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Who we are...
The Academic Center for Equity and Inclusion (or “Academic Center”) organizes scholarly and pedagogical activities that advance St. John's University's commitment to an inclusive and equitable University community. The Academic Center exists to foster personal and institutional accountability for the University’s mission of “respect for the rights of every person” and advancement of the global common good. Thus, we aim to repair damage caused by social injustices and oppose all forms of oppression that harm our community, based upon race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, language, ability, political status, partisan affiliation, or religious membership.
What we do...
As an "Academic Center," we organize and catalyze the following scholarly and pedagogical activities:
- Research and Publication. Assist and advise academic units in their support of faculty research and scholarship on equity and inclusion topics.
- Literacy and Pedagogy. Support and facilitate opportunities to develop equity literacy, inclusive curriculum, and anti-oppression pedagogies.
- Institutional Accountability and Recognition. Advise those who monitor academic units’ efforts to implement equity and inclusion plans, and advocate for recognition of faculty who cultivate campus equity and inclusion programming.
- Collaborative Learning. Nurture and expand University spaces for collaborative critical inquiry, co-curricular engagement, and community partnership regarding equity and inclusion.
Our Plan
ACEI Operational Priorities
- Establish and sustain a climate where communication about race, racism, racial disparities, and antiracism can flourish
- Organize strategic collective action to change oppressive practices and policies within and beyond the University
- Enhance faculty-driven advancement of anti-oppressive practices in curriculum, co-curricular initiatives, pedagogy, and production of knowledge
- Enhance faculty-driven skill-building in the areas of pedagogy, administrative decision-making, leadership, service, and research to support ongoing learning for social justice
- Formalize process by which data is collected and evaluated in collaboration with university stakeholders to determine if the Academic Center’s outcomes are being achieved.
Our Team
Manouchkathe Cassagnol, Pharm.D. (she/her/hers)
Associate Clinical Professor
College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Director, Academic Center for Equity and Inclusion
St. Augustine Hall, 402
[email protected]
718-990-1597
Kamanie Jialal (she/her/hers)
Department Administrative Assistant
Academic Center for Equity and Inclusion
St.Augustine Hall, 402
[email protected]
718-990-1581
Our Coalition
Advisory Committee Members
- Manouchkathe Cassagnol, Pharm.D., Associate Clinical Professor, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
- Raj Chetty, Ph.D., Associate Professor, St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Jeremy Cruz, Ph.D., Associate Professor, St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Gina Florio, Ph.D., Interim Dean, St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Nada Llewellyn, Esq., Chief Diversity Officer, Associate Vice President for Human Resources, and Deputy General Counsel
- Jared Littman, M.P.A, Director, Grants and Sponsored Research
- André McKenzie, Ed.D., Interim Dean, University Libraries
- Cynthia Phillips, Director of Center for Teaching and Learning and Online Learning Services
- James R. Walters, Ed.D, Director of Residency Ministry-Campus Ministry
- Lucy Pesce, Ed.D., Executive Director for Mission
- Lynn M. Stravino, Director of Academic Service Learning
- Monique Jernigan, Executive Director of Multicultural Affairs and Director of the Inclusivity Resource Center
Executive Committee Members*
- Heather C. Robertson, Ph.D., Associate Professor, The School of Eduction, Inclusive Teaching and Learning subcommittee chair
- Joanne M. Carroll, Ph.D., Associate Professor, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Institutional Accountability and Mission subcommittee chair
- Sharon R. Marshall, M.S., Associate Professor, St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Inclusive Campus Climate and Communication subcommittee chair
- Robert Fanuzzi, Ph.D., Associate Provost, St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Assessment and Reporting subcommittee chair
- Sophie R. Bell, Ph.D., Professor, St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Personal and Professional Development subcommittee chair
- Ingrid Fray, Ph.D., Faculty ACEI College Liaison, Peter J. Tobin College of Business
- Yolene Gousse, Ph.D., Faculty ACEI College Liaison, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
- Natalie Byfield, Ph.D., Faculty ACEI College Liaison, St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
*Executive committee members also serve on the advisory committee
Additional Information
LGBTQI+ Resources
For information on all gender and ADA restrooms throughout campus, please visit the All Gender and ADA Restroom Map. Note that you can find specific information on each restroom’s location by clicking on the map’s person icons.
Please note that it is a work in progress. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Jackie Lochrie at [email protected] or Matthew Pucciarelli at [email protected], Spectrum’s Advisors.
Report Bias
The University is dedicated to fostering a welcoming and inclusive campus community where everyone feels safe, respected, and valued. Prejudice-based aggression and hate have no place at St. John’s. To guard against these social maladies and protect the physical and emotional well-being of our students, faculty, administrators, and staff, the University encourages every member of the community to report bias. To learn more about bias, visit the Office of Equity and Inclusion website. here.
To report a bias incident, please fill out our Bias Report form.