The 2024 SPSSI Graduate Student Committee Preconference Workshop:

The Importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - and How Accessibility and Retention Are Often Left Out.

www.spssi.org/2024gscpreconference

Thursday, June 20, 2024
Philadelphia Marriott Old City (map)

Students - $45  |  Non-Students - $65

The SPSSI Graduate Student Committee Preconference will take place on June 20, 2024, immediately preceding the SPSSI Summer Conference, which begins on Friday, June 21 and ends on Sunday, June 23, 2024. Typically, the preconference breakfast begins at 8:30 am and the programming begins at 9:00 am. Programming typically ends by 4 pm, and will be immediately followed by a happy hour event for all preconference attendees. Breakfast, lunch, and happy hour hors d'oeuvres are included as part of the programming and are reflected in the registration fee. 

The Graduate Student Committee’s (GSC) Pre-conference Workshop will focus on the integration of accessibility and retention into diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives that will enable institutions to build more sustainable and inclusive communities. Workshop participants will network with other graduate students and scholars, learn how to find funding opportunities for their important research topics, learn strategies to cope with the difficulties of graduate school, and develop skills to prepare them for the next phase of their careers, whether it be academia or otherwise. The GSC hopes that through this workshop, participants will walk away understanding that true diversity goes beyond recruitment numbers; it emphasizes creating an environment where everyone, regardless of background, can flourish and contribute meaningfully to the collective success of the academic or professional community.

Sessions will include:

• A presentation and Q & A on accessibility for marginalized young adults with Dr. Sonji Jones-Mason.

• A skill-building session on how to navigate applying for external grant funding with SPSSI’s 2023 Taylor Fellow, Ty Robinson, where workshop participants will learn what resources are available, how to find awards, and what to include in their applications.

• An interactive skill-building session on dealing with burnout in graduate school and beyond, with Member-at-Large Communications Focus, Sydney Klein and Member-at-Large Membership Focus, Riley Henry.

• An Equity training workshop that is actually equitable, where participants will develop diversity statements and learn how to incorporate diversity into their work with Chair-Elect, Leslie Vernon-Dunnigan.

• Plus more!

The program is subject to change and will continue to be updated as more details are confirmed. 

 Questions? Please contact SPSSI Graduate Student Committee Chair, Chelsie Burchett (chelsie.burchett@stonybrook.edu).