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Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

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Three semester program certification with eight workshops, three elective experiences, and a capstone campus action project.  

Honored to receive this certification as the first ever cohort at Clemson University
(link to article)

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Aaron accepts certificate from Clemson University President Clements and Chief Inclusion Officer Lee Gill during an awards luncheon.

New DEI Column in Fisheries Magazine "What Does Inclusion Look Like?" (Click Here)

American Fisheries Society (AFS) launches great new website with focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion!  Check out the long list of resources! http://diversity.fisheries.org

There is an undeniable gap in diversity within the fisheries profession.  I have lived it my entire career having rarely worked directly with a student or biologist of color.  Diversity and inclusion are critical components of education and employment, which ultimately leads to better work place environments, higher profitability, and most importantly, happier people.  There are clear social, political, ethical and moral benefits.  My goal is to be part of the solution which is to create equitable access and inclusive research circles for communities historically underrepresented in natural resources.  It's time to break down barriers and biases while working towards improving diversity throughout the fisheries profession.  

BIG NEWS! The "Fisheries Diversity and Inclusion Podcast" has launched!  You can find the first ever episode here.   This podcast works in collaboration with "The Fisheries Podcast" and will be featured in their feed 1-2 times per month.  

EP. 1 – INTRODUCING THE FISHERIES DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION PODCAST

EP. 2 – MINORITIES IN SHARK SCIENCES (MISS); SHARK WEEK SPEC!

EP. 3 – TRANSCENDING FISHERIES: LEARN ABOUT THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT

EP. 4 – AFS DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION THEME DAY PREVIEW

EP. 5 – HIGHLIGHTING A GRASSROOTS INITIATIVE IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA LOWCOUNTRY

EP. 5 - VIDEO RECORDING!!!

EP. 6 – NEW FISHERIES D&I CO-HOST WELCOME!

EP. 7 – “TWO‐EYED SEEING”: AN INDIGENOUS FRAMEWORK TO TRANSFORM FISHERIES

EP. 8 – AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TO SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL FISHERIES ISSUES (PART 1)

EP. 9 – AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TO SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL FISHERIES ISSUES (PART 2)

EP. 10 - DEI SEMINAR WITH DR. IVAN ARISMENDI (PART 1)

EP. 11 - DISCUSSION WITH DR. IVAN ARISMENDI (PART 2)

EP. 12 – FINANCIAL DISPARITY IN FISHERIES SCIENCE

EP. 13 – WITH GREAT PRIVILEGE COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY

EP. 14 – INCLUSION CAN HAPPEN NOW AND HERE’S HOW

Ep. 15 – BLACK LABOR IN WHITE SPACE: A CONVERSATION WITH DR. AMBROSE JEARLD, JR.

 

List of Resources (Click to Directly Access PDF)

Arismendi, I., McLaughlin, K.R. and Penaluna, B.E. 2021. The U.S. Academic Fisheries Co-Authorship Network Under the Lens of Diversity and Inclusion. Fisheries, 46: 372-382. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsh.10618

Abernethy, E.F.,  Arismendi, I., Boegehold, A.G., Colón-Gaud, C., Cover, M.R., Larson, E.I., Moody,, E.K., Penaluna, B.E., Shogren, A.J., Webster, A.J., and Woller-Skar, M.M. 2020. Diverse, equitable, and inclusive scientific societies: Progress and opportunities in the Society for Freshwater Science Freshwater Science 39(3)363 376  https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/709129

Penaluna, B.E., Arismendi, I., Moffitt, C.M. and Penney, Z.L. 2017. Nine Proposed Action Areas to Enhance Diversity and Inclusion in the American Fisheries Society. Fisheries, 42: 399-402. https://doi.org/10.1080/03632415.2017.1345549

Wasserman, I.C. 2014. Strengthening Interpersonal Awareness and Fostering Relational Eloquence. In B. M. Ferdman & B. R. Deane (Eds.), Diversity at Work: The Practice of Inclusion (pp. 128-154). Jossey-Bass Publishing.

Roberson, Q. M. 2006. Disentangling the Meanings of Diversity and Inclusion in Organizations. Group & Organization Management 31(2)-212-236.

Holvino, E., Ferdman, B. M., & Merrill-Sands, D. 2004. Creating and Sustaining Diversity and Inclusion in Organizations: Strategies and approaches. In M. S. Stockdale & F. J. Crosby (Eds.), The psychology and management of workplace diversity (p. 245–276). Blackwell Publishing.

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I was lucky enough to sit down with Hannibal Bolton, who had a long and extremely successful career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  Before retiring, he led the agency's Diversity Retention and Recruitment Program.  We discussed his entry into the American Fisheries Society's Fish Management Section Hall of Excellence, and we discussed diversity and inclusion in the fisheries profession.  Very happy to have been able to spend time with Hannibal.

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