The DEI Catalyst Grant supports employee-initiated projects, events, capacity-building experiences, and/or resource development that builds workforce awareness and engagement in aspects of DEI and furthers the CINJ Strategic Plan Goal Nine and the DEI Mission and Commitment.
On behalf of the Rutgers Cancer Institute’s DEI Grants Committee, we are pleased to announce the Spring 2024 recipients of the DEI Catalyst Grants. These awardees were chosen for their program's institutional reach and potential impact in advancing the DEI goals and mission of CINJ. Please join us in congratulating this cycle's recipients:
Diversity Dish Day (Willetta Boswell, Jennifer Schwager, Qiana Carpio, Srigowri Kota, and Taylor Iliceto)
Continuation of Fall 2023’s event that was widely accepted with a desire to be continued. Enhancements may include live cooking demos, participant-submitted home cooking videos, and a digital recipe book.
Guidance for Inclusive Language Practices (Ellen Indoe Pagan)
Provides printed evidence-based resource created by the CHECoE for faculty and staff to improve their writing and oral presentation to be more inclusive to varying populations. Provides guidance for considerations when talking or writing about specific and/or historically medically underserved communities. Grant will also host a series of workshops on inclusive language in research.
Understanding LGBTQIA+ Terminology (Khooshbu Patel, Srigowri Kota)
Training to impact employees’ understanding and usage of LGBTQIA+ terms
Coffee and Conversation (Rose Slirzewski)
Participants will randomly be paired and provided coffee gift cards to sit down and talk about their role at CINJ and who they are as a person.
Thank you to all who applied, and congratulations to this cycle's recipients!
DEI Grants Committee
Anusha Ramji (Research Teaching Specialist, Ped PopSci)
Sharda Kohli (Senior Director Administration, RadOnc)
Malcolm Mattes (Associate Professor, RadOnc)
Muhammad Habib (Associate Professor, Clinical)
Susan Fenker (Administrative Research Associate)
Jian Cao (Assistant Professor, Basic Science)
Evelyn Fuertes (Program Coordinator, CHECoE)
Sri Kota (Nurse Practitioner, GU MedOnc)
Janeth Stuart (Per Diem APN)
Gregory Marshall (Graduate Fellow, Cao Lab, DEI-SC)
Christian Perez (Clinical Trials Specialist, OHRS)
Kamara Russo (Business Manager, Finance)