Vision
We envision a Stanford graduate student body that reflects the diversity of the general population.
Mission
The Graduate Student Council (GSC) Diversity Advocacy Committee (DAC) aims to increase diversity within the graduate student community by initiating and facilitating events and advocacy efforts (henceforth referred to collectively as “projects”) that achieve the following:
- Increasing diversity of graduate student admission pool;
- Building vibrant and supportive communities for graduate students from underrepresented groups;
- Establishing and/or enhancing inter-community dialogue and interactions; and
- Educating the broader graduate student population on relevant histories, activities and issues pertaining to underrepresented communities.
All projects must adhere to the Fundamental Standards of Stanford University.
Underrepresented communities served by the DAC are:
- University-recognized underrepresented racial and ethnic minority groups;
- First generation graduate students;
- Graduate students from low income backgrounds;
- LGBTQ graduate students;
- Graduate students with disabilities as recognized by the University;
- Graduate students with dependents;
- Female graduate students in traditionally male-dominated fields.
History
The Diversity Advocacy Committee was formed in May 2004 to join faculty, administrators, and graduate groups to address the under-representation of women and ethnic minorities in our graduate and professional schools.
The committee’s first achievement was to negotiate with the University to gain access to the statistics that showed the very low numbers of women and ethnic minorities in the graduate student population. These statistics were long said to be unattainable since each department conducts its own admissions process.
The committee soon began to meet regularly to bring these statistics to the Stanford community and to work to help the university meet its goal of diversifying both the graduate and faculty populations. The committee has met regularly and grown larger every year.
DAC 2015
- Chair: Wendy Ni
- Alumni Advisors: Johnny Giorgis, Fanuel Muindi
- Diversity Group Representatives: Swethaa Ballakrishnen, Cecil Benitez, Eduardo Gonzalez-Maldonado, Sandra Kjono, Eduardo Munoz-Munoz, Lasana Power
- Committee Members: Tawnee Boham, Daisuke Gatanaga, Tamara Gilkes, Jasmine Hill, Adrienne Johnson, Bonnie Krejci, Jennifer Li, Siqi Li, Eric Liu, Carlos Medina, Tim Moon, Isaac Nwokocha, Gabriel Rodriguez, Ben Topacio
We Need You!
If you agree with our mission, we want you. No previous experience necessary. Our goal is to provide a supportive environment for you to do what you want to, with what time you have.
As a DAC member, you can take on one or both of the following position:
- Committee Member
- Responsibilities: initiating/assisting with event planning and/or advocacy efforts
- Time commitment: 8 hours per quarter expected, timing flexible
- Diversity Group Representative
- Eligibility: be an elected leader or core member of a University-recognized diversity voluntary student organization (VSO), community center or other established on-campus entity
- Responsibilities: providing input into DAC mission and event planning; collaborating with Events Coordinator to organize 1 mixer per year; collaborating with Advocacy Coordinator on advocacy efforts where applicable
- Time commitment: 2-4 hours per quarter expected
Join Us
If you are interested in becoming an active member of the DAC, please express your interest.
To be connected with the DAC without becoming an active members, please join our “friends of the DAC” mailing list!