Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

DEI News


September 20, 2023

Learning Opportunity from OMAD | Land Acknowledgements

The Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity at the University of Washington has announced a new educational offering titled “Land Acknowledgements at the University of Washington.” It was created in collaboration with the Office of Tribal Relations and in consultation with the Director of Tribal Relations, Sherri Berdine. The new workshop addresses the topic of…


June 5, 2023

UW 2023 Cultural Graduations

The Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity and the Samuel E. Kelly Ethnic Cultural Center  are hosting cultural graduations to celebrate the Class of 2023. Dates vary based on the specific graduation event. Families are encouraged to attend. See link below for more details: Cultural Graduations | Samuel E. Kelly Ethnic Cultural Center (washington.edu)


May 12, 2023

Centering BIPOC Voices: Cultivating Awareness [FREE PSO course]

Wednesday, May 24, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30pm 5/23/2023   Centering BIPOC Voices: Cultivating Awareness (V0370) | Professional & Organizational Development (uw.edu)


May 2, 2023

Learning Moment May 2023: Make Us Visible

Please join us for this month’s Office of DEI Learning Moment Series, this Friday May 12 from 1:00-2:00pm PST via Zoom, featuring Angelie Chong and Annie Cheng of Make Us Visible Washington. Bingo Card Activity: click here Angelie Chong  Angelie was born in Seoul, Korea and spent her childhood in Hawai’i. She is the Director…


April 12, 2023

Learning Moment April 2023: Prabina Dahal, DNP Student

We are pleased to announce the Learning Moment for April 2023 will be presented by Prabina Dahal, 2nd-year DNP student in the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care Track and Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environment (ANHE) Fellow. The title of her presentation is: “Adapting an Asthma Action Plan to an Elementary School by Identifying Environmental Triggers”. …


March 20, 2023

Reminder about Ramadan observance

This is a friendly reminder that Ramadan is anticipated to begin on Thursday, March 23, 2023, depending on the sighting of the new moon, and last 30 days ending at sundown on Thursday, April 20. 2023 (dates not fixed).  Please be mindful that some students, staff, and faculty may be fasting during this time from…


March 17, 2023

NEW! Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Excellence Award

The University of Washington Professional Staff Organization has launched a new staff award entitled “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Excellence Award”. This award seeks to highlight Professional Staff who have demonstrated a deep commitment to the advancement of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging work directly within the UW and/or their local communities. See details…


March 6, 2023

Addressing Indigenous Social Determinants of Health | Learning Moment March 2023

Join us on Friday March 10th from 1:00-2:00pm PT on Zoom for this month’s Learning Moment, presented by Myra Parker, JD, PhD. (see bio below). The title of her presentation is “Addressing Indigenous Social Determinants of Health”. We hope you’ll join us for this learning moment! ————————————————- Myra Parker, JD, PhD is an Associate Professor…


February 9, 2023

Celebrating Black History Month with Mary Mahoney Professional Nurses Organization

We are pleased to announce that our Learning Moment for the month of February will feature current UW SoN student and President of the Mary Mahoney Professional Nurses Organization Keondra Rustan! Keondra Rustan is a doctorate-prepared registered nurse with over 13 years of clinical experience in cardiac care, emergency medicine, intermediate care, and critical care….


November 21, 2022

AR/DEI Strategic Plan 2022-2026

Every four years the School of Nursing updates our AR/DEI Strategic Action Plan. This iteration, as with previous iterations, is structured in accordance to the UW Diversity Blueprint, created by the UW Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity. The Diversity Blueprint was revamped and the updated version was published in Spring of 2022. Our AR/DEI…


November 8, 2022

New Religious Observances and Holidays Calendar [WA Council of Presidents]

The Office of DEI has created a calendar with a more inclusive list of holidays and religious observances. The calendar comes from the WA Council of Presidents academic year calendar.  It is hosted on trumba, and can be accessed here: WA Council of Presidents Calendar Directions: To access the calendar, click here: WA Council of…


November 3, 2022

Celebrating UW School of Nursing’s First-Generation Students, Staff, & Faculty (Nov. 9, 12:30pm)

Inviting students, staff, and faculty who are or were first-generation students to meet up in the Dean’s Office Conference Room (T-332) located in the main entry/office of the school, at 12:30pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. This informal gathering is intended to foster community for first generation members of our school community. Light snacks and…


October 7, 2022

Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion presentation at 2022 incoming student orientation

On September 21, 2022, as part of our school’s incoming student orientation organized by Student Academic Services, the annual Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (AR/DEI) presentation and activity was conducted by Drs. Wendy Barrington, Rebecca O’Connor, and Butch de Castro. The purpose of this AR/DEI session is to convey our school’s commitment to AR/DEI, describe…


June 25, 2022

Indigenous Walking Tour on UW Seattle campus

Did you know that the University of Washington has an Indigenous Walking Tour?  Learn about Indigenous presence and places on the Seattle campus through an Indigenous community member’s eyes across seven stops on campus, such as the Burke Museum, wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ [Intellectual House], Indigenous artworks, the Medicinal Herb Garden, the Ethnic Cultural Center, the Husky Union…


May 25, 2022

EVENT: The Dixie 3 Virtual Film Screening (rescheduled)

Join us Friday, June 24th from 12:00PM-1:00PM PST for a virtual screening and discussion of The Dixie 3: A Story on Civil Rights in Nursing. In honor of the Juneteenth holiday, The School of Nursing Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will host a virtual screening and discussion of The Dixie 3: A Story on…


May 4, 2022

Center for Antiracism in Nursing Listening Sessions: Report 2022

The Center for Antiracism in Nursing conducted a series of listening sessions over the course of 2 months. The purpose of these listening sessions was to engage community stakeholders in the process of building the center, to shape its future initiatives so that the Center is truly a community-led endeavor.  The report that follows outlines…


April 26, 2022

EVENT: Othello-UW Commons “Louder Than Words” series

On April 13th 2022 Othello-UW Commons hosted a monthly event titled “Louder Than Words”.  The moderator, Sally Clark, engaged alumnus and board member Dr. Joycelyn Thomas, Dean Emami, and Patty Hayes in conversation about the state of nursing, the launch of the Center for Antiracism in Nursing, and why community engagement is crucial to nursing…


March 29, 2022

EVENT: The Dixie 3 Virtual Film Screening (registration required)

UPDATE (5/4/22): EVENT CANCELLED Due to very low registration numbers, this event has been cancelled. Film screening will be rescheduled to late June. Details forthcoming. ———————————————————————————   Join us Friday, May 6th from 1:00-2:30PM for a virtual screening of The Dixie 3: A Story on Civil Rights in Nursing during May’s Diversity Committee Meeting. Diversity…


November 5, 2021

EVENT – Dr. Ethlyn McQueen-Gibson, Associate Professor at Hampton University, speaks on paper, Creating structural community cohesion: Addressing racial equity in older adult homelessness

Please join the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging for an event to hear Dr. Ethlyn McQueen-Gibson, Associate Professor at Hampton University, speak on the paper, Creating structural community cohesion: Addressing racial equity in older adult homelessness. When: Monday, November 8th, 10:30 – 11:30 am (Pacific) Zoom: https://washington.zoom.us/j/94586338177 Questions? Contact the de Tornyay Center at…


September 14, 2021

EVENT – Our Voices: Addressing Racism in Nursing

Join this event, organized by Seedwork’s Social Justice in Nursing in collaboration with StoryCenter, to learn more about voices reckoning with racism in nursing. Share your voice in a dialogue, discussion, and future direction inspired by first person interviews and shown through the compelling stories of BILPOC identified nurses. Information and passcode to join our Zoom…


September 1, 2021

10 Things You Can Do to Promote Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The UW School of Nursing’s mission is to advance nursing science and practice through generating knowledge and educating future leaders to address health for all. To achieve this, we must espouse principles and practices that promote and advance anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion. As a start, below is a list of things you can do…


August 4, 2021

Confronting racism in nursing

It is no longer enough for nurses to be “not racist,” nor is it enough to just publish non-discrimination statements and proclaim a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. It is time to move from words to action, from debate to engagement, and from “not racism” to antiracism. As the conscience and core of health…


July 23, 2021

Research on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders is being stifled (Scientific American article)

Funders and peer reviewers are contributing to systemic racism through their biases about members of these populations.  See this article Research on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders is being stifled published in by Amy Yee published on July 8, 2021 in Scientific American.


July 9, 2021

Reflecting on DEI and antiracism efforts this past 2020-2021 academic year

To all in our UW School of Nursing community,  As we reflect on the past year and prepare for the next, we share the following updates about our school’s work in diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism.  First, we highly recognize and deeply appreciate the time, energy, and efforts of those who have volunteered to serve on Antiracism Workgroups and the Diversity Committee. Second, we acknowledge…


April 21, 2021

A Landmark on the Journey (reacting to the verdict from Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis)

See here for a message from Executive Dean Azita Emami and Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Butch de Castro about the verdict on April 20, 2021, from the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd.


April 12, 2021

The experience of the UW School of Nursing’s antiracism learning day on March 29, 2021

The UW School of Nursing recently held an Antiracism Learning Day on March 29, 2021, for faculty, staff, students, and practice partners from the three campuses to reflect on and discuss racism in today’s society and healthcare settings. The all-day event on March 29, 2021 featured speakers Dr. Benjamin Danielson, clinical professor of pediatrics with the…


April 11, 2021

UW School of Nursing mourns the passing of Rachel Suggs Pitts, alumna and a founder of the Mary Mahoney Professional Nurses Organization

It is with deep sadness to receive news that Ms. Rachel Suggs Pitts, BSN alumna of the University of Washington School of Nursing, passed away Sunday, April 4, 2021. She had celebrated her 99th birthday last June 13, 2020. Ms. Pitts was the last of the 13 African American registered nurses who founded the Mary…


April 9, 2021

UW School of Nursing Antiracism Learning Day 2021

The UW School of Nursing recently held an Antiracism Learning Day for faculty, staff, students, and practice partners from the three campuses to reflect on and discuss racism in today’s society and healthcare settings. The all-day event on March 29, 2021 featured speakers Dr. Benjamin Danielson, clinical professor of pediatrics with the UW School of…


March 4, 2021

Spring 2021 Quarter Interprofessional Antiracism Course for Health Sciences Students

Register today for a unique 1-credit elective- UCONJ 647: Antiracism in Action for Healthcare Professionals. This interprofessional education course will provide health sciences students opportunity to reflect and build skills necessary to become an anti-racist health care professional. We will examine racism at the individual, institutional and societal level, and will provide opportunities for a…


February 24, 2021

UW Black History Month Challenge (February 2021)

From UW Libraries… While Black History Month provides a focused platform for collective reflection and celebration of Black History, the responsibility to self-educate is never-ending. We challenge all huskies to broaden their understanding of Black history by continuing to make space to read, listen and watch something new – as a continuous practice, well beyond…


February 19, 2021

KUOW interviews Executive Dean Azita Emami; “What UW is doing to confront racism in health care”

The University of Washington has created a new Center for Antiracism in Nursing. “Several centuries of racism cannot just be erased and eradicated just by creating this system,” said Azita Emami, executive dean of the UW School of Nursing. “We need to act. We cannot just talk about these things. We are done talking. Now, we…


February 18, 2021

Attacks on elderly Asian Americans are a growing concern during COVID-19 pandemic

Attacks on elderly Asian Americans are a growing concern amidst discrimination and xenophobia during the COVID-19 pandemic; and community groups are responding to provide safety and protection (see news story here). An article about the impact of COVID-19 related racial discrimination among Asian Americans was published  in the American Journal of Public Health (see here)….


February 9, 2021

KING5 News reports on creation of UW Center for Antiracism in Nursing

Media coverage on KING5 News regarding the establishment of the UW School of Nursing’s Center for Antiracism in Nursing can be found here.


February 5, 2021

safexBRAVE podcast episode “DEI 101” by UW nursing students

UW School of Nursing students have produced a podcast discussing experiences navigating issues and conversations about diversity, equity and inclusion. Listen to episode 1 here. Episode Description: Introduction to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI 101). In this episode, graduate students Sammie, Audrey, and Elina begin the journey of understanding DEI with our guest panel: Dr….


UW School of Nursing establishing Center for Antiracism in Nursing

Systemic racism has for generations undermined the health of individuals and communities across America, a public health crisis that has made the pandemic even more deadly and destructive for people of color. Recognizing that nurses play a central role in and hold major responsibility for the health of individuals and communities hit hard by historic…


February 4, 2021

UW NURF Diversity Lecture Series featuring Dr. Ben Danielson

Join UW Network of Underrepresented Residents & Fellows (NURF) and Professor Ben Danielson, MD, on Monday, February 22, 2021, 6:30-7:30 pm for the fourth UW Diversity Series lecture in honor of Black History Month. Join Zoom Meeting here.


January 29, 2021

School of Nursing Climate Survey Results

Dear Faculty, Staff and Students, We are honored to share with you the climate survey results for the School of Nursing, which come from a university-wide survey administered in the fall of 2019. It is our honor for several reasons. First, because it offers us the opportunity to comprehensively examine where we stand with respect…


January 23, 2021

Filling the nurse faculty gap

To graduate the number of nurses needed to meet the demand, Washington state needs more nurse faculty. In 2016, the Washington Center for Nursing (WCN) began efforts to examine whether there was a nurse faculty shortage. See this article from the Washington State Nurses Association about the Washington Center for Nursing’s efforts to diversify nursing faculty.