Ways to Get Involved

Opportunities in the Psychology Department

• Graduate students and faculty members can serve on one of the Psychology Department’s Diversity and Inclusion’s subcommittees. Visit here for a list of current subcommittees. [Contact: Bethany Teachman, [email protected]]

• Volunteer to mentor an undergraduate student’s research project through the Summer Leadership Alliance Program. 

• Encourage students from marginalized groups to pursue independent research projects (i.e., conference posters, DMPs) under your mentorship. Offer to help with their graduate school, job, or fellowship applications, or to do a mock interview. 

• Join the Diversifying Scholarship conference planning committee. [Contact: Shannon Savell, [email protected]]

• Volunteer to help with the Diversifying Psychology Visit Day event [Contact: Alexis Stanton, [email protected]]

• Join the graduate student-led Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Sexuality Committee [Contact: Nauder Namaky, [email protected]].

• Participate in one of the Psychology Department’s Antiracism Watch Events. The next event will be a discussion of the film I am Not Your Negro [Contact: Bethany Teachman, [email protected]]. 

• Follow @UVADiversity, @EquityCenterUVA, and @Youth-Nex on Twitter (or check their respective websites) for information on upcoming workshops, speaker series and panel discussions that are relevant to issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

Opportunities for Undergraduate Students

• The Office of Diversity and Equity posts information about their events, such as talks and panels, here. 

• There are a number of UVA-wide organizations related to diversity, inclusion, and outreach. We highlight several below, but click here for a complete and up-to-date list.

  • The Peer Advisor Program “assists Black first-year and entering transfer students with their college transition by providing personalized, sensitive support and counseling. In addition, the program offers a wide range of activities from orientation to workshops and seminars to academic recognitions.” https://oaaa.virginia.edu/peer-advisor-program-0 

  • The UVA Latinx Peer Mentoring Program “assists first year and entering transfer students with their college transition by providing one-on-one guidance through the use of peer mentors. In addition, PMP offers a wide range of academic, social and career development programs designed to support each student's transition to college and to help create a strong sense of community. Our core purpose is to guide and support students and to enrich their experience at UVA.We provide a base of support by uniting Hispanic/Latinx students to support their integration into the UVA community at large.” http://atuva.student.virginia.edu/organization/latinohispanicpeermentorprogram 

  • The UVA Asian/Pacific Islander/Desi American Peer Advising Family Network (PAFN) “was created to provide transitional support to incoming first year and transfer students who identify as Asian/Pacific Islander/Desi.” https://multicultural.virginia.edu/apida-peer-advising-family-network 

  • The Middle Eastern Leadership Council aims “to serve as a proactive voice and a support system for the Middle Eastern community and presence on grounds” and “welcome[s] people of all different backgrounds, languages, and religions.” https://www.facebook.com/MELCatUva/ 

  • The Center for American English Language and Culture “developed the VISAS program to help international members of the UVa Community develop their English language and intercultural communication skills and to build bridges between domestic and international UVA community members.” Click here to learn how to become a volunteer: https://caelc.virginia.edu/volunteering  

Opportunities in the Charlottesville Community 

• Charlottesville Black Lives Matter

  • https://twitter.com/CvilleBLM

  • https://blacklivesmatter.com

• SURJ Charlottesville is a chapter of the national Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) network. SURJ works to educate, organize, and activate more white people to engage in multiracial movements for racial justice, and to help white folks prepare themselves to follow the leadership of POC-led movements for racial justice. 

  • https://www.facebook.com/surjcville/

  • https://twitter.com/SURJ_Cville

  • https://surj.org/

• Solidarity Cville generates community-centered media that amplify the marginalized voices of Charlottesville.

  • https://twitter.com/SolidCville

• Sin Barreras educates, supports, and serves the immigrant community in Charlottesville and the surrounding areas.

  • https://www.sinbarrerascville.org

  • https://twitter.com/sbcville

  • https://www.facebook.com/sinbarrerascville/

• Supplier Diversity Programs: It is city policy to make every reasonable effort to increase opportunities for Small, Women, and Minority-Owned (SWaM-O) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) businesses.

  • https://www.charlottesville.gov/300/Supplier-Diversity-Programs

• The City of Charlottesville Business Equity Fund (BEF) is a loan program for existing Charlottesville businesses owned by individuals who have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias because of their group membership.

  • https://www.charlottesville.gov/723/Business-Equity-Fund-Loan-Program

• The Minority Business Directory lists minority and women-owned businesses certified through the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (SBSD). 

  • https://www.charlottesville.gov/725/Minority-Business-Directory

• Learn more about other opportunities to get involved in the community here. 

  • https://publicservice.virginia.edu/resources 

  • https://www.charlottesville.gov/677/City-Council

If you have additional ideas or information on opportunities for involvement in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives, please contact Allie Silverman at [email protected].