Inclusive Excellence Grants and Awards
The DEI Office and University Intercultural Council (UIC) aim to identify and fund inclusive excellence capacity building, community healing practices, and projects that help LMU achieve its mission by infusing diversity and interculturalism throughout the campus community. UIC Membership includes staff and faculty representing various departments and units across campus.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and LMU's UIC invites campus constituencies to submit proposals for Inclusive Excellence Grants. Inclusive excellence re-envisions both quality and diversity. It reflects a striving for excellence in higher education that has been made more inclusive by decades of campus and national work to infuse diversity into recruiting, admissions, and hiring, the curriculum and co-curriculum, and administrative structures and practices. It also embraces newer forms of excellence and expanded ways to measure excellence, considering research on learning and brain functioning, the assessment movement, and more nuanced accountability structures. In the same way, diversity efforts move beyond the number of students or programs as end goals. Instead, diversity and inclusion together become a multilayered process through which we achieve excellence in learning, research, and teaching; student development; institutional functioning; local and global community engagement; workforce development; and more (Clayton-Pederson, O'Neill O'Neill & Musil, 2009).
Additional LMU internal grant opportunities can be found on the faculty hub website.
Questions about our grants and awards? Contact Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI@lmu.edu).
Grants and Awards
Capacity Building Grant
The Capacity Building Grant increases capacity such as a training, speaker series, etc.
The following categories are suggestions for potentially funded projects.
- Guest speaker
- Training/Workshop series
Deadline to submit: Third Friday of October.
Community Healing Practice Grant
The Community Healing Practice Grant provides funding to develop, administer, and facilitate community healing practices that promote safety and healing.
The following categories are suggestions for potentially funded projects. All projects must focus on the healing and safety of those who are part of our LMU community.
- Healing Circles
- Culturally specific practices focused on particular populations
- Healing through art
- Project collaborations that bring members together to improve the health and well-being of the community
Project Grant
The Project Grant promotes the development of new and sustainable recruitment, retention, and campus climate projects that help LMU achieve its mission and support the university's inclusive excellence goals.
Student DEI Award
In collaboration with the Offices of Undergraduate Education and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the Arrupe Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award is for graduating seniors who have shown a record of explicit work with DEI issues. The award's namesake honors Jesuit Superior General Father Pedro Arrupe, S.J., who worked tirelessly to promote justice in the service of faith. The University Intercultural Council (UIC) selects the awardee, which chooses a student who demonstrates both robust academic achievement and outstanding DEI academic contributions.
University Intercultural Council
Joe Bernardo
Director, DEI Capacity Building & Adjunct Faculty
Marne Cambell
Professor/Dept Chair, African American Studies
Alice Martini Doyle
Assistant Director, Office for Research and Sponsored Projects
Emelyn dela Peña (Chair)
Director, DEI Research, Evaluation and Grants
Steve Nygaard
Director, Housing
Carol Raby
Events Manager, Hannon Library
Cynthia Ruiz
Director, Grants Administration, SOE
Ani Shabazian
Professor/Director, School of Education/Children's Center
Heather Tarleton
Professor/Associate Dean, Health and Human Sciences/CSE
Mia Watson
Director, Academic Resource Center
Award Recipients
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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ARRUPE DEI AWARD RECIPIENTS!
2021
Elsie Mares, a Political Science major and Economics minor, personifies the Arrupe DEI Award through her courses, research, work, service and professional goals. Elsie has taken courses within and outside of her major and minor that focus on privilege and civil rights. She attended and participated in learning opportunities surrounding social justice and anti-racism throughout her time as an undergraduate. Elsie’s research focused on access to resources for domestic violence varies for Latina and White women, especially focusing on the experiences of undocumented immigrant Latina women in rural communities. Since freshman year, Elsie has served as an Intercultural Facilitator, where she assisted in facilitating difficult conversations related to diversity, equity and inclusion. This role has also helped her grow as an anti-racist advocate. She plans to pursue advanced degrees in public policy and law, focusing on gendered violence and immigration law. Elsie writes, “My DEI goals are unique because they are intersectional, focusing on issues of race, gender, and class. As I pursue my goals in policy and law, I know I still have a lot of learning to do and intend to continue growing as an anti-racist advocate and leader. I am eager and prepared to continue being shaped by new knowledge while working to promote diversity and inclusion through policy and social change.” Through everything she does, Elsie embodies the Arrupe DEI Award!
2022
Simone Butler, a Political Science major and African American Studies minor, personifies the Arrupe DEI Award through her courses, research and involvements on and off campus. Her research has focused on public perceptions of the police and community relations; and campus sexual assault and the Title IX adjudication process. Simone is one of the organizers of the #BlackAtLMU movement. She helped oversee the renovation of the Bird’s Nest into the Black Student Space. After graduation, Simone plans to work toward assuaging the severe Los Angeles housing crisis. She writes, “I want to work towards helping minorities and low-income residents secure access to housing, mental health resources, and build a better future overall.” Simone will apply to Masters in Public Policy programs with the intention of fighting for the voiceless.
Lizbeth Ramales Arango, a Sociology and Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies double major, embodies the Arrupe DEI Award. Lizbeth’s courses have given her exposure and have assisted in developing an understanding of some of the Latino Community's most pressing needs. Lizbeth has been actively involved in extracurricular activities in Latino and general campus communities. She served as an Intercultural Facilitator where she led conversations rooted in challenging topics. Lizbeth co-founded BoundlessLMU comprised of university faculty and staff, who advocated for undocumented students at LMU. She worked as an assistant programmer for Chicana/o and Latina/o Student Services (CLSS), where she assisted in the development and organization of CLSS' cultural, intercultural, religious, and social programs. After graduation, Lizbeth aspires to be involved with non-profit and community-based organizations and clinics that provide funding and legal support for undocumented Latinos and other people of color. She also plans to be actively involved in the process of providing greater levels of educational access and support, mental health services, mentoring (personal and professional), and parent support.
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2022-2023: Kennedy Wheatley, Charles Swanson, School of Film and Television
Non-violent Communication Training for SFTV faculty
2021-2022: Charles Swanson, School of Film and Television
Strengthening BIPOC Voices in the Film Industry and “Affinity and Inspiration” Intercultural Film Screenings
2021-2022: Hillary Henderson, The Mbongi Spot
Personal and Professional Development Workshops for students of the Black Student Space
2021-2022: AASPC/Teagan So/Julia Pacis
Planned and held Asian American Symposium
2021-2022: Mandy Korpusik, Seaver College of Science and Engineering
Hosted guest speaker for DEI in STEM
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2022-2023: Black Faculty and Staff Alliance (BFSA)/Bill Parham
Wellness hour series
2022-2023: College SNAP Project/Anthony Barros
Health and Wellness Campaign
2022-2023: Matt Morris, Christian Tejada, Jada Trabue, Charles Swanson, School of Film and Television
The Black Filmmaker Rebellion Film Festival
2021-2022: Black Faculty and Staff Alliance (BFSA)/Bill Parham
Wellness hour series
2020-2021: Black Faculty and Staff Alliance (BFSA)/Tracy Shaw and Bill Parham
Wellness hour series
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2022-2023: Black Faculty and Staff Alliance (BFSA)
Convene Affinity Groups for Anti-Racism Organizing and Coalition- Building
2022-2023: Linh Hua, Julia Lee, Priscilla Leiva, Jae Williams, Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts
Seeding Retention and Care of Women and Non-Binary Faculty of Color
2022-2023: Darlene Aguilar, Jamie Hazlitt, Marisa Ramirez, Kathryn Ryan, Hannon Library
De-escalation Training
2021-2022: Magaela Bethune, Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts
Organized the second annual symposium, Anti-Racism in Action: Cross-Cutting Approaches to Teaching, Learning, and Community Engagement
2021-2022: Roz LeBlanc, Communication and Fine Arts
Decolonizing Dance and Kuumba Beatz
2021-2022: Sunai Kim, Christopher Cappeli, Lambert Doezema, Andrew Forney, Seaver College of Science and Engineering
Examined Positive Interventions for First Year Students’ Success & Retention in Science & Engineering
2021-2022: Jessea Young, Jamie Hazlitt, Hannon Library and Nic Rosenthal, Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts
Created People of the Earth: A Gabrielino-Tongva Annotated Bibliography
2021-2022: Deanna Cooke, Kim Harris, Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts and Alyssa Perez, Center for Service and Action
Pilot The Truth Telling Pilgrimage Alternative Break
2020-2021: Linh Hua, Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts
Scaled the Citation Initiative event up and out by working with four faculty across the schools, colleges and disciplines
2019-2020: Joel Gutierrez/Zach Zysman, Ethnic and Intercultural Services
Expanded the Classroom LA program, a multi-office program that provides students, faculty, staff the opportunity to engage in rich cultural heritage of the various neighborhoods in Los Angeles
2019-2020: Lalo Moreno, LGBT Student Services
Developed a program series that explores the use of digital media as a tool for storytelling and representation
2018-2019: Rebeca Acevedo, Stefan Bradley, Douglas Christie, Jonathan Rothchild, Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts
Developed a BCLA Strategic Plan For Diversity and Inclusion
2018-2019: Csilla Samay, Office of International Students and Scholars, and Dorothea Herreiner, Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts
Developed specific resources for faculty to support their teaching of international students and organized outreach to and communication with faculty
2017-2018: Aisha Conner-Gaten, Javier Garibay, Jamie Hazlitt, Marie Kennedy, Marisa Ramirez, Hannon Library
Conducted an assessment of Hannon library's electronic collection through a diversity lens
2017-2018: Karie Huchting, School of Education, and Brad Stone, Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts
Enhanced the retention of African American doctoral students by supporting them to attend the Black Doctoral Network Conference
2016-2017: Maggie Bove-LaMonica, LMU Family of Schools
Provided support to Leadership Education Advocacy Fellowship (LEAF) Initiative Fellows
2015-2016: Maruth Figueroa, Aris Mosier, and Nathan Sessoms, Ethnic and Intercultural Services
Provided a program targeted at academically talented sophomores to assist them in exploring their identities while learning about the social and economic contexts of Los Angeles
2014-2015: Maruth Figueroa, Chicano Latino Student Services
Developed a yearlong program for 12-15 sophomores that demonstrate involvement and promising leadership qualities
2013-2014: Jamie Hazlitt, Raymundo Andrade, Hannon Library
Provided technology and library skill development workshops to LMU’s service staff
2013-2014: La’Tonya Rease Miles, Academic Resource Center
Expanded and enhanced the Writing Community Workshop series for first-generation college students
2013-2014: Melvin Robert, Office of Black Student Services
Provided monthly workshops wherein students will gain historical context in addition to practical knowledge
2012-2013: Brandon Tanori, School of Film and Television
Broadened the School of Film and Television’s graduate school recruitment efforts by reaching out to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
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2019-2020: Christina Eubanks-Turner
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2020-2021: Michelle Castellanos, Alan Nong, Amber Sanchez, Institutional Research and Clark Ryan-Gonzalez, Student Affairs
Conducted a study to examine factors related to students’ sense of belonging and potential differences by racial/ethnic groups
2019-2020: Natalie Schaal, Seaver College of Science and Engineering
Conducted a study on the effectiveness of a new peer-mentoring program which aims to strengthen Mechanical Engineering students' self-efficacy, sense of belonging and motivation to persist at LMU.
2017-2018: Susan Burkhauser, Institutional Research
Studied the impact of faculty of color on the retention of students of color.
2015-2016: Sandra Luca, Seaver College of Science and Engineering
Researched the academic experiences and sense of belonging of STEM students in A Community Committed to Excellence in Scientific Scholarship (ACCESS) Program.
2014-2015: Fernando Estrada, School of Education
Studied the role of the teaching alliance in multicultural education at LMU.
2013-2014: Leslie Ponciano, School of Education
Conducted a needs assessment of foster youth-specific services that are available at LMU.
2012-2013: Committee on the Status of Women (CSW)
Conducted a needs assessment for a Women’s and Gender Equity Resource Center at LMU.