»Chapman Diversity Project

Sponsored by the Office of the Provost

The Chapman Diversity Project endeavors to bring students, staff, faculty, administrators, alumni, community members, and trustees together for meaningful dialogue focused on developing strategic priorities and recommendations for diversity and inclusion at Chapman. This initiative began in Fall of 2014 and is sponsored by the Office of the Provost. Members of the Chapman Diversity Project Advisory Groups, Task Forces and Response Committee are guided by best practices and current research while connecting efforts with Chapman structures, staffing and resources.

Chapman's Advisory Groups evaluate and recommend services, policies and programs for enhancing diversity and inclusion. Each Advisory Group is comprised of students, staff, faculty, administrators and trustees and is open to people of all identities. The Advisory Groups:

  • identify, recommend and support creative strategies for promoting and enhancing campus diversity
  • respond to issues, needs and concerns identified within the community of focus
  • establish effective and collaborative working relationships between departments, offices, committees and initiatives
  • advise the Provost of Chapman University and campus community stakeholders on issues for each respective constituency 

In order to do this, the Advisory Groups bring together information on the climate of the university as well as on the status of each constituency they work to support.

The Five Task Forces:

  • seek to identify pressing issues related to each area of institutional focus
  • research best practices and possible responses to identified issues
  • build strategic recommendations that are both short and longer term
  • communicate with departments that may be involved with any strategic recommendations to develop initiatives that align with existing programs, services, structures, staffing and resources.

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Advisory Group on the Status of Disability & Accessibility

Art Blaser
Faculty Co-Chair
blaser@chapman.edu

LouAnne Boyd
Faculty Co-Chair
lboyd@chapman.edu

Jana Remy
Staff Co-Chair
remy@chapman.edu

Advisory Group on the Status of Faith, Spirituality, & Secularism

Rabbi Corie Yutkin 
Staff Co-Chair 
yutkin@chapman.edu

Advisory Group on the Status of International Communities

Junko Takada
Coordinator, International Student Services
takada@chapman.edu 

Advisory Group on the Status of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, & Queer Communities

Nancy Brink
Staff Co-Chair
brink@chapman.edu

Valentyna Simon
Undergraduate Student Co-Chair
vsimon@chapman.edu

Advisory Group on the Status of Military Affiliates

Phill Hall 
Staff Co-Chair 
phall@chapman.edu

Advisory Group on the Status of People of Color

Marissa Tobias
Staff Co-Chair
tobias@chapman.edu

Justin Riley
Staff Co-Chair
juriley@chapman.edu

Natalia Ventura
Student Co-Chair
venturac@chapman.edu

Advisory Group on the Status of Socio-economic Stratification

Alisa Driscoll
Staff Co-Chair
driscoll@chapman.edu

Advisory Group on the Status of Women

Naveena Chonkaria
Student Co-Chair
chonkaria@chapman.edu

Marisa Quezada
Student Co-Chair 
mquezada@chapman.edu

Task Forces

Chapman's Five Task Forces are:

Curriculum 
Looks at Chapman's curriculum in a variety of ways in an effort to enhance the themes of diversity and inclusion across all disciplines through diversity infusion and inclusive pedagogy and assess cultural and ethnic studies offerings. 

Nicky Meindl
Student Co-Chair
meindl@chapman.edu

Wendy Salmond
Faculty Co-Chair
salmond@chapman.edu

Communications and Perceptions
Looks at how Chapman is perceived in the areas of diversity and inclusion, both internally and externally.  The group will examine survey data gathered from faculty, staff and students, as well as look at the signals and communication we send as an institution that shape perceptions.

Not meeting during the 2020-2021 academic year. 

Community 
Looks at diversity and inclusion from the perspective of the campus community, focusing on both on and off-campus community partnerships and relationships, internal and external recruitment pipelines, co-curricular programming and student communities.

Not meeting during the 2020-2021 academic year. 

Demographics
Focuses on compositional diversity among all of our constituent groups at Chapman including students, staff, faculty, administrators and trustee levels. 

Not meeting during the 2020-2021 academic year. 

Physical Space
Looks at creating a physical environment that is inclusive and diverse both in welcoming and including underrepresented identities and considering accessibility.  The group will examine buildings, public spaces, classrooms, bathrooms, signage, artwork, quotes, goods, services and images which shape the physical experience of the campus for underrepresented groups. 

Not meeting during the 2020-2021 academic year. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions about the Chapman Diversity Project. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any other questions!


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What is the Chapman Diversity Project?

The Chapman Diversity Project endeavors to bring students, staff, faculty, administrators, alumni, community members, and trustees together for meaningful dialogue focused on developing strategic priorities and recommendations for diversity and inclusion at Chapman. This initiative began in fall of 2014 and is sponsored by the Office of the Provost. The Chapman Diversity Project is comprised of eight advisory groups, five task forces, and a response committee.

What types of projects do the groups work on?

Some projects that groups have worked on and accomplished include: 

  • Supporting the start of a new Latinx and Latin American Studies Minor 
  • Advocacy for the establishment of a Veterans Resource Center and Director of Veterans Affairs 
  • The inclusion of free menstruation products in women's and gender neutral restrooms on campus 
  • Identification and expansion of prayer and meditation space at the Rinker campus 
  • Advocacy for increased physical accessibility in renovations and new building projects 
  • Completion of the Campus Pride Index assessing Chapman as an LGBTQ friendly school 
  • Mapping campus amenities that are useful for students who may be struggling financially including lockers, microwaves, refrigerators, and printers

How do I know what group I should join?

Members select groups depending on their interests, knowledge, experiences, and/or passions. All groups focus on advocacy, institutional change, dialogue, and community building around diversity and inclusion.

How can I join?

You can always reach us at cdp@chapman.edu if you have any questions.

Can I join more than one group?

Yes, you can join more than one group! The time commitment is up to you and your schedule, though the vast majority of CDP members are only a part of one group.

Do I have to be a part of the specific identity or community that the advisory group focuses on in order to participate?

No. You are welcome to join any groups that you would like to join as long as there is currently space available in the group.

What is the time commitment to joining a group, and what are the expectations of group members?

Most groups meet once or twice a month and meetings are typically one hour long. Group members can select projects to work on depending on their availability and schedules. Some groups have sub-committees that focus on a specific area (ex: programs, services, policies), and the sub-committees meet at times outside of the regular group meeting times.

Who is in the groups?

Undergraduate and graduate students, staff members, part-time and full-time faculty, administrators, and alumni typically compose the membership in each group. There are also local community members that are a part of the Community Task Force. Participation is voluntary.

What is the leadership structure like? Who leads meetings?

Each group typically has a student, staff, and faculty co-chair. Co-chairs are responsible for guiding dialogues at meetings to ensure there is a balance of voices in the room. Co-chairs also typically send out meeting agendas and minutes to the group and communications about special projects that groups/sub-committees may be working on.

What is the average meeting attendance like?

Meeting attendance can vary group to group and year to year. However, there are typically about 5-15 folks present at each meeting.

At what times do groups typically meet?

Meeting times are different for each group and co-chairs typically poll the group at the beginning of the term to find a time that may work best for the majority. Most groups meet once or twice a month and meetings are typically one hour long between the hours of 8am-5pm Monday through Friday. We recommend you reach out to the CDP co-chairs of the group(s) you are interested in joining for the most accurate meeting times.

If I am interested in leading one of the groups, how does that process work?

If you are interested in leading one of the groups, please connect with the current co-chairs of that group or email Kara Ward at karaward@chapman.edu for more information.

What events does the Chapman Diversity Project participate in?

The Chapman Diversity Project participates in many on-campus events throughout the year and is open to collaboration opportunities. Please email Kara Ward at karaward@chapman.edu if you are interested in partnering with CDP on your event.  

If I want to promote an event of effort I am working on with Chapman Diversity Project members, how can I do that?

Please email us at cdp@chapman.edu and we would be happy to share information with the larger group for further promotion. 

If I have a concern or idea I wish to bring to a group, but I do not want to become a member, can I do that?

Yes! Please email Kara Ward at karaward@chapman.edu if you would like to share an idea or a concern with one of the groups.

Chapman Magazine

Read the article on the Chapman Diversity Project, titled A Culture of Inclusion by Dennis Arp.