Diversity & Inclusion
We aspire to be a diverse and inclusive environment. We are committed to the work, the tolerance, and building the empathy necessary to meet that goal. Living well in a broadly diverse community enriches each of our experiences. We seek to be a place of belonging for everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, ability, and identity.
We believe pharmacy education must reflect the diverse patient populations students will encounter in practice. If academic institutions want to create successful, lifelong learners, they must deliberately include people with diverse backgrounds — in the many ways in which this is defined — throughout the curriculum. Only by building comfort with and joy of the diversity of our community will we enable our students to fully develop and their practice to give the most improved health care outcomes.
Sign up for Unconscious Bias Training
Request a Bias Incident Response Training
Request a virtual LGBTQ* SafeZone Training for your team
Learn the 5 D's of Bystander Intervention
Find a GOOD DOC to complement your curriculum
Reference one of the 1,000 inspiring Black scientists in America
Diversity & Inclusion Task Force
In 2017, we created a Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, which was charged with developing specific initiatives that would enhance diversity and strengthen the culture of inclusion within the College
Task Force Members
Chair
-
Trenika Mitchell, Chief Inclusion Officer
Members
- Younsoo Bae (faculty)
- Penni Black (faculty)
- Melanie Dicks (faculty)
- Mia Farrell (outside staff – College of Ag)
- Elnaz Jalali (student)
- Mikael Jones (faculty)
- Angela Keene (staff)
- Carlos Marin (outside staff – AHEC Director)
- Jason Mitchell (staff)
- Trenika Mitchell (faculty)
- David Nardo (student)
- Lance Poston (outside staff - LGBTQ* Resource Center)
- Melody Ryan (faculty)
- Oleg Tsodikov (faculty)
- Kendra Harvey (staff)
Major Religious Holidays During Academic Year
Reporting a Concern
We are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all individuals that work and study at this institution. If you witness any act that is not aligned with these values, we ask that you report the incident immediately using one of the University’s many reporting methods noted below.
You may also contact Dr. Trenika Mitchell or Ms. Kristie Colón to discuss an incident.
Workplace Resources (The Winters Group)
The follow resources were provided by the Winters Group, Inc.
- Demystifying Internalized Oppression: A Reflection Guide (2019)
- Cultivating Culturally Competent HR Practices: A Toolkit for Human Resources Professionals (2019)
- Moving Beyond Equality: Perspectives on Achieving Inclusion Through Equity in Our Organizations & Beyond (2018)
- Bold, Inclusive Conversations®: Addressing Race & Racism in the Workplace (2018)
- Men and Women Seeking #MeToo Congruence: Being the #MeToo Imperfect Ally Model (2018)
- Survey: Race & Workplace Trauma During the Age of #BlackLivesMatter (2016)
Our commitment to diversity draws on strategic partnerships with many campus organizations specifically tasked with creating a supportive environment that fosters collaboration with and commitment to students from diverse backgrounds. Each of these partnerships ensures that our students are well connected to a host of resources and people who like them seek to contribute to establishing a culture where diversity encouraged and supported.
The Office for Institutional Diversity (OID) empowers all to be their best selves and strives to create a sustainable climate where all can benefit from the highest quality education, care, and work environment.
Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable
Luvvie Ajayi isn't afraid to speak her mind or to be the one dissenting voice in a crowd, and neither should you. "Your silence serves no one," says the writer, activist and self-proclaimed professional troublemaker. In this bright, uplifting talk, Ajayi shares three questions to ask yourself if you're teetering on the edge of speaking up or quieting down -- and encourages all of us to get a little more comfortable with being uncomfortable.
Listening to Shame
Shame is an unspoken epidemic, the secret behind many forms of broken behavior. Brené Brown, whose earlier talk on vulnerability became a viral hit, explores what can happen when people confront their shame head-on. Her own humor, humanity and vulnerability shine through every word.
UKCOP Student Success & Wellness
At the UK College of Pharmacy, we provide resources for all areas of student wellbeing, including career counseling, mental health check-ins and support, health and wellness initiatives, and one-on-one consulting. To schedule a meeting, contact Nicole Keenan or Drew Ritzel who focus on student success nd wellness.
Center for Graduate and Professional Diversity
At CGPDI, we understand that recent national and/or community incidents can be concerning, to say the least. For anyone who is experiencing stress and would like to talk with CGPDI staff members or other support services, please click here to communicate with any or all of our staff. We are working to support you, and find outlets to dialogue.
LGBTQ* Resource Center
Our mission focuses on the three core pillars of education, advocacy, and community building. We are actively engaged in supporting student organizations, offering professional development opportunities for campus groups, and advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals from many walks of life. Our ultimate goal is to highlight the wonderfully diverse experiences of LGBTQ* Wildcats while working to decrease marginalization in all forms.
Disability Resource Center
The DRC provides services to the University community so students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to fully participate in all aspects of University life. The DRC serves students with a wide array of disabilities and this web site provides valuable information for students, parents, faculty and staff related to various responsibilities, services and programs of the office.
Veterans Resource Center
We are all here to ensure that student veterans and veteran affiliated students are successful in attaining their academic goals and UK has the highest retention rates in the state!
MLK Center
The Martin Luther King Center seeks to empower University of Kentucky students from ALL communities to improve their college experience by increasing access to academic, civic leadership, and cultural exchange opportunities. The center assists in the cultivation of events on campus which promote diversity awareness, cultural pride, and collaborative efforts between recognized student organizations of seemingly distinct interests.
One Parent Scholar House
If you're a single parent, One Parent Scholar House can assist with navigating higher education while balancing a family.
BBNvolved
BBNvolved is the online hub for campus involvement. You can search and browse for student organizations to get involved in, connect with student leaders, request an involvement advising appointment, and more.
Student Orgs
Find your fit within one of our many College student orgs. You'll learn more about your profession while deepening connections with your classmates.
Recent College Initiatives
Below is a list of our recent initiatives and the year they were implemented.
-
Inclusive and accessible facilities and signage (2016)
- Mandatory unconscious bias training for all faculty and staff (2016)
- Quarterly all-college lunches/programming to help foster an inclusive community and sense of belonging (2016)
- Cook-Ross facilitated all-faculty retreat on D&I (2017)
- Development of Diversity & Inclusion Task Force (2017)
- Implicit association testing & discussion sessions for second-year professional students (2017)
- Mandatory cultural competency training for incoming professional students (2017) and graduate students (2019)
- Individual Development Plan (IDP) implemented for graduate students (2017)
- Special Populations Class integrated into the professional curriculum (2017)
- Everything is Science festival to increase science literacy within the community (2018)
- Created Assistant Dean of Diversity & Inclusion (Chief Inclusion Officer) position who is a member of the College’s Executive Council (2018)
- Case writing workshop provided to faculty to assist in developing more culturally inclusive and diverse patient cases (2018)
- Mandatory unconscious bias training for all incoming students (2018)
- Development of The Commonwealth Experience Day to increase student exposure to all areas of Kentucky for professional students (2018)
- One paid marketing internship per year for women and/or students of color (2018)
- Mapping diversity and inclusion topics within the curriculum (2019)
- Diversity and inclusion statement now required on faculty applications to assist search committees with applicant commitment to diversity and inclusion (2019)
- Dean and COO participation in White Men as Full Diversity Partners training (2019)
- Chief Inclusion Officer meeting with student groups to determine areas College can improve (2019-2020)
- Added cultural competency component to professional student interview process (2020)
- College participation and assistance in the organization of the Time for Action: Health Colleges and Partners United Against Racial Injustice event (2020)
- Sponsorship of Lyman T. Johnson Awards Dinner and nomination of UKCOP student and alumnus - net proceeds from sponsorship goes toward student scholarships for historically underrepresented students (ongoing)
- Global Health Initiative in Partnership with Shoulder to Shoulder (ongoing)
- Devoted substantial proportion of scholarship funding specifically to enable historically underrepresented students to attend the College of Pharmacy (ongoing)
- Sponsorship of the UK LGBTQ* Resource Center’s Feast for Equality (ongoing)
- Participation in MLK Freedom March and sponsorship of Lexington’s Unity Breakfast (ongoing)
- Select faculty participation in UK’s LSAMP program (ongoing)
- Inclusive and relational student recruitment, including eliminating PCAT requirement (ongoing)
- Select participation in UK’s Center for Appalachian Research in Environmental Studies (CARES) science communication (ongoing)
- College-wide seminars on health disparities and cultural competency using the UKCOP Professional Series (ongoing)
- Area Health Education Center (AHEC) partnership for pharmacy exposure within elementary & high school students (ongoing)
- Development of SciCats, where faculty and graduate students help bring science to local grade schools (ongoing)
- Safe Zone training for select faculty and staff (in progress)