Fostering a welcoming environment for individuals with a passion for health, science, wellness, education, and equity is essential to reach the UW–Madison Department of Kinesiology’s goals of optimizing health and well-being on a global scale.
It is not enough to idly stand by. We are actively working to establish an anti-racist atmosphere in the department, so current and future students from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds will feel like they have the resources and space with which to succeed.
Implementing equitable practices and creating space for discussion and action are vital steps to create a positive climate for all. We look forward to working continuously with all, in the department and beyond, to build a healthy and well community within the Department of Kinesiology.
We endorse the UW–Madison Institutional Statement on Diversity
“Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW–Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community.”
Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity in the Department
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Equity, Climate, and Diversity Committee
The Equity Climate and Diversity Committee aims to maintain a welcoming and engaging environment within the Department of Kinesiology.
More about this committee
Committee Lead: Stephanie Trigsted
Contact: Stephanie Trigsted, stephanie.trigsted@wisc.edu
Meeting Frequency: Monthly
How to Join: TBD
Diverse-OT Student Organization
Diverse-OT aims to advance the cultural climate within the UW–Madison OT program and the greater campus by providing opportunities for discussion and education on diversity and inclusion. We strive to create pathways for marginalized students into the program, and to foster a strong community of occupational therapy students who are knowledgeable about the experiences of underrepresented peoples and equipped to address health disparities.
More about this student organization
Target Audience: students interested in health care (open to both undergraduate and graduate students)
Org Leads: Julia Garcia and Ryan Ping
Contact: Julia Garcia, jagarcia5@wisc.edu -or- Ryan Ping, rjping@wisc.edu
Meeting Frequency: General body meetings are held monthly, during which time any and all students are welcome. Executive board (e-board) meetings are held biweekly, during which time elected board members meet to discuss plans for future meetings, outreach opportunities, etc.
How to Join: Diverse-OT has open doors to any and all students (both graduate and undergraduate) who are interested in attending the general body meetings. Membership is purely based on those who attend our general body meetings. However, if you would like to be more involved in the planning process, we hold annual elections every spring, through which members can apply for executive board positions (information on this process is shared through our email listserv). If students are interested in joining, they can contact Julia Garcia or Ryan Ping (Co-Presidents of Diverse-OT).
Kinesiology Book Club
The book club is open to all students, faculty, and staff in the department. We meet about one time per month during the academic year and will meet more frequently between semesters (winter and summer). We understand the academic year can be very busy, so we will focus on articles or shorter reading topics and save books or longer discussions for between semesters.
More about this book club
Target Audience: The book club is open to all students, faculty, and staff in the department.
Contact person: Stephanie Trigsted, stephanie.trigsted@wisc.edu
Meeting Frequency: We plan to meet once per month during the academic year and more frequently during the summer to discuss books, articles, or other materials.
How to Join: Contact Stephanie Trigsted, stephanie.trigsted@wisc.edu