Diversity

A hallmark of the College of Engineering and Computing's long-proven commitment to diversity and access to a high standard of education, the Office of Diversity, Outreach, and Inclusive Learning provides resources to faculty, staff, and students that help support their academic and personal development.

Molding Curriculum to Match a Diverse Workforce Need

Students in classroom take notes by hand in notebooks.

The initiative is part of efforts to heed the call of President Washington’s Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence Task Force (ARIE), which joined the Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning and the Office of Community Engagement and Civic Learning in funding curriculum design, teaching strategies and pedagogical resources supporting anti-racist and inclusive teaching. Supporting the integration of ARIE throughout the Mason curriculum was one of the three areas recommended for funding by the task force’s Curriculum and Pedagogy Committee.

Contact the Office of Diversity, Outreach, and Inclusive Learning

Suite 2621, Nguyen Engineering Building, Fairfax Campus
Phone: 703-993-2567
Email

A diverse group of students smiling while taking a photo at George Mason University.

Diversity can mean many things - race, ethnicity, affiliation, orientation, income level, and gender. It’s the things that make us different that help us create greater things by working together.

"Justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in engineering and computing mean that every kid knows that a career in engineering and computing is an option and has the tools needed to make it happen by being exposed to an effective educational pipeline."
-- Mercadi Crawford

Computing and Engineering Diversity Resource Information Center

A student seeks advice and input from a CEDRIC staff member. They are conversing across a cafe style table in a casual setting.

As an initiative of the College of Engineering and Computing Office of Diversity, Outreach, and Inclusive Learning, CEDRIC will serve as a resource for students, faculty, and staff, providing a central repository of scholarship, research opportunities, peer mentorship programs, student organizations, and more.

Meet our Staff

Christopher Carr portrait

Christopher Carr, EdD, Associate Dean for Diversity, Outreach, and Inclusive Learning

Christopher Carr is a leadership and policy wonk in diversity, higher education, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). His unwavering support in the work of intersectional justice has allowed him to trek a path in the difficult areas of retention in institutions of higher learning, teamwork and organizational development in the collegiate and professional sphere, and diverse representation in STEM fields. With a background in public policy, he takes his ethical stances into conversations around challenging issues to ensure all voices are included.

Carr has convened numerous diversity leadership forums in STEM education in his professional life, bringing together over 100 deans and diversity administrators to talk about underrepresented students' persistence, diverse faculty recruitment, and creating inclusive campus climates. Carr has also been a champion for access to opportunities for those from historically oppressed groups. He worked to see outreach efforts exponentially expand to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities. His efforts transformed how the National Science Foundation solicited the premier Graduate Research Fellowship Program, which led to comprehensive changes in other federal STEM fellowships.

In his role at Mason, Carr supports the faculty with search committee parameters to help ensure that the George Mason faculty better represents the diverse Mason student body; he supports the Office of the Dean and the associate deans in their efforts to develop and enhance an equitable and just campus climate within the Volgenau School of Engineering. He supports the larger campus community goals by helping to challenge the status quo and assist the university in its strategic goals.

Christy Wilcox portrait

Christi Wilcox, Director of the Office of Diversity, Outreach, and Inclusive Learning

Christi Wilcox was born and raised in Nassau, Bahamas, and received a B.A. in International Politics from The University of Sussex in Brighton, UK, an M.B.A. in International Business from The University of the West Indies, in Kingston, Jamaica, and an M.F.A. in English Literature and Creative Writing from Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. Her work in higher education has included lecturing, grant writing, project management, and academic advising. Her current focus is on advising and crafting programming for individuals who are the first in their families to go to college, low-income students, and students of color, particularly in STEM. She is passionate about facilitating successful students' transitions through their college and careers. She is particularly interested in combining practices of inclusive excellence, social justice, visioning, goal setting, and deep interpersonal communication within the spaces she engages in at educational institutions, engineering communities, and beyond.

Student Groups and Organizations

Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation

Who Should Join

Minority students who are interested in an undergraduate degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM).

Benefits of Getting Involved

Gain access to stipends in fall and spring semesters as well as summer courses.
Take advantage of mentoring and tutoring resources, internships, summer research experiences, and a summer bridge program for members of the incoming freshman class.
­­­­Participate in an annual symposium to present research and projects. 

About LSAMP 

The alliance, which is funded through fall 2022 by the National Science Foundation, is named after Louis Stokes, who was the first African American congressman from Ohio and co-founder of the Congre­­­ssional Black Caucus.

Contact: Alok Berry, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department

National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)

Who Should Join

Science, technology, engineering, or mathematics majors of all backgrounds, but the group is not limited to STEM majors.
Anyone who would like to grow professionally.

Benefits of Getting Involved

Attend informational events sponsored by well-known companies.
Benefit from multiple networking and career development opportunities.
Participate in social activities such as movie nights, ice-skating, and laser tag trips.

About NSBE  

NSBE's goal is to increase the number of culturally responsible black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally, and have a positive impact on the community. 

Contact NSBE

Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)

Who Should Join

Although the organization's name includes the words Hispanic and engineers, the group welcomes all ethnic backgrounds and majors.

Benefits of Getting Involved

Attend professional development events such as résumé workshops and job information sessions.
Participate in barbecues, study sessions, and other activities that include free games and catered food.

About SHPE

SHPE's mission is to change lives by empowering members of the Hispanic community to realize their full potential and to have an impact on the world through STEM awareness, access, support, and development. The group’s vision is a world in which Hispanic people are highly valued and influential as leading innovators, scientists, mathematicians, and engineers.

Contact SHPE

Society of Women Engineers (SWE)

Who Should Join

Open to all students, especially those with a major in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math field.

Benefits of Getting Involved

Receive encouragement to establish a successful career in engineering.
Gain access to research and internship opportunities, as well as networking with professionals in the industry. 
Connect with other women who are interested in STEM through leadership activities and mentor programs.

About SWE

The Mason Engineering SWE chapter encourages women to achieve their full potential in careers as engineers and leaders, expand the image of the engineering profession as a positive force in improving the quality of life, and demonstrate the value of diversity. 

Contact SWE