Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

UConn Nursing Students and Graduates

The UConn School of Nursing is committed to diversity and the excellence it facilitates. We embrace diversity of race/ethnicity, gender, abilities, religion, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic situation, background, experiences, and thought. This diversity culminates in strength that advances our learning, research and scholarship, practice, service, and innovation.

UConn is committed to diversity, a crucial part of the University's mission. The School of Nursing proudly upholds the University’s commitment to diversity while preserving The American Nurses' Association Code of Ethics. 

What is DEI at UConn Nursing?

  • Diversity:  The UConn School of Nursing community is comprised of individuals and groups with varied ages, abilities, citizenship status, countries of origin, cultures, ethnicities, genders, sexes, sexual orientations, races, religions, spiritual practices, or existential worldviews, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

  • Inclusion:  The UConn School of Nursing embraces the diversity of lived experiences, histories, aspirations, thoughts, and ideas.

  • Equity:  The UConn School of Nursing supports individual needs for achieving excellence. The School is a community in which all people can safely teach and learn, generate and disseminate knowledge, serve the community, and use their voice.

Levels of Racism and Our Efforts to Dismantle Them

Institutional

Institutional racism occurs within institutions and systems of power. This refers to the unfair policies and discriminatory practices of particular institutions.

DEI is part of the School of Nursing's core values and is embedded into our Strategic Plan as a Focus area that includes objectives and metrics. We will continue an ongoing assessment of all our policies and practices for their effectiveness and potential barrier.

Interpersonal

Interpersonal racism, or personally mediated, occurs between individuals. This is the bias that occurs when individuals interact with others and their personal racial beliefs affect their public interactions.

A Climate assessment will be included in our yearly School of Nursing data reporting.

Internalized/Individual

Internalized, or individual, racism lies within individuals. This type of racism comprises our private beliefs and biases about race and racism, influenced by our culture.

All School of Nursing faculty, staff, and students are responsible for engaging in DEI and participating in the Strategic Plan through continued professional development, educational opportunities, and activities.

Additional Resources:

Early Intro to the Nursing Profession Program (EINP)

The Early Introduction to the Nursing Profession (EINP) is a summer program, held by the UConn School of Nursing for high school students interested in a career in nursing.

Learn more here: Early Intro to the Nursing Profession Program | School of Nursing

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice @UConn

The University of Connecticut’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice website serves as the University’s central hub for diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) information and initiatives.

Home | Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice @UConn

Inform

 

 

 

 

 

 

InForm is a tool to help the UConn community navigate the reporting process and support available for a variety of incidents including bias, harassment, safety concerns, and other types of misconduct.

External DEI Advisory Committee

The committee’s charge is to advise the School of Nursing on matters of diversity, equity, and inclusion. It has no authority to establish policy or to make decisions or take action concerning students, faculty, or staff.

The committee will work directly with the school’s designated leadership:

  • Dean of UConn Nursing, Victoria Vaughan Dickson, PhD, RN, FAHA, FHFSA, FAAN
  • Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for UConn Nursing, MaryAnn Perez-Brescia, Ph.D., RN

 

The school’s designated leadership will be the liaison to the committee and the University of Connecticut’s leadership.

 

For additional information or to be a part of the UConn School of Nursing's DEI initiatives, please contact Dr. MaryAnn Perez-Brescia at maryann.brescia@uconn.edu

DEI

MaryAnn Perez-Brescia

Ph.D., RN
Assistant Clinical Professor
Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

maryann.brescia@uconn.edu

Community Members

A portrait of Carlos Brown

Carlos Brown, MHSA

Vice President of Compliance & Risk Management/Chief Compliance Officer, Medical College of Wisconsin

Catina Caban-Owen and her dogs

Catina Caban-Owen, PhD, ACSW, LCSW, MPA

Member Windham Public Schools Board of Education, former Social Worker for Windham Schools

portrait of Michelle Duprey

Michelle Duprey, J.D.

Deputy Corporation Counsel for Employment Litigation, City of New Haven, CT

Evelyn Gonzalez

Evelyn Gonzalez, MSN, RN, NE-BC

Director of Clinical Workforce Development, Memorial Healthcare System, Miramar, FL

Greg Jones

Greg Jones, MPA, MBA

Vice President for Community Health and Engagement, Hartford Hospital

Ena Williams

Ena Williams, MBA, RN, CNEP

Chief Nursing Officer at Yale New Haven Health

Alumni

Portrait of CEIN Alumna Nora Brinson

Lenore Brinson

CEIN/BS Alumna

Students