Important Update on the President's Council for Inclusion, Transformative Social Justice & Advocacy

Thursday, September 23rd, 2021

Dear Panthers, 

As we continue our progress in making UNI a more equitable, inclusive and diverse campus community, we’re excited to announce the two extraordinary members of our faculty and staff who will serve as our next co-chairs for the President's Council for Inclusion, Transformative Social Justice, and Advocacy (CITSJA).

Janel Alleyne, UNI’s assistant dean of students, and Doug Mupasiri, mathematics department head and professor, both have impressive records of advocating for inclusion. 

Janel has over 13 years of experience in higher education, previously working as the Director of Student Conduct at her alma mater the State University of New York at Postdam, where she earned her master’s degree in Organizational Leadership. Janel is currently in the second year of her EdD program at UNI focusing on Higher education: Student Affairs. 

Janel's career and personal attention have been focused on student discipline and accountability, as well as mentoring, supporting and advocating for underrepresented student populations, including LGBTQ-identified students. She also serves as a member of the UNI's P&S Council representing Student Affairs, the Benefits Advisory Committee and the Healthy Campus Coalition and is a member of the Out and Ally Network . You can read more about her here. 

Before he chaired our mathematics department, Doug was hard at work advocating for the inclusion of more underrepresented students in STEM fields. He is a founding member of the National Alliance for the Production of African American Ph.D.s in the Mathematical Sciences, now known as the National Alliance for Doctoral Studies in the Mathematical Sciences. 

His efforts led to UNI hosting a regional conference supported by the National Science Foundation last year that drew students and faculty from across the Midwest. You can read more about his efforts here. 

The Council is finalizing its recommendations for systemic change and will be coordinating with the President's Office and the broader campus community to begin to create that change this year.

Please join me in thanking Janel, Doug, and the entire Council for Inclusion, Transformative Social Justice, and Advocacy for their work in guiding us to an even stronger place as a university dedicated to the success of our students, faculty, and staff.

Panther Proud!

Mark A. Nook, President