School Celebrates Diversity with Extended Week of Events
The UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine celebrated its rich diversity with a two-week-long Diversity Week, packed with events, workshops, and discussions. Organized by students and faculty with the help of Chief Diversity Officer Monae Roberts and the Career, Leadership and Wellness Center, the extended week aimed to create a more inclusive environment and celebrate the school's varied student body.
The extensive activities reinforced the school’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, which is one of the school’s four strategic priorities.
The week kicked off with a Pride Club panda-themed scavenger hunt, and a lunch talk by Dr. Elizabeth Davis, Associate Dean of Clinical Programs at Kansas State. Dr. Davis spoke about allyship and professionalism in veterinary medicine.
A walking tour of the Gorman Museum of Native American Art offered a chance to learn about indigenous cultures, while a "Better Belonging" lunch talk with Monae Roberts explored the challenges and solutions to fostering a sense of belonging for everyone at the school.
Themed evenings included a Pride Fun Night, and a TG featuring an origami animals station sponsored by the Association of Asian Veterinary Medical Professionals, a henna station by the Middle Eastern, North African, South Asian Students Vets, a tie-dye station by Student Pride Veterinary Medical Community, and a Native American drum circle.
Throughout the week, student organizations also hosted events that celebrated their unique identities. The Association of Asian Veterinary Medical Professionals (AAVMP) and the Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA) treated students to breakfast pastries and snacks, while the Latino Veterinary Medical Association (LVMA) offered a Cafecito social and a Bachata dance class.
Additional lunch talks included “Let's Talk About Jewish Diversity," featuring Professor Bruce Haynes, a UC Davis sociologist with expertise in race and ethnicity. Dr. Dane Whitaker discussing inclusive pronoun use to build allyship, and alumna Dr. Jovanna Radillo from ReadyVetGo presenting guidance on factoring in people’s economic or cultural backgrounds when creating treatment plans. The closing talk featured Dr. Sohaila Jafarian of the Multicultural Veterinary Medical Association, who discussed the intersection of social justice, animal welfare, and veterinary medicine.
By offering such a wide range of events, Diversity Week provided students with opportunities to learn from each other, celebrate their differences, and foster a more inclusive veterinary school community.