Kinesiology
UW-Madison School of Education

Equity Initiatives

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.”

News & Events

Department News

Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity in the Department

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Equity, Climate, and Diversity Committee

The Equity, Climate, and Diversity Committee helps the Department of Kinesiology create a welcoming and engaging environment for our campus communities. We aim to do so by providing opportunities for personal and professional growth, self-reflection, and developing awareness.

More about this committee

Committee Lead: Eric Walsh

Contact: Eric Walsh, emwalsh3@wisc.edu

Committee members:

  • Faculty & Staff: Luis Columna, Patrick Hills-Meyer, Morgan Shields, Aaron Stegner, Brittany Travers, Eric Walsh
  • Graduate Students: Steph Adler, Anthony Basso, Jenny Chambers
  • Undergraduate students: Bella Nikoklic, Jonathan Rodriguez

Meeting Frequency: Monthly

Membership Roles: Participate in at least one meeting per semester.

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: Kathryn Istvanek and Rebecca Freitag

Contact: Kathryn Istvanek, kistvanek@wisc.edu -or- Rebecca Freitag, rfreitag@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, annual elections are held every spring and members can apply for executive board positions. If students are interested in joining, they can contact Kathryn Istvanek or Rebecca Freitag (Co-Presidents of Diverse-OT) to be added to our listserv.

KinEqT Mentorship Program

The purpose of the KinEqT mentorship program is to help facilitate mentorship and access to resources–both academic and professional–between graduate and undergraduate students with underrepresented racial, disability, social class and gender identities, especially those who are underrepresented within the UW-Madison Department of Kinesiology. Learn more on the KinEqT website.

More about this student organization

Target Audience: students interested in mentorship (open to undergraduate mentee and graduate mentor students)

Org Leads: Stephanie Adler

Contact: Stephanie Adler, saadler@wisc.edu

Meeting Frequency: Undergraduate mentees meet with graduate students 7 times throughout the academic year to talk about personal, academic, and/or professional goals. The program also hosts monthly events on several different topics (e.g., career conversations, growth mindset) to support mentor/mentee meetings. Events are focused on supporting undergraduate students in accessing academic and professional resources as they explore the field of Kinesiology through a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens.

How to Join: View the KinEqT website for more info on how to join

https://kinesiology.education.wisc.edu/kineqt-mentorship-program/#how-to-join