Creating Community for Underrepresented Students in the Environmental Sciences (ESCI)

Amount Awarded: $20,897.50 

Academic Year: 2022-2023 

Implementation: Active, April 2023 – Spring 2026

Full Application: Link

Categories: Campus and CommunityEngagement Student Life

The purpose of this project was to support underrepresented students in the Environmental Science (ESCI) program by increasing community and connections between ESCI faculty and other underrepresented students. The main idea was to host quarterly events where students and faculty could share a meal together and foster strong relationships and mentorships. This grant funded a three-year program, managed by the College of the Environment’s Diversity Recruitment and Retention Specialist, Shalini Singh.  

Through these events, students, staff, and faculty will be able to meet while enjoying high-quality culturally relevant food, entertainment, and guest speakers. Food from different cultures gives students an easily accessible opportunity to experience food from a wide range of different cultures. In turn, this will increase representation for students as they might be able to identify with the food being served. The guest speakers will highlight the experience of working in the ESCI field as an underrepresented person. The hope is to ultimately attract more students of color into the College of the Environment, as well as to create a strong and lasting support system for them.