Inclusion and Diversity Committee

Report Bias

The Inclusion and Diversity Committee was established in 2018 to monitor the climate regarding the engagement of diverse student, staff, and faculty populations and to coordinate and support activities to improve inclusion and diversity in the College of Engineering. 


Faculty and Staff Representatives

  • Anahita Ayasoufi
    Lecturer, Mechanical Engineering
  • Ben Bowers
    Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Brendan Higgins
    Assistant Professor, Biosystems Engineering
  • Brooke House
    Recruiting, Scholarships and Outreach
  • Cassie Montgomery
    Communications Specialist, Communications and Marketing
  • Cordelia Brown
    Director, Center for Inclusive Engineering Excellence
    Senior Lecturer, Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Erin Garcia
    Lecturer, Industrial & Systems Engineering
  • Jakita Owensby Thomas
    Associate Professor, Computer Science & Software Engineering
  • Jeff Fergus 
    Committee Chair
    Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies & Program Assessment
    Professor, Materials Engineering
  • Jenny Sconyers
    Student Initiatives Administrator, Engineering Administration
  • Jessica Bowers
    Manager for Career Development Content & Strategy, Office of Career Development & Corporate Relations
  • Majid Beidaghi
    Associate Professor, Materials Engineering
  • Maria Auad
    Associate Dean, Graduate Studies & Faculty Development
    Professor, Chemical Engineering
  • Meredith Reid
    Assistant Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering
  • Oladiran Fasina
    Department Head & Professor, Biosystems Engineering
  • Somer Givens 
    Analyst, Online and Continuing Education
  • Tammy Walker
    Senior Manager, Human Resources
  • Teresa Carden
    Program Administrator, 100+ Women Strong
  • Vinamra Agrawal
    Assistant Professor, Aerospace Engineering
  • Virginia Davis
    Professor, Chemical Engineering

Student Representatives

  • Christian Ford
    Undergraduate Student, National Society of Black Engineers
  • Justin Harvell
    Graduate Student, Council of Engineering Graduate Students
  • Luis Santos
    Graduate Student, Society for Hispanic Engineers
  • Madison Dutton
    Undergraduate Student, Society of Women Engineers
  • Ryan Long
    Undergraduate Student, Out in STEM
  • Zoey Cunningham
    Undergraduate Student, College of Engineering School's Council


Since 2018, the Committee has undertaken initiatives to serve faculty, staff, and students in the College of Engineering community. 

  • Inclusive Assignments   |  Developing resources for faculty members to incorporate and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion issues in-class assignments
  • Students with Children   | The committee organized activities for students who have children
  • Train-the-Trainer  |  Six faculty and staff members participated in a pilot Train-the-Trainer program led by the University Office of Inclusion and Diversity
  • Implicit Bias Training   | Faculty and staff collaborated on a presentation with the University Office of Inclusion and Diversity to introduce students in the freshmen engineering orientation course (ENGR 1100) to implicit bias in the context of a professional skill needed for success in the engineering professions
  • Branding of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Activities   |  Launched the Engineering Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion website to collect and promote the College’s DEI efforts. The site also serves as a resource for future and current students, faculty, and staff. Developed the Engineer Together brand, launched in October 2021, to demonstrate the connection among a variety of Engineering DEI initiatives.  
  • Climate Survey  |   Identified a climate survey developed by the University of Michigan that is available for use. Adapted the survey for Auburn College of Engineering.
  • Listening Sessions + Survey   |  Organized four listening sessions for faculty, staff, and students to discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion topics. Conducted a follow-up survey after the listening sessions. 
  • Discussion Groups | Organized small groups to discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion topics on a regularly scheduled basis. 

  • Awards | Promoting awards for exceptional work on topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion; developing additional awards.