Combating Racial Inequities Committee (CRIC)

At this unique moment in history, people from every demographic in this country and across the world are engaging in difficult conversations to recognize, listen, learn, and act against racism. The Penn environment is not immune to racism. We have heard countless recollections of race-based bias and discriminatory behavior directed toward our minority students, post-doctoral fellows, faculty, and staff over the years. Thus, it is imperative that we engage the Biomedical Graduate Studies (BGS) and Biomedical Postdoctoral Program (BPP) scientific community at Penn to understand the challenges that our Black and underrepresented community members face so that, together, we can begin the work necessary to effect change in our immediate sphere of influence.  The BGS and BPP leadership formed the Combating Racial Inequities Committee (CRIC) in the summer of 2020 to evaluate the current climate with respect to race in order to make recommendations to improve it. CRIC will issue its recommendations in March 2021.

Who We Are

Donita Brady, Assistant Professor, Cancer Biology (co-chair)

Mary Mullins, Professor, Cell and Developmental Biology (co-chair)

Rebecca Hubbard, Professor, Biostatistics

Kristen Lynch, Professor and Chair, Biochemistry and Biophysics

Avery Posey, Assistant Professor, Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics

Sunny Shin, Professor, Microbiology

Amaliris Gonzalez, Postdoctoral Fellow, Rivella Lab, CHOP

Tiffany King, Postdoctoral Fellow, Posey and June Labs, Center for Cellular Immunotherapies

Ilenna Jones, PhD Student, Neuroscience, Kording Lab

David Sidibe, PhD Student, Cell and Molecular Biology-DSRB, Maday Lab

Staff:     Judy Jackson, Administrative Director, BGS

               Meagan Schofer, Associate Director, CAMB-BGS

Our Charge
 

Our Stakeholders
  • BGS Students
  • BPP Postdocs
  • PennPREP Students
  • Faculty in BGS and BPP (in PSOM, CHOP, SVM, SAS, SEAS, SDM, Nursing, Wharton)
Our Partners
  • BGS Graduate Group Chairs
  • PSOM Basic Science Chairs
  • Research Training Leaders and Staff: EVDCSO, BGS, BPP, MSTP, ORDT
  • PennPORT Program
  • PSOM Office of Inclusion and Diversity
  • PSOM UME Program of Diversity and Inclusion
  • UPenn Center for Teaching and Learning
  • UPenn Office of Student Conduct – Restorative Justice
Steps in Our Process

Timeframe

Item

Status

Aug-2020

Develop and Charge Committee

Complete

Sept-Nov 2020

Formulate and Administer Survey

Complete 

Dec 2020-Jan 2021

Code and Analyze Survey Responses

Complete

Dec 2020-Feb 2021

Conduct Stakeholder and Partner Sessions

Underway

Sept 2020-Feb 2021

Collect/Analyze Program Data (Admissions, Outcomes)

Underway

Jan-Mar 2021

Formulate and Present Recommendations

Underway