About Us

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

The EECE Department is committed to increasing awareness of the importance of diversity, the need for equity and the benefits of inclusivity.

Our goal is to empower all members of the EECE community, remove barriers and create solutions for our department and campus. We believe a diverse and inclusive community brings value to all and will engage with our community to promote equality and compassion.

We seek to achieve this by:

Experiencing growth through the department’s diversity mission in all areas of education, work, and personal lives.

Empowering individuals from underrepresented groups by eliminating biases and providing access to resources.

Caring for and listening to those affected by inequity to foster unity and support.

Engaging in open communication with all members of the EECE community to create a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment.

Sections on this page

EECE EDI initiatives
McKelvey Engineering goals and initiatives
University initiatives and resources
EECE EDI Committee

EECE EDI Initiatives and Outreach

The EECE department is currently undertaking initiatives in the following areas:

Offering departmental training in various EDI topics
EDI teaching resources for EECE instructors
Undergraduate student, graduate student, and postdoc community and engagement
Engagement with St. Louis community

The Environmental Engineering Student Association (EnvESA), led by Matt Ferby from Dr. Zhen (Jason) He's lab, taught fifth graders from the University City School District about water filtration.
Professor Foston and his group have had an amazing time over the past few years conducting “Researcher for a Day” events. The current program offers an opportunity to inform, inspire, and motivate local underrepresented minority middle school students through a campus visit and lab demonstrations.
Tatenda Shopera, MSChE ’16, PhD ’18, spoke about his about his journey from Zimbabwean education to his participation in the COVID-19 vaccine development at Pfizer.

Read about Shopera's amazing career journey
Elijah Thimsen and educators from area school districts work together to make chemistry concepts more accessible to high school students.

Read the full story

EDI News

Members of the WashU chapter of the NSBE joined more than 10,000 students and professionals at the organization's national conference in April.

NSBE ‘23: Networking and celebrating in K.C.

McKelvey Engineering sent two dozen students to Kansas City, Missouri, for the annual national meeting of the National Society of Black Engineers.

05.02.2023

High school students use photovoltaic panels to produce fuel to power toy cars. Nearly two dozen students visited campus to learn more about thermodynamics.

NSF outreach effort promotes thermodynamics education

Elijah Thimsen and educators from area school districts work together to make chemistry concepts more accessible to high school students.

06.15.2022

"Matthew Ferby, right, president of EnvESA, said that the club's goals include expanding the program to include more students in more grade levels." (Courtesy image)

Student organization brings water education to elementary school students

The Environmental Engineering Students Association provided hands-on lessons about water to students in the School District of University City.

06.06.2022

The department’s DEI committee goal is to empower all members of the EECE community, remove barriers and create solutions. We believe a diverse and inclusive community brings value to all and will engage with our community to promote equality and compassion.
The department’s DEI committee goal is to empower all members of the EECE community, remove barriers and create solutions. We believe a diverse and inclusive community brings value to all and will engage with our community to promote equality and compassion.
The department’s DEI committee goal is to empower all members of the EECE community, remove barriers and create solutions. We believe a diverse and inclusive community brings value to all and will engage with our community to promote equality and compassion.
The department’s DEI committee goal is to empower all members of the EECE community, remove barriers and create solutions. We believe a diverse and inclusive community brings value to all and will engage with our community to promote equality and compassion.

EDI Service Project

The newly formed EDI committee in the EECE department helped to build a Habitat for Humanity home May 7 in our first service project of 2022. Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit organization that helps families in need of affordable housing and enlists homeowners’ help to build their home alongside volunteers. The EDI committee, which includes faculty, staff and students, had no experience in building homes, but was up to the task. The construction tasks taken on by the six-member team, led by Habitat construction lead workers, included hammering support studs into walls and ceilings, installing insulation in the basement, and safely learning to use construction tools.

The homeowner, Jackie, said, “I am so thankful for all your help. With Covid, we have not had as many volunteers as needed, and the project is taking more time. Your volunteering has helped so much. The basement looks completely different today, and I’m just so excited!”.

Learn more about McKelvey's Goals & Initiatives

Picture A Scientist (Video)

McKelvey Engineering
Goals & Initiatives

The EECE department supports the goals articulated below and on the McKelvey School of Engineering Equity, Diversity & Inclusion webpage.

Create and maintain a culture that integrates and advances diversity throughout all levels of the school — from people, initiatives and ideas to policies, curriculum and beyond
Become a national higher education leader in embracing and supporting a diverse, open and inclusive environment
Ensure that all members of our community are able to achieve their full professional and academic potential
Emphasize diversity when recruiting faculty, staff and students
Support student organizations' diversity initiatives

University-Wide Commitment

The EECE department joins the university in its commitment to justice and racial equity.

We will listen and engage to work toward mission-oriented action that makes our university and our city a beacon of justice to the world.

Learn more about the university's commitment

The Office of Institutional Equity was created for staff and faculty members, to become the university’s ‘primary forum for changing climate and culture’ by housing diversity and inclusion resources, including training resources, support for campus affinity groups, and annual events and recognition ceremonies.
The Center for Diversity and Inclusion supports and advocates for undergraduate, graduate and professional students from underrepresented and/or marginalized populations, creates collaborative partnerships with campus and community partners, and promotes dialogue and social change among all students.

MEMS coordinates a schoolwide summer research program focused on enhancing participation of undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds in research. The WUSEF program description and application materials can be found online.
SafeZones Training for Faculty and Staff offers faculty, graduate teaching assistants and staff inclusivity training to promote safer and more secure living, learning and research environments for WashU’s LGBTQIA* students.

Inclusive Teaching Resources for Instructors

The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) provides faculty with resources for developing inclusive teaching and learning modes that are designed to actively engage, include and challenge all students. The CTL also regularly offers workshops on inclusive pedagogy.

EECE Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group

The faculty, staff, and students below work together to advise the department on measures related to EDI and coordinate EDI initiatives. This group communicates and coordinates with administrators and working groups in other departments in the McKelvey School of Engineering and Washington University to support these objectives. If you have ideas or concerns to help the EECE department in its mission, you are welcome to contact any of the members of this group.