Integrated Innovation Institute › Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

DEI at the Integrated Innovation Institute

The Integrated Innovation Institute at Carnegie Mellon University is committed to engaging a diverse and connected global community, and to upholding the principle of equity, which, as a partner to excellence, is the foundation for ensuring that faculty, staff, and students have opportunities to succeed and thrive.

As an institute within the College of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, the iii is committed to the strategic plan set forth in spring of 2021 by the College of Engineering. The DEI Strategic Plan is rooted in Carnegie Mellon's longstanding commitment to diversity as a core value and one of utmost importance to the continued growth of the university.

Mission, values, and definitions

Mission

To achieve academic and professional excellence through diverse representation fostered by an equitable and inclusive culture that enables students, faculty, and staff to reach their full potential.

Values

As members of the Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering community, we are committed to excellence, innovation, being genuine, diversity, respect for others, integrity, trusting, and being trustworthy. To support these values and advance this strategic plan, we embrace the three dimensions of cultural humility, which align with our definitions of diversity, equity, and inclusion:

Lifelong learning and critical self-reflection
Recognizing and mitigating power imbalances
Maintaining a respectful community and strong partnerships through institutional accountability

Definitions

Diversity

Diversity is recognizing difference and valuing that every individual is unique. This uniqueness is shaped by race, color, national origin, sex, handicap or disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, ancestry, genetic information, belief, veteran status, socioeconomic level, and other life experiences.

Equity

Equity is intentionally eliminating barriers and mitigating biases that prevent full participation and access to resources and networks for underrepresented groups across our faculty, staff, and student populations.

Inclusion

Inclusion is the active, intentional, and ongoing process to increase awareness, empathetic understanding, and sense of belonging. Inclusion results in broadening perspectives and intentionally engaging historically marginalized groups to make our community a better place for all.

Meet Your DEI Fellows

The Integrated Innovation Institute's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Fellowship is awarded to two iii students (located in Silicon Valley & Pittsburgh) who are passionate advocates for social justice & equity. Our fellows assist iii staff with the implementation of specific DEI initiatives as outlined on the CIT DEI Strategic Plan and serve as representatives for the iii student population across both campuses on matters related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Virgil Looney, MIIPS '22

Virgil Looney is the Pittsburgh campus DEI Fellow. Virgil has professional experience with working with non-profits at the intersection of sustainability and social justice. He uses a data-focused approach to DEI and is currently working on building a master resource list of scholarships and grants for students at the iii.

Contact

Somya Mittal, MSSM '22

Somya Mittal is the Silicon Valley campus DEI Fellow. Currently, Somya is working on marketing and communicating DEI events across both campuses, attending and maintaining a supportive presence in student organizations, and developing a career resources report focused on DEI initiatives.