Allies

The Allies group consists of students, faculty, staff and alumni who wish to dedicate their time and energy to create an inclusive and equitable culture in the college of Pharmacy. Allies have completed Ally training and agreed to the college's Ally Agreement Form. Allies work to support the Affinity Groups as well as central College of Pharmacy strategic initiatives in Equity and Inclusion.  

The following are examples of what allies have done in the 2023-2024 academic year:

• Advocated for and implemented accessibility best practices in Occupational Therapy surveys 

• Served as an Ally Liaison to an Affinity Group

• Revised policies in MNspire (advocating for veterans, students facing fiscal challenges, etc).

• Incorporated learning from DEI training into teaching

• Participated on the Mnspire DEIA consultant team 

• Added "About Me" and "Welcome" slides to their first in-person discussion session, including stating they are a member of the Ally Group and what that means to them, in addition to asking if there are access needs for participants

• Participated in multiple DEI training sessions

• Participated in DEI training that helped critically examine how to be more inclusive

• Co-worked on James Ferderer Medical Laboratory Sciences Faculty Development Grant for MPACT Education Advancement, Inclusion & Accessibility in MLSP Courses 

• Helping amend UMN’s Institutional Review Board’s gender guidelines for studies with human participants and advising on DEIA for studies 

• Presented a TED-like talk at a national professional pharmacy meeting on the topic of power and privilege and the role/experience of whiteness

• Assisted Vietnamese individuals in finding resources to help with the pharmacy school application process.

• Wrote a grant to hire a pharmacist to expand pharmacy services for folks with substance use issues and hired an alumni of Indigenous descent to the position 

• Completing DEI trainings as they are available to me and participating in ally groups helps me view decision-making through a DEI lens and provides me the tools needed to better support all students and colleagues.