Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

--- "Change what you can, and show others that the changes are for the better!" ---

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is a topic that is near and dear to my heart. I am a female, Chinese Indonesian who grew up in a traditional household. Even though Chinese Indonesian cultures have evolved to embrace gender equality, many of my elderly relatives still see me as less than my younger brother. To this day, I can vividly recall how thankful I was when my father stood up to his father (my grandfather), defending the rights to equal educational opportunities for all of his children. Behind my grandfather’s back, my father often reminded me to stay focused on pursuing my dream to be a professor. Although my father never managed to change his father's view on gender equality, my father certainly made a significant impact on who I am today. This life lesson has taught me that while I may not be able to change the world, I have the power to make small changes that can mean the world to someone, and I want to be that person who makes a difference in someone else's life. Today, DEI initiatives are employed as our ongoing efforts to 1) increase diversity in many aspects of our community, such as race, age, gender, ethnicity, religious belief, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability status, and many others, 2) remove biases, harassment, and discrimination, and 3) create an inclusive environment that welcomes and embraces differences. Throughout my study and academic career, I have been a DEI advocate, and I am committed to continue promoting DEI in academia and engineering fields.