We are reaching out to affirm and extend messages from university leadership condemning the recent string of shootings in the Atlanta area, which killed eight people, six of whom were Asian women. It is tragic to be writing again in the wake of targeted violence. This news has shed harsh light on the marked increase in racism and violence toward Asians and Asian Americans in our country.

We stand firmly with our Asian and Asian American students and colleagues, whose contributions to our community are deeply valued. We encourage anyone who experiences or witnesses any act of bias or discrimination to report it here, and to reach out for help if you are feeling overwhelmed by recent events. The Asian and Asian American Center is here to support our Asian and Asian American students, staff, and faculty, as are all of us.

PAM continues its work to improve diversity and inclusion in the department. We established a Working Group on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the summer of 2020 comprised of students, staff, and faculty, and we have made concrete progress in educational programming, training, and research and engagement. You can follow our progress here. Our work is ongoing, and we remain open to your ideas and suggestions for what we can do better—please reach out to us at pam_dei@cornell.edu.

Check back soon for upcoming events.
 

Do you have an event suggestion? Email us at pam_dei@cornell.edu with your ideas. 

My Voice, My Story Session 9/1/21

Wednesday, September 1 from 9 am to 11 am (location TBD), facilitated by Colleen McLinn (Executive Director of Future Faculty and Academic Careers) and Sara Xayarath Hernández (Associate Dean for Inclusion & Student Engagement of the Graduate School). Participants will listen to narratives and formulate strategies to develop a more inclusive learning and research environment.
 

Virtual Roundtable: Now That We Have a Verdict, What Next? 4/27/21

This roundtable discussed key aspects of the Derek Chauvin trial; what the verdict means for the evolution of race in the law; and the role of organizations as catalysts for policy change and social impact in general.

It was led by our new PAM faculty member, Jamein Cunningham, incoming Assistant Professor, College of Human Ecology, Sherry Colb, C.S. Wong Professor of Law; Ravi Kanbur, T.H. Lee Professor of World Affairs, International Professor of Applied Economics and Management; Joe Margulies, Professor of Practice, Law and Government; and Aziz Rana, Richard and Lois Cole Professor of Law. Jamie Joshua, Director, Diversity and Inclusion, Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, moderated.

PAM Conversations on Race and Racism with Maria Cancian 4/23/21
 

On Friday, April 23rd we hosted our  PAM Conversations On Race and Racism, with Maria Cancian, Dean of the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University. Our discussion, Reflections on Who Counts and Why it Matters, was based on her APPAM Presidential Address.

PAM Conversations on Race and Racism with Mario Small 4/2/21

On Friday, April 2nd from 1:15-2:15pm we hosted a conversation with Mario Small, Grafstein Family Professor in the Department of Sociology at Harvard University. Our discussion, Bridging Sociological and Economic Perspectives on Racial Discrimination, was be based on his JEP article with Devah Pager.

PAM Peer-Mentorship Underrepresented Minorities in Healthcare 3/19/21

On Friday, March 19^th the PAM Peer Mentorship Program hosted an Underrepresented Minorities in Healthcare panel. Panelists included, Cliff Barnes, JD, Sloan ’74,  Attorney at Epstein Becker Green, Chinny Ogunro, PhD, Sloan ’09, Executive Officer of WellSpring Health, and Jesse Rodriquez, Anthropology ’03, Sloan ’07, Senior Director of Development at NYU Langone Health.  We are so grateful for the experiences and advice the panelists shared with everyone who attended. 

Coffee Chat with PAM Alum 2/12/21

On February, 12th the PAM Peer-Mentorship program hosted an informal coffee chat with PAM alum, Elizabeth Abunaw ’02,  Founder Owner and Operator of Forty Acres Fresh Market; Grenger Charles ’04, Head of Government Relations and ESG Strategy at Amherst Holdings; and Yetunde Ekunwe ’01, Global Banking and Markets Regulatory Data Strategy PMO at Bank of America. PAM students were able to learn, network and ask questions to three of our recent grads.

How To Be An Antiracist Book Discussions 11/6/20 & 12/11/20

PAM students, staff, and faculty gathered virtually to engage in reflection on how Ibram X. Kendi’s ideas intersect with our department dynamics, practices, and policies. The discussions were centered around Ibram’s book How to Be An Antiracist and were held on November 6^th and December 11^th.

These lists are intended to help PAM undergraduates who are interested in incorporating content related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into their course enrollments. 

We identify two groups of courses below that can count toward the PAM major.  The first of these are courses that have a substantial focus on topics related to racial diversity and equity.  The second group of courses have as part of their course a substantial independent project component, which a student could use if they wished to explore topics related to racial diversity and equity.

Always check the course description to ensure that you meet the prerequisites before enrolling in a course.
 

Spring 2021 Guide for PAM Majors

Courses with a substantial focus on topics of racial diversity and equity:
 

Courses that can count toward the PAM upper level electives (curriculum sheet requirement #2):

• PAM 4160 – Ethnography of Poverty and Inequality 

Core courses (curriculum sheet requirement #1):  

• PAM 2030 – Population and Public Policy

Courses that meet Additional PAM Electives (curriculum sheet requirement #3):

• PAM 2208 – Social Inequality
• PAM 2810 – Migration: Histories, Controversies and Perspectives

Courses that can count towards the FWS requirement:  

• ENGL 1111  FWS - Writing Across Cultures, Topic: Feeling Race, Sexuality, and Gender
• ENGL 1158  FWS - American Voices
• ENGL 1168 FWS - Cultural Studies

Courses that meet additional requirements (curriculum sheet requirement #13):
*Students should double check the distribution categories to confirm it still meets the requirement

• COML 4352 – Race and Slavery, Old and Modern
• ECON 3480 – Race and the American Labor Market in Historical Perspective
• FGSS 4845 – Labor, Race and Gender
• GOVT 4846 – Making Equality
• PHIL 1650 – Philosophy of Race
• SOC 3570 – Schooling, Racial Inequality, and Public Policy in America
• SPAN 3580 – Race and Immigration in Spain
• ENGL 2650 - Introduction to African American Literature

Courses that meet general electives to reach 120 credits to graduate (curriculum sheet requirement # 14):

• AMST 4658 – Fabricating Race
• ENGL 2585 - Millennial Jewish Stars: Race, Gender & Sexuality
• ENGL 4757 – Be a Man! Masculinity, Race, and Nation
• HADM 4315 – Nonprofit Social Enterprise and Food Justice
• ILROB 3230 - Advanced Racial Equity in Organizations
• PSYCH 4800 – Social Psychology of Race and Racism
• UNILWYL 1450 – Toxic Inequality: Environmental Justice in America

Courses with a substantial independent project component, which a student could use if they wished to explore topics related to racial diversity and equity:

Courses that can count toward the PAM upper level electives (curriculum sheet requirement #2):

• PAM 3120 – Research Design, Practice and Policy
• PAM 3780 – Sick Around the World? Comparing Health Care Systems Around the World
• PAM 4950 – PAM Engaged Learning Capstone
• PAM 4540 – Collaborative Modeling Methods for Policy and Program Evaluation

These lists are intended to help HCP undergraduates who are interested in incorporating content related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into their course enrollments. 

We identify two groups of courses below that can count toward the HCP requirements.   The first of these are courses that have a substantial focus on topics related to racial diversity and equity.  The second group of courses have as part of their course a substantial independent project component, which a student could use if they wished to explore topics related to racial diversity and equity.

Always check the course description to ensure that you meet the prerequisites before enrolling in a course.

Spring 2021 Guide for HCP Majors

Courses with a substantial focus on topics of racial diversity and equity:
 

Courses that can count toward the Social Policy Concentration (curriculum sheet requirement #3b):

• PAM 4160 – Ethnography of Poverty and Inequality 

Courses that can count toward the PAM Required Courses (curriculum sheet requirement #2):

• PAM 2030 – Population and Public Policy

Courses that meet Additional PAM Electives (curriculum sheet requirement #4):  

• PAM 2208 – Social Inequality
• PAM 2810 – Migration: Histories, Controversies and Perspectives

Courses that can count towards the FWS requirement:  

• ENGL 1111  FWS - Writing Across Cultures, Topic: Feeling Race, Sexuality, and Gender
• ENGL 1158  FWS - American Voices
• ENGL 1168 FWS - Cultural Studies

Courses that meet Additional Requirements (curriculum sheet requirement #15):
*Students should double check the distribution categories to confirm it still meets the requirement

• COML 4352 – Race and Slavery, Old and Modern
• ECON 3480 – Race and the American Labor Market in Historical Perspective
• FGSS 4845 – Labor, Race and Gender
• GOVT 4846 – Making Equality
• PHIL 1650 – Philosophy of Race
• SOC 3570 – Schooling, Racial Inequality, and Public Policy in America
• SPAN 3580 – Race and Immigration in Spain
• ENGL 2650 - Introduction to African American Literature

Courses that count as general electives to reach 120 credits to graduate (curriculum sheet requirement #16):

• AMST 4658 – Fabricating Race
• ENGL 2585 - Millennial Jewish Stars: Race, Gender & Sexuality
• ENGL 4757 – Be a Man! Masculinity, Race, and Nation
• HADM 4315 – Nonprofit Social Enterprise and Food Justice
• ILROB 3230 - Advanced Racial Equity in Organizations
• PSYCH 4800 – Social Psychology of Race and Racism
• UNILWYL 1450 – Toxic Inequality: Environmental Justice in America

Courses with a substantial independent project component, which a student could use if they wished to explore topics related to racial diversity and equity:

Courses that can count toward the Health Policy Concentration requirement (curriculum sheet requirement #3a):  

• PAM 3780 – Sick Around the World? Comparing Health Care Systems Around the World

Courses that can count toward the Additional PAM Electives requirement (curriculum sheet requirement #2): 

• PAM 3120 – Research Design, Practice and Policy
• PAM 4950 – PAM Engaged Learning Capstone
• PAM 4540 – Collaborative Modeling Methods for Policy and Program Evaluation

Looking for courses that include diversity topics? Use the course distribution tool within the Cornell class roster to view classes with a human diversity distribution. Enter either "D-HE" or "D-AG" in the Breadth and Distribution search box to see a list of diversity coursework in CALS and CHE colleges. Directions on how to use the distribution tool are available on the registrar’s webpage.  Cornell courses related to diversity offered outside CALS and CHE will not appear in the search. For ideas about diversity course options in other colleges, consult your faculty advisor.

Courses with the D-HE distribution are courses within Human Ecology under the human diversity distribution. Per the Courses of Study in these courses “students will enhance their abilities to communicate with people of different cultural perspectives; to listen carefully and respectfully to the views of others, especially views with which they disagree; and to employ ethical reasoning in judging ideas, actions, and their implications. These courses explore the challenges of building a diverse society, and/or examine the various processes that marginalize people and produce unequal power relations in terms of race, nationality, ethnicity, sexuality, religion, gender, age, or economic status.”  Courses with the D-AG distribution are courses in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences that  “explore the challenges of building a diverse society, and/or examine the various processes that marginalize people and produce unequal power relations.”

Maria Fitzpatrick and Matt Hall, in partnership with the National Education Equity Lab (NEEL), are teaching PAM 2070: Big Data for Big Policy Problems to high school students this 2021 spring semester. Students will learn about important policy issues through both the economics and sociological lenses, how big data are being used to address policy problems, and technical skills for how to begin using data in similar ways to address policy problems.

“A collaboration between eCornell and the nonprofit National Education Equity Lab is giving high school students in underserved communities the opportunity to develop skills in business analytics while also gaining the confidence to recognize they can excel in college.” - Cornell Chronicle, 2020

Featured in this New York Times article >
Cornell Chronicle article here >

On Saturday, October 10th, 2020 the PAM PhD program hosted a PAM Preview Day, aimed to raise awareness about the PhD program, and also increase the number of underrepresented Minorities (URM) within future cohorts. Out of the 50 participants, 70% identified as underrepresented Minorities. Participants were able to meet faculty and current graduate students, learn about student life as well as diversity and inclusion at Cornell and also get an in-depth look at the graduate school application process. PAM PhD students, Rene Crespin, Tatiana Padilla, and Grace Phillips  led the initiative, planning and organizing the entire event. Working with Anitra Douglas-McCarthy, Senior Director of Recruitment and the OISE graduate school recruitment office, the student-led team attracted potential applicants from academic institutions and industry, alike. Padilla said, “Our PAM community came together to acknowledge our duty and agency in improving representation of URM folks in higher education, graduate school and academia”. Although current health and safety measures required the event to be online, it served as a blueprint on how to deliver enriching content in an equitable way.

All Students, Faculty & Staff
 

• President Martha Pollack's statement on racial equity 
  University-wide initiatives to support diversity.
• Belonging at Cornell  
  The University’s central diversity initiative hub.
• Cornell Programs, Departments, Cultural, Resource, & Advising Centers 
  Provides a full list of university-wide organizations and groups that promote diversity and inclusion.

All Students
 

• ALANA Intercultural Board
  Provides programming and funding for programming related to diversity and intercultural efforts.
• American Indian & Indigenous Studies Program  
  Provides support to students who identify as American Indian or Indigenous, including internship, funding, scholarship, residential life, and other opportunities.
• Cornell Identity Resources
  Resources on identity and cultural centers and groups, to engage with individuals of similar background or connect with identities other than your own. 
• LGBT Resource Center 
  A wide variety of resources, information about the LGBT community at Cornell, and ways to get involved.
• Women’s Resource Center
  While this is open to all female students, the group expresses a specific commitment to women of color.

Undergraduate Students
 

• BOSS (Building Ourselves Through Sisterhood and Service)
  Mentorship program for women of color at Cornell.  
• Multicultural Programs
  Includes CHE’s Association for Students of Color and the Peer Partnership Program.
• Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives (OADI) 
  A centralized hub that provides support and resources for undergraduate students who are traditionally underrepresented and/or underserved in higher education. 
• SWAG (Scholars Working Ambitiously to Graduate)
  Mentorship group for Black men at Cornell. 

Graduate Students
 

• Office of Inclusion & Student Engagement
  Graduate school’s diversity webpage.
• Graduate Student Diversity Council 
  A student-led organization to promote diversity. 
• Graduate School Student Organizations 
  Provides a full list of graduate student organizations that promote diversity and inclusion.
• OISE Summer Symposium   
  Summer event aimed to build diversity.
• Multicultural Academic Council  
  Mentoring opportunities for graduate students from underrepresented backgrounds.

Faculty, Post Docs, TAs & Staff
 

• Office of Faculty Development and Diversity 
  Provides a range of resources to support faculty development and diversity, including training and support for deans, department chairs, and individual faculty members. 

• Colleague Network Groups
  University-sponsored groups to support traditionally underrepresented minorities and their allies.

All Students

• Learning Strategies Center
• Student Disability Services 
• Undocumented/DACA Student Resources 
• The Sadie Collective 
  Addresses the pipeline and pathway problem for economics and related fields.

Undergraduate Students
 

• PAM Peer-Mentorship Program
  An initiative from the DE&I Working Group that addresses the needs of students by providing a supportive community of peers, upper-class students, faculty members, and alumni for PAM and HCP majors.
• Latinx Student Success Office (LSSO)
  Academic program and campus hub for the Latinx community.
• McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program
  Research program to prepare students from disadvantaged backgrounds for doctoral studies. 
• OADI Pre-professional Programs
  Provides funding and support for underrepresented students who are interested in a professional career (e.g., law, medicine, education).  

• CHE Academic Counseling 
  CHE students connect here for help with academic and career advising.

Graduate Students
 

• NextGen Professors Program  
  Career development program for Cornell graduate students and postdocs from backgrounds historically underrepresented in the professoriate.
• Career and Professional Development
  Academic, career, professional, and personal development programs for all stages of graduate school. 
• Dean’s Scholars Initiative
  Funding for students from underrepresented backgrounds.

All Students, Faculty & Staff
 

• Bias Reporting
  Cornell's tool for reporting bias.
• Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX 
  Promotes equity and ensures civil rights compliance for all members of the university community.

Graduate Students

• Graduate Student Reporting of Unacceptable Behaviors
  Avenues for graduate students to report bias, sexual misconduct, and hazing.

All Students, Faculty & Staff
 

• Belonging at Cornell - Anti-racism Resources
  Includes webinars, trainings, books and videos.
• Office of Faculty Development and Diversity - Anti-racism Resources
  Includes podcasts, articles, books, documentaries, movies and short films.
• Intergroup Dialogue Project  
  Offers educational opportunities for the entire Cornell community aimed to foster communication across differences.

Faculty, Post Docs, TAs & Staff
 

• Center for Teaching Innovation
  Offers a range of programs to support teaching, including programs on how to create and sustain inclusive classrooms.
  • Teaching & Learning in The Diverse Classroom  
  • Let’s Get Real Conversations about Diversity and Teaching  
  • Building Inclusive Classrooms
• Inclusive Excellence Network 
  Includes podcasts, coursework, and networking opportunities. 

All Students, Faculty & Staff

• Cornell Health Counseling Services  
• Cornell Health’s Victim Advocacy  
  Provides assistance to members of the Cornell community who are victims of harmful, threatening, or violent incidents.
• EARS (Empathy, Assistance, and Referral Service)
  Cornell peer-led counseling services. 
• BEAM Collective (Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective)
  Organization dedicated to the healing, wellness, and liberation of Black and marginalized communities. The website offers a Black Virtual Wellness Directory. 
• Henry Health 
  Culturally intentional mental health services.
• GirlTrek: Healthy Black Women and Girls 
  National health movement that promotes walks for healing.

All Students, Faculty & Staff
 

• Policy 6.4 - Prohibited Bias, Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual and Related Misconduct 

Graduate Students
 

• Graduate School Policies on Diversity and Inclusion

The PAM Community Survey collected open-ended responses from students, staff, and faculty about their experiences in the department and ideas for concrete steps we can take to improve racial diversity, equity, and inclusion in PAM. We are grateful to all who shared their experiences and ideas. Click here to see a summary of data we collected from 50 student, staff, and faculty respondents.

The following data offer a benchmark for tracking PAM’s efforts to increase the diversity of our community.

Note: Student counts are as of the end of the sixth week of the 2019 Fall term, and faculty and staff counts are as of July 1, 2020. Data on students registered in absentia, students who are non-degree seeking, and employees seeking degrees through the Cornell Employee Degree Program are excluded. International includes non-U.S. citizens and those with non-permanent resident status. Underrepresented minorities include Black, Hispanic, American Indian, and Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, or persons with multiple identities that include one or more of these groups.

PAM and HCP Undergraduate Majors (N=252)
  - International: 7%
  - US Underrepresented Minority: 17%
  - US Other Minority: 24%
  - US White: 44%
  - US Unknown: 8%

Sloan MHA and EMHA Students (N=96)
  - International: 9%
  - US Underrepresented Minority: 21%
  - US Other Minority: 28%
  - US White: 38%
  - US Unknown: 4%

PAM PhD Students (N=22)
  - International: 36%
  - US Underrepresented Minority: 23%
  - US Other Minority: 5%
  - US White: 27%
  - US Unknown: 9%

PAM Faculty (N=28)
  - International: 4%
  - US Underrepresented Minority: 7%   
  - US Other Minority: 7%
  - US White: 82%

PAM Other Academic/Staff (N=36)
  - International: 3%
  - US Underrepresented Minority: 6%
  - US Other Minority: 3%
  - US White: 89%

College-Wide Demographic Data
College of Human Ecology Demographic Data

University-Wide Demographic Data
Cornell University Diversity Dashboard 
Graduate School Diversity Dashboard

National Data
Faculty pipeline PhD Production by Program, Race and Gender
(An online tool, which provides the total number of PhD students by race, gender, and course of study at the top 50 institutions)