and identities in environmental science fields through educational events, and offers a space to build relationships. The group meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month for hot drinks at a nearby cafe. This group centers the voices and experiences of LGBTQIA2+ and Questioning folks. It is open to students, postdocs, faculty, and staff across the College of the Environment. Click the link above to join the email list for the Environmental Queer & Trans Affinity Group.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) and Community Service Recognition Award
The DEIJ and Community Service Award recognizes the significant contribution, time, and effort of members of SAFS towards advancing a climate for excellence in community service, academic endeavor, teaching, and research. Current students, postdocs, staff, faculty, and teams may be nominated for both past and ongoing work. Nominations can be submitted at any time during the year via this online form.
SAFS DEI Blog
SAFS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion news, information, and events
SAFS DEI Slack Channel
Community discussions, news, information on DEI
SAFS DEI Library
The SAFS E&I Library is located in the SAFS Admin Suite (FSH room 114C). Books can be checked out for a quarter at a time. Suggestions for new titles can be send to the Diversity Specialist at mcfm@uw.edu
SAFS DEI Events Calendar
To request an event be added to the calendar, email the Diversity Specialist at mcfm@uw.edu
SAFS Equity & Inclusion Committee
SAFS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (SAFS DEI) is committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment within the SAFS community. The committee is composed of up to twelve members of the SAFS community-at-large, who represent all peer groups (undergraduate students, graduate students, postdocs, staff, and faculty). Committee members collaborate with the community to act in an advisory capacity to the SAFS leadership.
All members of SAFS are invited to join the DEI Committee at our monthly meetings. These meetings are opportunities for members of SAFS to share ideas, ask questions, work on projects, and otherwise get involved in advancing DEI.
Contact: sarahjh@uw.edu
Submit questions/suggestions (can be anonymous): DEI Dropbox
2024–25 Members:
- Committee Chair: Sarah Romero
- Undergrad representative: [this could be you!]
- Grad representatives: Julia Indivero, Taylor Triviño
- Postdoc representative: [this could be you!]
- Staff representatives: Michael Martínez, Sarah Romero, Craig Scanlan
- Faculty representatives: Sean McDonald, Chelsea Wood
- Member-at-large: Samantha Scherer
- Diversity Specialist: Michael Martínez
- Representative to the College of Environment Diversity Committee: Michael Martínez
SAFS DEI Committee Agendas & Minutes
A UW NetID is required to view these files. If you do not have a UW NetID but would like to access the DEI Committee minutes, please email mcfm@uw.edu. Files are PDFs by default but other formats are available upon request.
Documents & Policies
TERMS & PRINCIPLES
SAFS DEI Committee Terms of Reference (PDF)
SAFS DEI Committee Guiding Principles (PDF)
SAFS DEI Strategic Plan 2022–27 (PDF)
The SAFS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Strategic Plan 2022–2027 focuses on the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion and is created with the purpose of better serving the members of the SAFS community in accomplishing our DEI goals. This plan establishes a foundation to guide our strategies and action items.
REPORTS
SAFS EI Annual Report, 2020-21 (PDF)
SAFS EI Annual Report, 2019-20 (PDF)
SAFS Diversity Specialist Annual Report, 2019-20 (PDF)
STATEMENTS
SAFS EI Statement on Decriminalizing UW, October 2020 (PDF)
TOOLS & Guides
SAFS COVID-19 Impact Statement (PDF)
Guidelines for Safe and Equitable Fieldwork (PDF)
SAFS Hiring Tool (PDF)
Indigenous Peoples Terminology Guide (PDF)
SAFS Lactation Room Statement and Proposal (PDF)
SAFS Lactation Room Use Survey (webform)
SAFS Pronoun Guide (PDF)
A Supportive Guide to Land Acknowledgements (PDF)
Other Resources
Resource List: Anti-Racism and Anti-Violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
UW College of the Environment DEI
College of Environment resources on diversity, equity, and inclusion
UW Resources
- Center for Communication, Difference, and Equity
The CCDE strives to be a space where our community of students, faculty, staff, and alumni gather to promote greater equity. - Center for Evaluation & Research for STEM Equity
The Center for Evaluation & Research for STEM Equity (CERSE) focuses on conducting high quality program evaluation and research to improve equity and broaden representation in STEM fields, with a focus on higher education. - D Center
The D Center is UW’s Disability and d/Deaf Cultural center, recently relocated to the Husky Union Building – Room 327, where students can study, organize, rest, or hang out with fellow students and other community members. - Diversity Research Centers & Institutes
The broader UW community conducts research on the benefits of cultural diversity, as well as its challenges. This generates new knowledge that has economic, social and cultural impacts, on both local and global scales. - Handbook of Best Practices for Faculty Searches
This document is meant to serve as a concise Handbook of Best Practices for hiring and retaining a diverse and inclusive faculty across the three campuses of the University of Washington, and thus it is meant to assist the university in meeting its goals of promoting equal opportunity and of enhancing excellence through diversity. - wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ – Intellectual House:
wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ – Intellectual House is a longhouse-style facility on the UW Seattle campus. It provides a multi-service learning and gathering space for American Indian and Alaska Native students, faculty and staff, as well as others from various cultures and communities to come together in a welcoming environment to share knowledge. - Leadership Without Borders:
Leadership Without Borders (LWB) works to serve and empower undocumented students at the University of Washington. - Native Life and Tribal Relations
The purpose of this web site is to centralize the Native-focused resources available on the University of Washington’s campus in Seattle. - Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity:
OMAD works to increase diversity on campus and enrich the collegiate experience. - Q Center:
The Q Center is the professionally supported resource, advocacy, and mentoring center for queer students, staff, and faculty at UW. - Race & Equity Resources
A variety of resources, tools, readings, etc. - Samuel E. Kelly Ethnic Cultural Center:
The Kelly ECC has a wealth of resources and opportunities available to students including student advising, organizational development, personal growth, and referrals to different departments and programs. - Social Groups at UW
A list of affinity groups supported by the UW as a way to advance recruitment and retention efforts - Staff Diversity Hiring Toolkit
This toolkit is intended to be one of many resources to consult to increase outreach efforts towards recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce - Student Veteran Life:
Student Veteran Life is a unit founded by student veterans, for student veterans. - UW ADVANCE:
The UW ADVANCE Center for Institutional Change is a campus and national resource for best practices in academic leadership development, cultural change and policy transformation, and increasing the advancement and number of women faculty in STEM fields. - Women’s Center:
The UW Women’s Center is a catalyst for change. We disrupt cycles of oppression and break down gender-based barriers through transformational education programs, leadership development, and advocacy for girls and womxn.
Contact, Questions, & Feedback
Contact the SAFS DEI Committee Chair: sarahjh@uw.edu
Contact the SAFS Diversity Specialist: mcfm@uw.edu
Form to anonymously report incidents of concern to the SAFS leadership
Equity and Inclusion Dropbox
Form to anonymously submit questions/suggestions to the EI Committee
DEI Action Items
List of crowd-sourced issues/suggestions for DEI work to be done in SAFS
Survey on Education and Community Building
The goal of this survey is to ask the SAFS Community topics of interest about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) related to education, research and work at the School, preferred formats of events, and opportunities for engagement.