The Office for Faculty Advancement has awarded seed grants to 14 faculty-led projects, including three associated with DUSON, exploring new ideas and expanding existing initiatives to promote an equitable and inclusive academic environment at Duke. The theme for this cycle was "Confronting Racism and Bias: Fostering an Inclusive Community." Faculty Advancement Seed Grants provide a financial head start for novel faculty development initiatives within academic units.

Breaking Research Barriers: Conversations to Ensure Racial Justice and Equity in Research Practices

Lead: John Myers, faculty

Co-Lead: Christin Daniels, assistant dean, Research Development

The goal of this project is to raise awareness of racial justice and equity at each component of the research lifecycle by developing a streaming podcast, “Breaking Research Barriers.” This monthly podcast will consist of conversations with research leaders to elicit actionable and applied strategies to ensure racial justice and equity in clinical research.

Celebrating Diverse Scholars: Promising Practices for PhD Students

DUSON Participant/Co-Lead: Anne Derouin, assistant dean of MSN Program

Lead: Charlotte Clark, of Nicholas School of the Environment

Other Co-Leads: Minna Ng, of Trinity College of Arts and Sciences; Billy Pizer, of Sanford School of Public Policy

This new course is a dedicated space for PhD students to expand their awareness of the contributions of professionals in their field who have an identity different from their own, are from a historically underrepresented identity for their field and/or engage in work on issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. The course will enhance academic communities and support students and research collaborators through culturally-responsive scholarship and teaching, and will provide a space for recognition, inclusion and equity among peers.

Confronting Racism and Bias in Health Education Programs Using Trigger Films

Co-Leads: Margory Molloy, associate professor, Angela Richard-Eaglin, assistant professor 

The goal of this project is to develop an educational toolbox, including a training manual, to guide standardization and sustainability of a proposed educational program. Trigger films are short educational video vignettes that illustrate a specific theme and focus on social guidance themes that engage the affective domain. Newly created scenarios will present a social or practice issue intended to trigger a response by the viewer, and initiate participant reflection and discussion by highly trained facilitators.