About Us
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
EDI COMMITTEE | RESOURCES | REPORT AN INCIDENT
Mason Gross School of the Arts is deeply committed to the following ideals in its pursuit of excellence in artistry, creativity, scholarship, and teaching: Diversity of representation among its faculty, staff, and student body as well as its curriculum and programming; equitable treatment of all members of its community along with equal access to the resources and opportunities the school affords; a genuine spirit of inclusivity in its manifold endeavors and in the quest to create a climate of belonging that not only tolerates but embraces differences of all kinds; and adopting anti-racist measures meant to actively work against systemic and institutional racism and bias.
From the Dean
Convinced that true excellence is attainable only through inclusivity, we uphold Inclusive Excellence as a core value. At the heart of this notion is a belief that our individual backgrounds and life experiences lead us to view the world through vastly different lenses and that, only when these different perspectives are taken into account, do we gain a clear picture of our collective challenges and their possible solutions. A genuine commitment to equity and inclusion entails proactive and ongoing efforts to acknowledge, recognize, and strategically mitigate all forms of bias and discrimination as they relate to race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, religion, political affiliation, and any other number of visible or invisible markers of identity. Embracing such objectives is the path to deepening our empathy for those who face barriers rooted in prejudice, misunderstanding, fear, and historical injustice and ultimately to providing access to the arts across the broad expanse of society, fully unlocking their potential to transform individual lives and communities alike.
—Jason Geary
Dean, Mason Gross School of the Arts
Mason Gross Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee
Our EDI committee is composed of faculty, staff, and students from across the school. This group works closely with the dean, department chairs, and with other members of the administration to articulate specific goals around equity, diversity, and inclusion and to help ensure accountability. The committee is also guided by the work of similar groups that exist within the departments and among the student body. Together, we hope to deepen a culture at Mason Gross that is inclusive and welcoming and that does not tolerate harassment or discrimination of any kind.
Our Strategic Plan
The committee is currently guiding the effort to create an EDI Strategic Plan for Mason Gross that takes as its starting point the following priorities:
- Increasing the representation of faculty and staff of color
- Increasing the representation of students of color as well as first-generation college students through enhanced recruitment efforts across New Jersey and nationwide
- Revising curricula to be more inclusive and more representative of the diversity of artistic traditions and cultures around the world
- Presenting diverse and inclusive artistic programming
- Engaging, supporting, and collaborating with a diversity of artists and communities in New Brunswick and throughout New Jersey
Who We Are
Leadership
Marshall Jones III, Chair
Karina F. Daves, Vice-Chair
Cassandra Oliveras-Moreno, Vice-Chair
Marc Handelman, Secretary
Committee Members
News From the Committee
MGSA EDI Committee School Newsletter
Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff, The newly formed Mason Gross Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee is excited to share ou... Read More
University Resources
University Centers and Initiatives
- Rutgers: Diversity Equity & Inclusion
- New Brunswick: Division of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement
- Cultural Center Collaboratives
- Black Student Cultural Organizations
- Student Affairs: Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives
Student Support
- Office of Disability Services
- Financial Support, Scholarship, Fellowship opportunities
- Counseling and Mental Health
- End Sexual Violence
Educational Material
- Becoming Anti-Racist Resource List
- Anti-Racist Resources in the Libraries
- Self-Directed Learning – Bias and Inclusion
- Equity Fundamentals Reading List [PDF]
Labor
Report a Bias Incident
Individuals are encouraged to report bias acts so that the University can provide support, remedy, or resolution. Reporting and documenting bias acts also help the University to better understand the reality of the campus climate related to discrimination.
Learn how reports are handled at Rutgers. To make a suggestion or to report an issue directly to the Mason Gross administration, use the form below, which provides the option of remaining anonymous.
Want to share a concern, problem, offer a suggestion, or get involved with diversity, inclusion, and equity efforts at Mason Gross? Please use the submission form below. Your voice and perspective are deeply valued.