Dear Colleagues, 

The office’s of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Academic Personnel Services, and Human Resources are seeking faculty and staff volunteers to serve as Equity Advocates on search committees. Our pool of Equity Advocates consist of volunteer faculty and staff members who serve on a department’s search committee to be a presence and resource that encourages equitable consideration of all candidates across identity markers. 

The Equity Advocate adds a layer of awareness and consistency to the search and deliberative process, allowing the committee to focus on content expertise while minimizing the cognitive and structural impact of implicit bias.

All faculty searches are required to include a non-voting Equity Advocate on the search committee, and Equity Advocates are provided to staff searches by request. Those who volunteer for the role of Equity Advocate provide a vital service in promoting institutional structural change toward diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Equity Advocates receive Avoiding Unconscious Bias training, and an Equity Advocate Program Orientation and Guidelines document. Service appreciation letters are provided to all Equity Advocates who serve on search committees.

For more information, or to volunteer to become an Equity Advocate, please reply to diversity@humboldt.edu, or call ODEI at (707) 826-4526. You can also visit the Equity Advocate web page at this link: Equity Advocate Program.

Thank you for your consideration,