Sheritta Strong, MD

Members of the UNMC community are invited to participate in the second all-campus diversity and inclusion listening session set for today. The online session, which includes an online breakout room for more in-depth conversations, will run from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

UNMC held its initial listening session in June after the tragic death of George Floyd sparked protests and national calls to end structural racism. Since then, the campus has taken a number of steps including individual colleges and units scheduling their own forums and conversations, the campus community gathering for a White Coats for Black Lives observance and the McGoogan Library posting online learning materials related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).

Today, UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, will provide brief opening remarks and Sheritta Strong, MD, director of inclusion and assistant professor of psychiatry, will provide a brief update on DEI efforts across campus.

Facilitators Katie Brandert of the College of Public Health (COPH) and Sarena Dacus, a UNMC COPH alum, will ask the following panelists to share their personal or institutional experiences:

• Emily McElroy, dean, McGoogan Health Sciences Library;
• Lisa Spellman, publications/media specialist, UNMC Strategic Communications; and
• Shaker Dukkipati, an MD/PhD student and president of UNMC's Student Alliance for People of All Abilities.

The event also will include a 10-15 minute breakout session, which allows smaller groups to discuss and reflect on DEI issues.

Members of the UNMC community are invited to participate via Zoom and submit their questions and comments by email -- in advance or in real time -- at unmcevents@unmc.edu.