Assistant Professor of Sociology Dr. Lauren Diamond-Brown Recognized as a State University of New York DEISJ Fellow
SUNY Potsdam is proud to announce that Assistant Professor of Sociology Dr. Lauren Diamond-Brown has been selected as one of 15 distinguished Fellows for the SUNY DEISJ (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice) program by the State University of New York. This prestigious appointment recognizes Dr. Diamond-Brown's expertise and commitment to advancing DEISJ principles within higher education.
Dr. Diamond-Brown is an accomplished scholar and educator who brings a wealth of experience to her role as a DEISJ Fellow. As an assistant professor of sociology, she is dedicated to providing high-impact learning experiences for her students and teaching for liberation. Her research agenda focuses on the perinatal experience from a social justice perspective, reflecting her deep commitment to equity and inclusion. Additionally, she has played a leadership role in various DEISJ initiatives at SUNY Potsdam.
"I am working to develop knowledge and skills to teach for liberation; this includes effective communication about diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice content, as well as the creation of learning communities grounded in DEISJ practices,” Diamond-Brown said. “I also seek to become a better collaborator so I can support colleagues seeking to integrate DEISJ in their classrooms. I am looking forward to working with my colleagues here at SUNY Potsdam and across the entire SUNY system in this work."
The selection process for the SUNY DEISJ Fellows was highly competitive, with more than 100 applications received from faculty across SUNY campuses. A dedicated team from the System Administration, in collaboration with representatives from the Faculty Council on Community Colleges and the University Faculty Senate, meticulously reviewed the applications. The chosen Fellows represent the best of SUNY's faculty and will contribute significantly to the inaugural year of the program.
The DEISJ Fellows program aligns with the new SUNY General Education Framework, adopted by the SUNY Board of Trustees in November 2021. This framework includes DEISJ as a mandatory knowledge and skills category for all undergraduate degrees. The Fellows will play a crucial role in supporting the implementation of this framework by providing faculty-to-faculty guidance and contributing to various initiatives. Their responsibilities include developing DEISJ course resources, offering office hours for faculty teaching DEISJ courses, contributing to the DEISJ in the Curriculum conference to be held in November 2023, collaborating with the SUNY Center for Professional Development (CPD) to develop a DEISJ course creator's certificate, and assisting in assessing the DEISJ component of general education.
As SUNY Potsdam continues to foster an inclusive and equitable environment for its students and faculty, Diamond-Brown's appointment as a SUNY DEISJ Fellow serves as a testament to the College's commitment to advancing DEISJ principles in higher education.
SUNY Potsdam’s Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice offers majors and minors in both sociology and criminal justice, as well as minors in human services and social justice. The department also plays an important role in both the women’s and gender studies and environmental studies programs. To learn more, visit https://www.potsdam.edu/academics/AAS/depts/socio.
About SUNY Potsdam:
Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America’s first 50 colleges—and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.