Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences (PBS) consists of faculty, staff, graduate students, and undergraduates from our department. Per departmental by-laws, the purpose of the committee is to:

“Foster the development of strategies, policies, and programs that will enhance the educational and professional experience of minority faculty, staff, and students in the department.”

2022-2023 Committee

DEI Committee Chairs: 

  • Yara Mekawi
  • Konrad Bresin

Committee Guidelines Development

  • Konrad Bresin (Chair)
  • Yara Mekawi 
  • Meaghan Flynn
  • Rowan Hunt
  • Julia Nicholas

Incentivization of DEI Work for Faculty

  • Yara Mekawi (Co-Chair)
  • Cara Cashon (Co-Chair)
  • Nick Noles
  • Maria Kondaurova
  • Meaghan Flynn

 Assessment and Reports

  • Lora Haynes (Chair)
  • Heba Aljumaily
  • Kaelin Kinney
  • Freya Edlin

BIPOC Grad Recruitment & Retention

  • Sara Bufferd (Co-Chair)
  • Cara Cashon (Co-Chair)
  • Maria Kondaurova
  • Alyssa Rodriguez
  • Kaelin Kinney
  • Rowan Hunt
  • Julia Nicholas

Inclusive Physical Space

  • Katie Golway (Co-Chair)
  • Ann Holmes (Co-Chair)
  • Yara Mekawi
  • Lora Haynes
  • Liz Willis

 Management of Anonymous Reports

  • Sara Bufferd (Chair)
  • Yara Mekawi
  • Konrad Bresin

2022-23 Meeting Schedule

The DEI Committee meets regularly throughout the fall and spring semesters (see schedule below). Due to COVID-19, our regularly scheduled meetings will be held virtually until further notice. Our regularly scheduled meetings are open to all students, staff, and faculty in the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences.

If you would like to be added to the DEI committee roster to receive meeting invite links and updates, please contact Yara Mekawi (yara.mekawi@louisville.edu).

We want to hear from you!

The Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences (PBS) is committed to addressing societal injustices and systemic racism. To achieve that goal, we believe we need to hear from as many voices as possible. We invite you to share your thoughts on what we can do to advance diversity, equity and inclusion within our department. Recognizing that this work will be ongoing, we welcome suggestions for concrete actions that are big and small, and that we may be able to implement immediately as well as systematically throughout the department. 

Feedback is anonymous.Responses will be reviewed by members of the PBS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.

Provide Feedback