UMD News Releases

Jacqueline Ariri Onchwari

DULUTH, MN — Jacqueline Ariri Onchwari, associate professor in the Department of Education at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD), received a University of Minnesota 2014 Equity and Diversity Transformation Award for her project “Building a Mentoring Culture that Supports Recruiting Faculty and Staff of Color.”

Dr. Onchwari’s project, which she worked on with Insoon Han, assistant professor in the Department of Education, and a number of senior UMD faculty members, focuses on retention and capacity-building of existing faculty and staff of color as a strategy for recruiting more faculty and staff of color.

“It’s important for faculty and staff of color, especially those who are new to UMD, to connect with someone who understands, someone who’s been there. Insoon and I reached out to senior faculty of color because we know that they will bring their wisdom and experience to the program and help to make it successful,” Dr. Onchwari said.

The project has three components: (1) A new faculty and staff of color orientation, (2) A faculty and staff of color monthly meeting, and (3) “Mentoring on the Run” in which a pair of potential mentor/protégé meet informally at least twice during the duration of the project. “The program isn’t a substitute for what various UMD departments are offering, but will serve as an additional resource,” Dr. Onchwari stated. “Our goal is to create a network of resources to support the work of individual faculty and staff of color, and promote a “culture of mentoring” through active interactions among them,” Dr. Han said.

“The work that Dr. Onchwari and Dr. Han are doing strongly aligns with UMD’s Strategic Plan Goal #2 of creating a positive and inclusive campus climate for all by advancing equity, diversity, and social justice. I commend their work, and it is wonderful to see it recognized by the wider U of M system,” said UMD Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Andrea Schokker.

About the Award

Established by the Office for Equity and Diversity, the University of Minnesota's Equity and Diversity Transformation Awards seek to infuse equity and diversity into every aspect of the University’s teaching, learning, research, service and outreach by funding creative yet pragmatic proposals for projects that support equity and diversity initiatives. The 2014 focus was recruitment and outreach strategies for diverse students, faculty and staff.