Institute for Clinical Social Work
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
The Institute for Clinical Social Work’s (ICSW) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Taskforce has been charged by President, Dr. Michelle Curtain Stewart, with building a shared diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment at ICSW
Taskforce Purpose
In alignment with ICSW’s mission the DEI Taskforce is committed to expanding the diversity of marginalized perspectives and voices within the psychodynamic community with special attention to the intersectionality of race, class, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, religion, age and ability.
Empowering participation
ICSW invites all members of our community to participate in cultivating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment.
ICSW strives to build an academic environment that reflects, values, respects, fosters, and serves diverse populations throughout Chicago, regionally, nationally and internationally.
Our Values
Cultivating Change
ICSW is creating an infrastructure for ongoing change across the institution.
Get Involved
Becoming an ICSW change agent is simple by being active.
Join one of the taskforce subcommittees!
Student Engagement
The goal of this area is to identify opportunities for campus engagement that help to cultivate and sustain ongoing discussion, analysis, and continual learning that supports a diverse campus climate.
During the 2022-2023 academic year, several events were held in appreciation to Hispanic Heritage, Transgender awareness, Women’s History Month and more.
The goal of this area is to identify the types of academic/mentoring support that should be provided to students from traditionally marginalized groups to ensure that they feel safe to explore their identities without feeling excluded
During the 2022-2023 academic year, the student support subcommittee worked on identifying key areas students need for support, with a focus on issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. This subcommittee developed the following guide: “Create Brave and Courageous Learning Environment”.
Student Support
Curricular
The goal of this area is to identify the types of academic/mentoring support that should be provided to students from traditionally marginalized groups to ensure that they feel safe to explore their identities without feeling excluded.
During the 2022-2023 academic year, the curricular subcommittee added DEI closed-ended questions to course evaluations as well as a DEI-specific open-ended question to invite students to share their varied experiences. Posted on Teaching Learning Commons page DEI reading list and encourage instructors to integrate diverse content and authorship in their work. Developed a questionnaire for instructors to obtain baseline data on how much DEI content currently exists in course syllabi/class content with the goal of developing a proposal for continuous improvement along with a plan to support instructors in meaningful integration of diverse authorship and content.
Training
The goal of this area is to increase faculty and staff members' understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to create a more welcoming campus climate for all students.
During the 2022-2023 academic year, facilitated learning spaces were held for attendees to learn how to identify explicit and implicit microaggressions that occur in the classroom and explore ways to handle them and the 2023 –2024 DEI faculty retreat.
DEI Committee
Chair
Dr. Denise Duval Tsioles, Academic Dean
Members
Dr. Michelle Curtain Stewart, President
Dr. Paula Ammerman, Alumna and Full Faculty Member
Michael Bauman, Vice President of Finance and Operations
Dr. Karen Bloomberg, Dean of Students
Dr. Karen Daiter, Full-Faculty Member
Dr. Michelle Piotrowski, Alumna & Full Faculty
Dr. Jacquelyn Vincson, Chair of Research Full Faculty
Steve Vogelstein, Full Faculty
Ashley Ellis, Staff
Student Members Support sub-group
Amy Shane | Remi Mitchell | Christine White | Nadeja Wesley
Events
Reflections on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
This section is open for community submission in support DEI reflections. You may submit articles, videos, podcasts, faculty or student’s opinions to spark discussion and reflections. You may email your submission to dei@icsw.edu for review.
Reflections
As we begin 2024 let us renew our dedication to the mission of ICSW...
The mission of the Institute for Clinical Social Work, an institution of higher education, is to prepare scholars and practitioners to advance the knowledge and quality of practice in the fields of clinical social work and counseling and to serve diverse communities through professional and academic contributions.
So, while the seasons change this year let our fight for DIVERSITY, EQUALITY, and INCLUSION be ever steadfast and remember our commitment to ourselves, our students, and to our community.
Happy New Year!
This diversity task force form is for reporting acts of sexual misconduct, including sexual discrimination, harassment, non-consensual sexual intercourse and/or contact, exploitation, and interpersonal violence such as stalking, dating violence and/or domestic violence. You may self-identify or report anonymously on this form.
Bias reporting form
ICSW may have an obligation to act on a report even if you do not wish to proceed with a complaint or have action taken. If you identify yourself on this form, appropriate ICSW staff will contact you regarding your report.
You are invited to attend our next virtual meeting.
Meetings are open to current ICSW students, faculty, and staff.
To gain access to the meeting you may request to attend by emailing us
at DEI@icsw.edu for meeting login access.
Keep In Touch
Meeting Schedule
January 24, 2024 at 9:30 am – 10:30 am CT
February 28, 2024 at 9:30 am – 10:30 am CT
March TBA
April 24, 2024 at 9:30 am – 10:30 am CT
May 22, 2024 at 9:30 am – 10:30 am CT
Please reach out to Dr. Denise Duval Tsioles at dduval@icsw.edu or the DEI Committee at dei@icsw.edu.