The Graduate Alliance for Diversity and Inclusion (GADI) is a graduate student-led organization devoted to the principles of diversity and inclusion among graduate students in the College of the Liberal Arts at Penn State. GADI is a space for building community, sharing knowledge, and advocating for policies that promote diversity and inclusion for underrepresented students.
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About GADI
GADI has four committees that determine the projects and direction of the alliance. Graduate students interested in joining a committee should email gadi.cla.psu@gmail.com for meeting links and locations.
- The Steering Committee provides procedural and organizational guidance. This includes coordinating a schedule of events, collaborating on the activities of other committees, and setting policies and priorities for the organization. The committee meets the first Tuesday of every month from 4:00–5:00 p.m. ET via Zoom.
- The Social Committee focuses on community-building by providing social support, creating networking opportunities, and facilitating interpersonal connections amongst members. The committee meets the first Monday of every month from 6:00–7:00 p.m. ET via Zoom.
- The Education and Training Committee focuses on knowledge-sharing by collecting and distributing information about diversity and inclusivity in the academy as well as by providing training opportunities and resources for students, faculty, and the public. The committee meets the first Thursday of every month from 5:00–6:00 p.m. ET via Zoom.
- The Public Affairs Committee focuses on policy advocacy by communicating within the organization, identifying institutional resources, and coordinating outreach across campus and to surrounding communities. The committee meets in person one Thursday per month from 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. ET.
Administrative Supervisor
Education and Training Committee
Public Affairs Committee
Social Committee
Steering Committee
Get Involved
- Email gadi.cla.psu@gmail.com to join a committee or to promote your own organization’s events.
- Email Emerson Todd to join the book group to discuss books written by authors from marginalized groups and about equity, inclusion, and diversity-related topics and experiences.
- Email Sabrina Evans to join Intersections, a support group for students with both a gender and racial minority identity.
Community Resources
GADI has put together a booklet that provides resources for graduate students ranging from mental health and food insecurity to health insurance and accessibility.
There are many resources available to Penn State students—for a first step into seeking emotional, financial, or other support, check out Penn State’s Basic Needs and Support guide.
For example, many students also take advantage of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to gain access to funding to buy produce and food that supports a healthy diet. There are also food pantries around campus for food support.
There is also a Broadband Internet Assistance program to help students pay for internet access, as well as the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) to help students experiencing trouble covering the cost of rental housing and/or utilities.
Penn State provides free financial counseling and psychological counseling services to students in need. Learn more about financial resources.
Access GADI’s Graduate Student Resource Guide, a collection of useful tips and organizations to help you navigate life as a graduate student at Penn State. You’ll find resources like:
- An FAQ page for concerns like changing your Penn State email address, finding a culturally competent therapist, changing your name/gender designation in the Registrar, and accessing financial assistance.
- A resource guide that includes lists of:
- Graduate student-led initiatives and community groups
- Non-Penn State services such as affordable housing resources, a shelter for survivors of domestic violence, free tax assistance, and more
- State College advocacy groups like 3/20 Coalition, Democratic Socialists of America, and Centre County COVID-19 Community Response
- Campus-wide offices and initiatives that provide the Penn State community with resources pertinent to marginalized groups
- Discipline-specific resources at Penn State pertinent to diversity and inclusion
- Resources for undergraduate students from historically underrepresented groups
This document is a living document, so if you have questions or would like to add resources, please send us an email at gadi.cla.psu@gmail.com with the subject line, “GADI Resource Guide.”
Finally, if you need to report something or request help from an office, there are several offices based on your needs.
If you believe someone has acted in a biased or discriminatory way, you can report them to the University if they are an employee or a student. To go outside of the University:
If they are a student: You can also report this person to the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights or the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission.
If they are an employee: You can report them to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission.
To report sexual or gender-based harassment or misconduct, you can contact the Title IX office or the Penn State Hotline at 800-560-1637.
To report suspected child abuse, contact the Pennsylvania Child Welfare Services (ChildLine) and email AD72@psu.edu.
To report hazards or ask questions about environmental health and safety, you can contact Penn State’s Department of Environmental Health and Safety.
To report an instance of hazing, you contact the Office of Student Conduct for student hazing, or Labor and Employee Relations at 814-867-0041 for employee hazing.
To report unsafe student conduct in general, you can contact the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
- University Ethics Office: Resources for Reporting Wrongdoing
- Penn State 24/7 Reporting Hotline
- Penn State Policy AD85 (Sexual and/or Gender-Based Harassment or Misconduct)
- Report Bias or Intolerance
- Title IX (Office of Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response)
- Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
- University Health Services
- Lion’s Pantry (food pantry for all Penn State students)
- Campus Recreation and Fitness Facilities
- Student Disability Resources
Academic Resources
One of GADI’s goals is to be a resource for graduate students looking to create more inclusive learning environments. Below is a compilation of resources that can serve as a first step on the journey towards a more inclusive classroom.
Teaching Materials
Awards and Grants
Each year, GADI holds two opportunities to recognize and fund graduate student efforts—in the fall, our Graduate Voices in Diversity and Inclusion Grant and in the spring, our Research and Service Awards. Read below to learn more!
Graduate Voices in Diversity and Inclusion (GVDI) Grant
The GVDI Grant opens every fall for proposals from graduate students who advance the recruitment, retention, and leadership training of graduates in the College of the Liberal Arts. The GADI Review Committee awards one $1,000 GVDI Grant, and three to five $500 GVDI Grants to proposals and assists in the planning, advertising, and execution of funded events and initiatives. Learn more about this year’s proposal requirements and eligibility criteria.
Prior GVDI Grant Recipients/Initiatives
2021 Recipients
Ray Rosas, Lauren Barnes, and Shannon McClellan Brook
Initiative Title: “Graduate Community in Conversation: Negotiating the Norms of Academic Writing – A Series of Writing Workshops for Graduate Students from Historically Underrepresented Backgrounds”
Jules Wong
Initiative Title: “Roundtable on Challenging Transphobia in the Classroom”
Marisa Lytle, Alicia Vallorani, and Sara Soto
Initiative Title: “Diversifying the Graduate School Pipeline for Doctoral Programs in Psychology: The Next Gen Psych Scholars Program”
Yolanda Mackey and Courtney Murray
Initiative Title: “African American Diasporic Reading Group”
GADI Research and Service Awards
The 2023 deadline has passed. Check back in early 2024 for next year’s deadline.
Every spring, GADI recognizes four graduate students for exemplary and exceptional work in the realm of diversity and inclusion. Two graduate students receive $250 each for research that pushes forward our knowledge about DEIB and the ability to make meaningful change for others, and another two graduates receive $250 each for their service to underrepresented and marginalized communities and systems. Self-nominations are welcome in addition to the nominations of others.
Prior GADI Research and Service Award Recipients
2022 Recipients
Sabrina Evans
In recognition of exemplary service promoting the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Penn State community
Cynthia Ramos
In recognition of exemplary service promoting the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Penn State community
Lyana Sun Han Chang
“Narrativizing Undocumented Immigrant Status: Translanguaging Precarity”
Flora Oswald
“Signaling Sizeism: An Assessment of Body Size-Based Threat and Safety Cues”
2021 Recipients
Miriam Gonzalez
In recognition of exemplary service promoting the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Penn State community
Anna Zhou
In recognition of exemplary service promoting the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Penn State community
Corrine Lajoie
In recognition of exemplary service promoting the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Penn State community
Wei Wei
In recognition of exemplary service promoting the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Penn State community
